"The County of Westchester, at the commencement of the Revolution, contained a multitude of hardy yeomen inured to toil, whose ancestry had fled from oppression abroad, and in the enjoyment of greater freedom in the colony, had imbibed an ardent love of liberty. When the star of Independence arose in the east, they were read}' to follow its lead ; and when Kew York, in 17T6, was threatened with invasion, they flocked with alacrity to its defence. When the battle of Loug Island turned the tide of war against us, they still adhered to the American army, contending everj' inch of ground to Harlem, thence to K'ng's Bridge, and through the southern part of Westchester to White Plains, where Gen. Washington again determined to entrench himself and make another stand against an overwhelming force of the choicest British troops, tiushed with victor}' and confideut of success. A brief account of the movements of the two armies to this place, anil of their operations here, it is my purp'jse to give.

"The city of New "iork ^^aa selected by the English as the centre of their military operations, witii the view of commanding the North river and acting In conjunction with a force from Canada, descending through Lake Cliamplain, thus securing the C(^l.inies. Their march into Westchester County was designed

a .Iinirn.il of X. V. Frov. Congress, vol. i. 723. b Journal of X. Y. Prov. Congress, vol. i. T29.

THE TOWN OF WHITE PLAINS. _ 567

to obtain command of the two principal routes leading to New England, one througli Rye and tlie other by the way of Bedford, and thereby cut olT the American army from its supphes, principally derived from the East, and obtain the rear of General "Washington's army, and force him to a general battle, or tO' a precipitate retreat.