Macdonald, John MacLean. The Operations and Skirmishes of the British and American Armies in 1776, Before the Battle of White Plains. Paper read at the New-York Historical Society, October 7, 1862, in the author's absence, by George H. Moore, Society librarian. Published as The McDonald Papers, Part I, Chapter 1 in Publications of the Westchester County Historical Society, Vol. IV. White Plains, NY: WCHS, 1925-26.
Chapter I
THE OPERATIONS AND SKIRMISHES
OF HE
BRITISH AND AMERICAN ARMIES IN 1776, BE-FORE THE BATLE OF WHITEPLAINS.
The position which General Washington took with the main body of his army, in September, 1776, after the evacua-tion of New York, was upon the rocky and elevated grounds which are usually called Harlem Heights, and are situated in the northern part of Manhattan or New York Island.…
It overlooked the Hudson, being about two miles and a half south of Kingsbridge and Dyckmansbridge, both of which crossed the Spyt den duivel Creek, and formed, at that time, the only passes from Manhattan Island to the mainland. Fort Independence, at the same time in rapid process of construction, stood upon elevated ground on the main, about a mile northeast of Kingsbridge, between the highway l…
Washington's headquarters were about a quarter of a mile north of the inner line, at a country-seat then belonging to Colonel Roger Morris, and now known as the "Jumel House."
The British army at this time lay in an encampment which stretched across the island, with its right resting upon the East River near Horen's Hook, and its left extending to the Hudson, a little south of Macgowan's Pass, be…
Howe was at the head of a regular army, which was not only in the highest state of discipline and equipment; but flushed with the victory of Long Island; he was therefore desirous of terminating the war by a pitched battle in the open field. Washington's forces were for the most part patriotic, but untrained militiamen or volunteers, capable of fighting well under cover, but unskilled in military …
The command of the river above York Island, at all times desirable for military operations in that quarter, was at this moment rendered peculiarly important to the British general, from the well known fact that the supplies of the Continental army, were to great extent received, by way of the North River; and from his knowledge that the inhabitants of Dutch-ess and Westchester were, for the most p…
Some of them supposed that General Howe's most earnest wish was to make himself the immediate master of the whole of New York Island, and that therefore he would at once attempt the subjugation of Fort Washington and its dependencies, by a direct attack. The others attributed to him more military skill. They main-tained that he would land in Westchester, and establish him-self in the American rear…
On the 3d of October, General Heath who was apprehensive that the British might land on Throg's Neck, reconnoitered his position in that direction, accompanied by Colonel Hand of the Pennsylvania rifle corps. Throg's Neck is an island turned into a peninsula by a causeway and a bridge, and formed part of the old Borough Town of Westchester. It is upward of two miles in length and encircled by East…
After a full view, Heath directed Colonel Hand to fix upon one of the best subaltern officers and twenty-five picked men of his corps, and assign them to this pass, as their alarmpost at all times. In case the enemy should make a landing on Throg's Neck, this officer was to be directed, immediately to take up the plants of the bridge, and to have everything in readiness to set the mill on fire; bu…
During the summer, numerous large hulks and heavy chevaux-de-frise had been placed and sunk in a line across the river at Fort Washington, for the purpose of effectually blocking up the passage; and additional obstructions were in the course of preparation, consisting principally of ships filled with stone and which were nearly ready to be submerged in the channel. The river at this point was comm…
For some weeks, a British squadron had been lying opposite Bloomingdale, where they supported the left flank of the King's army, and their dangerous proximity to the flotilla at Fort Washington, called for the utmost vigilance on the part of the Americans. In the beginning of October, Lord Howe and his brother the general, determined to send a detachment of frigates above Fort Washington, in order…
Northerly winds prevented the British ships from proceed-ing up the river until the 9th of October. On the morning of this day, the Independence was on the lookout as usual, but the captain was absent and the galley under the command of the lieutenants Putnam and Cleaves. It was about seven o'clock when these officers observed the hostile ships below, to be moving. They immediately piped all hands…
Commodore Parker in the Phoenix, led the way. A heavy fire was instantly opened upon the enemy, from the forts and batteries on Manhattan Island, and from those belonging to the opposite post at Mount Constitution on the Jersey shore, which a few days afterward, took the name of Fort Lee. The men-of-war to all appearance, sustained but little injury from the batteries, and were not impeded in the …
