At length compelled to retreat, it was done in good order over the bridge at the foot of the hill under cov-er of some regiments detached by Washington fronti his main army. The militia and a few of the regulars were dispersed among ihe hills of Greenburgh, but soon returned to Head Quarters. The British forces engaged in that attack were the flower of the army, consisting of the second brigade of British, the 28th, 5th and 49th regiments, Rahl's battalion, the Hessian Grenadiers under Dunop, and a party of Light Dragoons, all commanded by General Leslie.

"That General Washington did inake a puccessful stand at this place has ever excited the wonder of military men. His trv)ops were greatly inferior in numbers and discipline, and composed in part of militia and raw recruits. After the battle the enemy for several days attempted to gain Washington's rear, tried to alarm him and induce him to retreat or fight by threatening his flanks. At several times they formed a semi-circle about him. On the night

372 HISTORY OF THE

of the 31st of October, Washington evacuated his camp al White Plains» and estabhshed his new position in the hills of Norlhcastle, about one mile in the rear of his former encampment, when ihe British appear to have relinquished all further offensive operations. At the advance of the British army to White Plains the Whig families were seen hurrying unprotected before them with thin clothing and a scanty supply of provisions to seek shelter for the coming winter, they knew not where. Desolation and famine marked that fair region over which the two armies passed. The English army finding all attempts to circumvent General Washington hopeless, broke up their camp at White Plains on the 5ih of November and retired to Dobb's Ferry, and from thence to King's Bridge, where they encamped on the 13lh of that month."