of the line, which it had so honorably occupied ; and took up its line of march, towards Peekskill, where it was to be permanently posted, for the defense of the Highlands ; ' and, on Sunday, the tenth of November, General Washington left the White Plains, to take command of those troops who had crossed the Hudson-river, and who, soon afterwards, were engaged in that disastrous retreat, through the Jerseys, and in that subsequent recovery of the greater part of that State, which so greatly distinguished him, as a commanding General, and which have been recorded, with such entire approbation, on the pages of history.'^ General Lee was left at the White Plains, with his own Division and those commanded by Generals Spencer and Sullivan, generally New York and New England troops, with orders to watch the movements of the enemy ; to secure and carry off" the Stores ; and, then, to follow the main body of the Army, into the Jerseys.^

While General Washington and the main body of the American Army were thus falling back from their position, at North Castle, General Howe and the main body of the Royal Army continued to fall back and approach Kingsbridge. On Sunday, the tenth of November, a Brigade of Hessians was moved to that place, to increase the strength of General Knyphausen's already strong Division;* and, two days afterwards, [Tuesday, November 12,] the main body of the Royal Army broke up the encampment, at Dobbs'sferry, which it had occupied since the preceding Wednesday, and, in two columns, moved towards Kingsbridge, resting, on the following day, [ Wednesday, November 13,] on the heights of Fordham, and forming a line, with the Right upon the road leading to the Borough Town of Westchester, and covered by the Bronx-river, and with the Left on the Hudsonriver,^ where it remained, until the preparations for the assault on Fort Washington, wiiich had been reasonably determined on, had been completed.''