Near the mouth of the Spyt den duviel, they overtook a schooner laden with rum, sugar, wine and other supplies for the American army, which they captured, together with a vessel lying at anchor. They next overhauled the sloop hav-ing on board Bushnell's American Turtle and it was supposed that they were well aware of what the cargo consisted, for they continued firing into her until she went down …
The other two galleys, of which the Independence was one, were fast sailers and confidently believed that they could keep ahead of their pursuers; but the wind freshened more and more, and the enemy gained so fast upon the fugitives, that soon after eleven o'clock the former began to fire at them with their bow-chasers, and at noon overreached them. This caused them to bear in shore. At half past …
Later in the afternoon, when word was brought that the enemy had landed a body of troops at, or near Dobbs Ferry, he ordered General Heath to dislodge them. Heath acted upon this occasion, with his usual promptness. Without a moment's delay, he placed Colonel Sargeant, at the head of a force, consisting of five hundred infantry, forty lighthorse, two companies of artillery, having with them two tw…
Eighty or ninety flat boats and small vessels, were assem-bled at Kipp's Bay; and on the night of the 11th, an embarka-tion of the troops was made, under the direction of Commo-dore Hotham. Early in the morning of the 12th the fleet sailed down the Sound. A thick fog prevailed, when the boats entered the then dangerous passage that conducted through Hellgate. Several boats, caught in one of the wh…
The force that landed at this time was about four thousand strong; consisting of the guards, light infantry, reserve and Donop's corps. After completing a debarkation at Throg's Point, the British forced formed, and their advance pushed forward imme-diately to secure the only safe pass there was to the mainland. But General Heath was ready for them. On their first land-ing, Colonel Hand's select p…
The Americans stood firmly upon the defensive, until the arrival of reinforcements from General Heath. This prudent and sagacious commander, when he heard of the hostile landing, immediately ordered Colonel Prescott of Bunker Hill celebrity, with his regiment, and Captain-lieu-tenant Bryant of the artillery, with a three pounder, to strengthen Colonel Hand at the causeway; while Colonel Graham of …
It was by your advice that I came to his place. You must find some way of getting me on the mainland, and that, too, speedily. There are some reasons for supposing that you have aced treacherously, and if they prove correct, my provost-marshal shall do his duty."
Washington was upon the spot with reinforcements soon after Howe landed, and at once ordered additional works to be thrown up at all p…
At the moment of his arrival, the American com-mander-in-chief was absent, being engaged with the general officers of the army, in reconnoitring the grounds in the vicin-ity of Throg's Neck. Lee at once rode forth and joined them. Washington immediately gave him command of all the troops posted between Harlem River and the Sound, now more than half of the army; but desired that he would not exerci…
General Lee whose experience and late success gave him great weight, strongly urged the abslute necessity of the measure. "After much consideration and debate," say the Proceedings of the Council of war, "the following question was put: 'Whether it having appeared, that the obstructions in the North River have proved insufficient, and that the enemy's whole force is in our rear at Frog's Point, it…
Five days previously, this body passed a resolution desiring General Washington, "by every art and at whatever expense, to obstruct effectually the navigation of the river, between Fort Washington and Mount Constitution, as well to prevent the regress of the enemy's frigates lately gone up, as to hinder them from receiving succor."
The main body of the American army, now prepared to quit New Yor…
Thus, in a short time, as it moved along, the American army formed a chain of fortified posts, which extended along the high grounds, on the west side of the Bronx, from the vicinity of Kingsbridge, to the village of White-plains, a distance of about thirteen miles. Strong detach-ments constantly patrolled in the immediate neighborhood of the Royal forces, and outguards were sometimes established …
Three brigades, three bat-talions of Hessians, and other foreces were drawn from Flush-ing, Staten Island and Harlem, and great quantities of pro-visions and military stores were brought to the Point. On the sixth day after landing, the preparations of the British general for a movement were complete. Before the approach of day on the morning of the 18th, Sir William reembarked several corps in fl…
In a letter to his uncle, written about this time, he says: "On the 18th of October at one o'clock in the morning, the van of the army, consisting of the light infantry and grenadiers embarked at Frog's Neck for the continent, and landed without opposition."
