It and Kingsbrid ment from Harlem is generally characterized by loose and hasty writers-- and not infrequently bymore careful ones -- as a retreat. This is a strange misconception ofits nature. It was not a retreat in any proper or admissible sense of the term, but really a deliberate conntermove for position, fearless and almost aggressive in its fundamentals.^ So far from retreating upon the appearance of his foe at Throgg's Neck, He calmly held his original posiWashington did not even retire.

tion for days, and, in fact, until Howe himself went forward. Then, it being apparent that Howe w;i s marching to think him, he promptly took measures to countertlank Howe, and executed them with the most admirable judgment and great dispatch and success in view of his circumstances. Regarde< 1 strictly in its ultimate complexion, Washington's movement to W hite Plains was indeed the reverse of -,\ retreat or retirement. If his object had been simply to retire beyond his enemy's reach, he wo aid not have stopped at White Plains, a comparatively exposed locali ty, but would have gone at once to the North Castle hills, which v ere practically impregnable with the force he had. lint with those hills at his back to resort to in case of need, he was satisfied to oil Vr battle at White Plains, because, with the conditions of ultimate position favorable to him, he deemed it expedient to tirst tight a bat tie thai he had a fair chance to win. Eventually it was Howe and n. >t Washington who declined the genera! battle at White Plains, \A hich Washington, by all his prelimWe now return to the inary operations, had accepted in advance. enemy at Throgg's Neck.