columns, with great caution ; ' and, on the twenty-fifth of October, when the heads of the columns reached Scarsdale, after their two dajs' march, they were halted; and the Army encamped in a line which was parallel with the Bronx-river and with the line of march, on the opposite side of that little stream, on which General Lee, with his heavily laden column) was transporting the Baggage and Stores of the American Army, to the White Plains- -- in many places, the two were not more than a mile distant from each other ; and, in one place, if not in others, the toiling Americans were directly within sight of their powerful enemy.

The object of General Howe, in halting at Scarsdale, with his Eight within four miles of the American lines, at the White Plains, and of remaining encamped at that place, without making a movement, of any kind, during nearly three days, was not understood by those, in Europe, who were inclined to condemn his conduct, as Commander-in-chief of the Army, before the Parliament and the country ; and the evidently studied silence, on that subject, which the General maintained, was not calculated to quiet, nor even to lessen, the fault-findings of those who were his political and personal enemies. But, what-

In his letter totbe President of the Pongress, dated " Head-qt arters, " White- Plains, 25 October, 1776," Colonel Robert H. Harrison, General Washington's Secretary, stated that "about two o'clock this afternoon, " intelligence was brought to Head-quarters, that three or four detach- "mentsof the enemy were on their mHrch, and had advanced within "about four miles of this place. It has been fully confirmed, since, by "a variety of persons, who have been out to reconnoitre."