Soon after daylight, the Americans who were at the West-chester causeway, found that the main body of the British army at Throg's Neck, was…
Early in the morning, Colonel Glover ascended an eminence that commanded a view of the Sound, and from which he was in the habit of recon-noitring the hostile forces with a telescope. He discovered at once that the King's fleet in the East River, was under way. In a short time upward of two hundred boats filled with troops, and formed into four grand divisions, embarked from the upper part of Thro…
Having by this movement brought the British forces to a stand, Glover left his field pieces behind, upon a hill, crossed the river near Pell's bridge, already dismantled, and ascended the Heights of Pelham. He then made the most advantageous disposition of his followers. Colonel Read's regiment was posted on the left of the road leading to Pelham Point, with Shepherd's and Baldwin's in the rear up…
By this time the Americans had two killed and several wounded, while they were much outnumbered by the British, whose two de-tachments having united, advanced to the charge with bay-onets. Glover now ordered a retreat, and his bold captain led the men back without further loss. The enemy pursued with loud huzzas. In great excitement and some disorder, they ran forward to overtake the captain's gua…
"Once," says Colonel Glover, "they retired so far, that a soldier of Colonel Shepherd's leaped over the wall and took a hat and canteen off a captain, that lay dead on the ground they retreated from."
The officer thus despoiled, was Captain Evelyn of the light infantry belonging to the Fourth regiment, a gallant youth, not then dead but mortally wounded, who at the head of his company, was foremo…
At dark, Glover received orders to take a new position in ad-vance of the enemy. Here the weary soldiers of his brigade, after a hard day's fight, lay all night long as a picket guard in the open air by the roadside, without food or refreshment. The next morning they were relieved, and marched back to their encampment, where they broke a fast of more than twenty-four hours. Colonel Glover says, he…
General Lee reviewed Glover's brigade the next day, and returned thanks to both officers and soldiers for their adroit and daring conduct throughout the action. General Wash-ington at the same time bestowed high praise upon them in his general orders. The affair of Pelham Heights was in fact a stand made by Glover's small brigade, against the main body of the British army, and was conducted throug…
On the next day, the Americans extended their left, in order to keep in advance of the King's forces, and Washington with the main body of the army commenced moving up along the west side of the Bronx. He determined, if the enemy persisted in their attempt upon his rear, to concentrate his troops at once, in a fortified camp at Whiteplains. The re-tention of Fort Washington having been determined …
Glover found that the enemy had not yet taken possession of them. He sent out to the neighboring farmhouses, pressed fifteen wagons, and when nigh came, went to the village with the whole brigade, and carried off two hundred barrels of pork and flour. They had to approach so near the British camp upon this occasion, that Glover's advance parties heard distinctly the conver-sation of the enemy and …
With the exception of a few independent companies of volunteers from New York, the only Provincial troops belong-ing at this time to Sir William Howe's army, consisted of a regiment of Royalists, called the "Queen's American Rangers," raised and commanded by Major Robert Rogers, celebrated for his exploits on the frontiers during the seven years war. He had been promoted to the rank of colonel, an…
Having ren-dered this service to the Royal cause, he returned to the village and posted his regiment on a smooth field upon Heathcote Hill, in the rear of what is now known as the Delancey House. The station thus selected was memorable in the recollections of the aged. It was the spot which formed part of the ornamental garden, that at the commencement of the eighteenth century, surrounded the fin…
Lord Sterling who was taken prisoner by the enemy at the battle of Long Island, and subsequently, on the 7th of October, exchanged for Governor Brown, was now with the army of Whiteplains. He had previously been stationed with his brigade, in the vicinity of this last place, and was well acquainted with the country between it and the Sound. He had obtained accurate information of the post occupied…
His forces, pre-ceded by a corps of guides, marched in profound silence, along the road leading from Whiteplains to Mamroneck, until they came to Cornell's Fork; when they took the cross road leading to New Rochelle and passing by the Quaker Meeting House. They were now in the immediate and perilous vicinity of the position taken during the previous day by the right wing of the British army. Wheel…
When his station was ascertained, several of the guard crept along the ground, throttled and threw him down, before he had time to fire. But though taken and secured, the Indian proved refractory. Young and active, he kicked and struggled so violently, that one of the officers found it necessary to dispatch him with a sword thrust. Success seemed now as if about to crown the daring essay, and the …
