B. 23, 25, 26, 53-

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. . 369

to Harlem, thence to King's bridge, and through the southern part of Westchester to White Plains, where Gen. Washington again determined to entrench himself and make another stand against an overwhelming force of the choicest British troops, flushed with victory and confident of success. A brief account of the movements of the two armies to this place, and of their operations here, it is my purpose to give."

" The city of New York was selected by the English as the centre of their military operations, with the view of commanding the North river and acting in conjunction with a force from Canada, descending through Lake Champlain, thus securing the Colonies. Their march into Westchester county was designed to obtain command of the two principal routes leading to New England, one through Rye and the other by the way of Bedford, and thereby cut off the American army from its supplies, principally derived from the East, and obtain the rear of General Washington's army, and force him to a general battle, or to a precipitate retreat. But Washington penetrated their intentions, and conducted his forces northward from King's bridge with great skill, moving in a line parallel with the British, a little in advance of them, facing them constantly, with the Bronx in his front, which was fortified at every assailable point.

On the 13lh of October, '76, a portion of the British army, consisting of the Guard, Light Infantry reserve, and Count Dunop's Corps landed at Throg'a Neck, and on the night of that day, Col. William Smith (then a Lieutenanf) with a Corporal's guard, broke down the bridge connecting the neck with Westchester town, and left Sir William Howe upon an Island. On the IGth and 17th of October, the English forces at Throg's Neck were augmented by the 1st, 2nd and 6th Brigades crossing from Long Island, and by the 3d Hessian battalion from New York.