It was by no means plain to him at first just what ultimate object it repreHowe's appearance on Throgg's Neck imported, or whether A too sented all or even the essential part of the British scheme. have would part precipitate retirement to the north on Washington's had the aspect and all the ill moral effect of a cowardly retreat; whereas just on this occasion it was most important for him to gain

CAMPAIGN

BATTLE

WHITE

PLAINS

Finally, when there was no mistaking the fact that some prestige. Howe's sole aim was to outflank him, he found himself terribly embarrassed in marching to a new position by deficient facilities in of his for the transportation and wagons the way of teams Octoberof 20th the until not was it Indeed, baggage. guns and eight days after the landing of the British on Westchester soil-- that, having at last evacuated his intrenchments on Harlem Heights, his headquarWashington had so far moved up his rear as to make for the highly Moreover, he had to provide ters at Kingsbridge. of serious least at or route, the along battle of emergency probable To this interferences with the progress and integrity of his column. end it was necessary to protect himself by a series of intrenched camps at intervals all along the line of march, his destination being White Plains, preappointed by certain circumstances which will be set forth later. Meantime the royal army, as the aggressor, had but to march with reasonable expedition to White Plains-- the natural n, because, in Howe's case, of destination for Howe as for Washingto its central location, and the excellent roads leading thither from the Sound and the circumstance that all the other roads of the county converged there-- and Washington would be completely hemmed in. In the light of all that followed, the one vital question at the outset of this campaign was, Who should first arrive at and possess White Plains? and the advantage was decidedly with Howe, because he Washwas not hampered by any of the physical difficulties that beset situaer Westchest startling the ington.