Some of the rangers rose to submit and some to resist. Hughson of Dutchess County, one of their lieutenants, cried out, "Fire away boys, Fire ! never give up to the rebels," and fell dead a few mo-ments afterward, fighting to the last. At this instant Colonel Haslet came up with the main body of his detachment, and completely surrounded the ranger guard, but Green's Virgin-ians were by this time m…
The encounter between Eagles' company and Major Green's followers roused Rogers from his slumbers at the schoolhouse. Seizing a fusil which it was his custom to carry, he ran with the utmost speed to Heathcote Hill, where his men were at their posts but in great alarm, expecting an immediate attack from forces much superior. He had barely time to address a few words of encouragement to his soldier…
Among the latter, were Major Green and Captain Pope; the former being badly wounded in the soul-der, while the other received a shot in the leg. The attack was well planned and bravely executed, and would no doubt have been completely successful had the assailants known exactly where Captain Eagles and his com-pany lay. As it was, the affair has always been considered brilliant. The news was recei…
Rogers was not popular except with his own men. His exterior was rough and unpromising, his conversation full of gasconade, and he was openly charged by some of the Royal officers with having broken his parole. They also imputed to him dis-obedience of orders and incapacity; asserting that he was directed to place himself a short distance in advance of the British army, instead of which, the post …
These troops were ordered to re-
Chapter I
26 THE MCDONALD PAPERS
main there for the present, to cover the debarkation of stores and provisions. Washington now hastened to concentrate his forces at Whiteplains, where the line for a fortified camp had been marked out several days previously, and where a corps of men had been engaged in throwing up works. The head-quarters of the army were remove…
It was four o'clock on the ensuing morning that the division ascended Chatterton Hill, upon the borders of Whiteplains, after having marched the whole night. The instant he reached the summit, Heath noticed many successive flashes of light, proceeding apparently from the other side of a field across which he was marching. A captain with a party of men was ordered out to ascertain the cause of this…
The whole American army was now assembled at Whiteplains, with the exception of the divisions commanded by Lee and Lincoln, which still maintained their position at Milesquare on the west bank of the Bronx, between Valentine's Hill and Kings-bridge, from whence they watched the movements of the Royal forces, and covered and secured "the heavy baggage and military stores, which, in consequence of t…
They had been below patrolling, and were returning back loaded with plunder. Hand from his am-bush fired upon and then charged them. They fled in great disorder, leaving their booty behind, and were pursued by Major Ross and a part of the Pennsylvanians, until they gained the left of the Royal camp. Here Ross attempted to capture a British officer on horseback, but the latter wheeled about and rod…
When the com-manding officer approached the hostile camp, he concealed his detachment behind a stone wall, and in order to draw the enemy toward his ambuscade, sent forward the corporal and two soldiers who had distinguished themselves during the preceding day. This time, they went directly in the rear of the Hessian camp, but the bold intrusion was presently dis-covered and the adventurers became…
and the Philipse Manor House, for the purpose of prevent-ing the Americans from bringing their stores from below by water, and from removing those that had been landed at the last two places. On the 24th, General Lee issued orders for the march of the whole corps under his command, to commence at seven o'clock the next morning. A quantity of Continental stores had been deposited at Dobbs Ferry, wh…
A subaltern's command, twenty-five in number, led the way, followed by a field officer with one hundred and fifty men, as an advanced guard. General Nixon's brigade led the main column, to which the field pieces succeeded. Next to the field pieces came General Lincoln's division, and Colonel Glover closed the march; a captain with a company of men forming the rear guard. The rifles under Colonel H…
A large quantity of provisions which he was unwilling to lose was left behind at Milesquare; and he probably wished at the same time to interpose as long as possible between Sir William Howe and the North River. In the course of this same morning, Lieutenant-general de Heister effected a junction with Howe, and the whole army in two columns then moved forward about three miles, and took a position…
The dangerous vicinity of the British army now placed Washington more than ever upon the alert. During the night, he sent General Putnam, with eight regiments and dis-cretionary powers of action, against the enemy at Scarsdale. The veteran general hoped, by a silent and rapid march, to surprise the right of the Royal forces; but unfortunately, while yet at a distance from them, he fell in with one…
About noon on the 26th, this officer was surprised by a detachment of the King's troops, consisting of one hundred dragoons and about as many infantry; and was compelled to abandon the stores and retire to Fort Independence. The dragoons followed him a short distance, but he escaped by taking to the woods. After this, the enemy continued their march to the North River, and took posses-sion of Phil…
