That catastrophe so agitated the comrades of the hapless man that it is related they " broke and not rallied without much difficulty." But the hill was were sturdier fled, and soon to have defenders. The American troops on Chatterton's Hill who had engaged the attention of Colonel Rahl were Colonel Haslet's Delaware regiment (which participated in the raid on the Queen's Rangers), and a regiment of Massachusetts militia commanded by Colonel John It is unknown whether Washington's original plans for deBrooks.

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

|fls position behind the White Plains intrenchments contemplated any particularly formal operations from Chatterton's Hill. Hat during Bald's artillery attack la- sent over a strong force, commanded by General McDougall, to occupy it in conjunction with the This body consisted of the 1st regiment of the men already there. Ritzema's 3d regiment of the same line, ColColonel New York line, onel Webb's regiment of the Connecticut line, and the surviving remwhich so Smallwood's noble Maryland regiment nant of Colonel

fending

distinguished itself at the battle of Long Island-- all well experienced'and reliable troops; together with a company of New York artillery (having two small field-pieces) commanded by Captain Alexander Hamilton. The united force was about 1,800 and made a respectable showing as its different regiments took up their positions on the hill. During these preliminaries the main body of Howe's army, in its two columns, continued to approach the American intrenchments, as if to proceed forthwith to the general attack. But at the distance of about a mile from Washington's lines a halt was ordered, and General Howe and his principal officers held a consultation on horseback. They concluded that the force on Chattel-ton's Hill was a serious menace to their flank and that it must be disGENERAL MCDOUGALL. lodged before moving on the principal works.