During the whole of this night, which the sur-vivors afterward described as the most miserable of their lives, the Americans, expecting an attack, were either on the alert under arms, or working uncovered in their trenches. They were engaged in different places, at this time, in the construction of redoubts, lines and abatis, both for the pro-tection of the position they were then in, and for the forma-tion of a new one in their rear. At two o'clock in the after-noon of the next day, it cleared off and the weather became fine; but the ground, wet and slippery, was considered by the British Commander unfit for rapid movement. The as-sault in consequence was once more postponed until the following morning. Washington from the first, had determined to fall back upon stronger ground. After the battle, he determined upon another position and made the utmost exertion for the im-mediate removal of his hospital, baggage and stores, within the newly selected lines. These operations were not yet en-tirely completed. But perceiving Howe's great anxiety for a general action, which the American Commander was de-sirous for many reasons to avoid, the latter determined to get into his new position forthwith. Accordingly, during the night of the last day of October, the Americans evacuated their works at Whiteplains, setting fire to several barns and to one or two dwelling houses containing forage and stores that could not be removed. They entered upon the new ground by a backward wheel. The extreme left near Horton's Mill, remained where it had been, and formed the pivot upon which the whole army moved; while the extreme right re-trograded a distance of about two miles. The lines, as now formed, ran nearly east and west. They passed from Ho-rton's across Hatfield's, Foster's, and Fisher's heights, to Mount Misery and Miller's Hill.