walls; where mounted men could seldom venture to follow an assailant. For the purpose of encouraging enterprises against these new adversaries, Washington further proclaimed in the same order, a reward of one hundred dollars, for every trooper brought in with his horse and accoutrements; and so in pro-portion if the capture should not be complete. It was how-ever some time before the American troo…
The foremost of these men-of-war lay directly opposite to Fort number One on York Island. The enemy at the same time made their appearance in force, on Harlem Plains, between the advanced posts of the two armies. Lord Percy's intention probably was to test the strength and countenance of the Americans, and if he found them weak and wavering, to push through the lines and drive them into the fort; …
This fire from both shores was more than the frigates could stand. They hoisted all sail and used every effort to with-draw. The foremost slipped her cable and left her anchor, but could make no way, although towed by two of her own boats. At length her companion, perceiving her distress, sent two barges to her assistance, and the united exertions of the four boats at length dragged her beyond the…
34 THE MCDONALD PAPERS
pany, killed a British soldier and brought off his arms; which on the evening parade, were formally presented to him by Colonel Cadwallader, in reward of his bravery." During the latter part of the day, the firing was only occasional, and on the approach of evening, it ceased entirely. The ships then fell down the river, and the adverse troops which had ad-vanced on Harlem …
Lee saw the perilous situation in which he was likely to be placed, and acted with his accustomed promptness. He instantly broke up his en-campment and put his forces in motion toward the main army, at Whiteplains. The rough and hilly highway along which he marched, is generally known as the Tuckahoe road, and it was filled for the space of four miles by the two divisions under his command, eight …
A few days afterward, while a body of Continental troops lay at Northcastle, one of the American commanders, wish-ing to make use of a large quantity of corn stalks, made an arrangement with a Quaker farmer named William Carpenter, for all he could furnish from his corn then standing, and con-sisting of a field of twelve acres. To expedite the business, a detachment of military was ordered out, wh…
During the summer of '76, however, tea became scarce in the interior of the country, and those who possessed a stock of the article, held it fast, in the expectation of a great rise in its value. This led to female insurrection in several of the counties that bordered upon the Hudson River. Storehouses containing the covered Bohea, at the time al-most the only kind of tea in general use, were besi…
The Amazons then withdrew, but Colonel Brinkerhoff dreaded their return, and in a few days afterward, sold out his entire stock of tea to some New York speculators, who for fear of another female outbreak, "precipitately forwarded the nefarious stuff," as the patriots termed it, to the North River, where it was put afloat and conveyed to Albany; the sloop that contained it making her escape, altho…
Apprehensive of a foray, Arthur carefully concealed from female inquisition, the fact that he had in his possession sun-dry chests of the delectable leaf, but by some means it be-came whispered about, that such was the case. This news was carried from farm house to farm house, until at length it reached the country along the Hudson; where the good housewives had so long abstained from the bewitchi…
At the appointed time, upon an autumnal morning, upward of thirty females assembled, from the precincts of Sing-Sing, Tarrytown, Sleepy-Hollow, and Weekersqueeke, all mounted on horseback, and eager for the enterprise. As captain of their company, they unanimously made choice of Jonas Orser's better half, a woman of undaunted resolution who ruled her own household and influenced her neighbor-hood.…
Arthur was a wary man, seldom off his guard,
Chapter I
38 THE MCDONALD PAPERS
and before he gave the tea hunters a direct answer, had the address to draw from them to object of their visit. He then accompanied them a short distance, and after having care-fully indicated to them, the most circuitous of all the routes that led to his domicile, he himself took the shortest direction back, in order…
The assailants having been refused admittance, and set at defiance, proposed a parley; whereupon an upper window was opened. A demand for a box of tea, with promise of future compensation, was rejected. A similar requisition, upon payment of a just and proper sum, was also refused, but the commander of the post held out to the besiegers the promise, that when the master returned home, he should po…
After reconnoitering the fortress, Madam Orser, and her followers resolved themselves into a council of war, and the result of their deliberation was, that the garrison would probably make a desperate defense, that although the courage of the be-siegers remained unshaken, and their ability to capture the place by a storm, was undoubted; yet that they were unwill-ing at present, to resort to bloody…