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.

CAMPAIGN

BATTLE

WHITE

PLAINS

The 18th of October was the day chosen by General Howe for exposing his further intentions. Up to that Time he had neither done nor attempted anything but the transportation of his army, with its and stores, from New York City to Throgg's equipments, artillery, Neck. After finding, upon his arrival there on the 12th, that his progress from the Neck to the mainland was disputed by a determined force of Americans, he refrained from all pretensions to ground beyond his little island, but caused earthworks to be constructed, and during the succeeding days " the scattering fire across the marsh continued, and now and then a man was killed." That was all. Finally, at one o'clock on the morning of the 18th, he embarked a portion of his forces on flatboats and had them rowed over to Pelham's or Rodman's Point, on the opposite side of Eastchester Pay. They were successfully landed in the darkness. This was a preliminary movement to secure the ground for his main body, which he put in motion at daylight; and simultaneously he caused an embrasure to be opened in his earthwork facing Westchester causeway, so as to give the Americans the impression that he was preparing to force his way over under a cannonade.