CHAP. XII. 1776. morning in two columns towards the White Plains, the left being commanded by General Heifter. Before noon, all the enemies advanced parties being driven back to their works by the Light Infantry and Heffian Chaffeurs, the army formed, with the right upon the road from Marnioroneck, at about a miles's diftance from their center, and the left to the Brunx, at about the fame distance from the right flank of their intrenchments.

A body of the enemy poffeffed an advantageous ground, that was feparated from the right flank by the Brunx, and which alfo by its windings, covered that corps in front from the left of our army. As this poft would have been of great confequence in attacking that flank of the entrenchments, Brigadier General Leflie, with the fecond brigade of Britifh troops, the Heffian grenadiers under Colonel Donop, and a battalion of that corps, were ordered to diflodge the enemy. Previous to their attack, Colonel Ralle, who commanded a brigade of the Heffians on the left, had paffed the Brunx, and gained a poft, which enabled him to annoy the enemies flank, while they were engaged with the other forces in the front.

Though the paffage of the river was difficult, it was performed with the greateft fpirit, and the 28th, and 35th regiments, being the firft that paffed, formed with the greateft fteadiness, under the enemies fire on the oppofite fide; they then afcended a fleep hill, in defiance of all oppofition, and rushing on the enemy, foon routed, and drove them from their works. No lefs alacrity was fhewn by the other troops in fupporting thefe two regiments. The gaining of this important poft took up a confiderable time, which was prolonged by the enemy's ftill fupporting a broken and fcattered engagement in defence of the adjoining walls and hedges. In the evening, the Hellian grenadiers were ordered forward

forward upon the heights within cannon fhot of the 1776. entrenchments, the 2d brigade of British formed in their rear, and the two Heffian brigades, on the left of the fecond. The right and centre of the army did not remove from the ground upon which they had formed. In that pofition the whole army lay upon their arms during the night, with a full intention and in the highest expectation, of attacking the enemy's camp the next morning.

It was perceived in the morning that the enemy had drawn back their encampment in the night, and had greatly ftrengthened their lines by additional works. Upon this account the attack was deferred, and it was thought neceffary to wait for the arrival of the 4th brigade, and of two battalions of the 6th, which had been left with Lord Percy at NewYork. Upon the arrival of thefe troops, the neceffary difpofitions were made in the evening, for attacking the enemy early on the laft of October; but an extreme wet night and morning prevented this defign from being carried into execution.

In the mean time, General Washington had not the leaft intention of venturing an engagement, whilft there was a poffibility of its being avoided. He knew that delay was in fome fort victory to him. That fmall actions, which could not in the leaft affect the public fafety, would more effectually train his men to fervice, and inure them to danger, than a general action, which might in one day decide their own, and the fate of America. It must be acknowledged, that in the course of this campaign, and more particularly in this part of it, he fully performed the part of no mean commander.

The American accounts fay, that upon our covering four or five batteries with a powerful artillery, preparatory to an attack, together with the General's knowledge that by turning his camp, the Bri

tish

1775. tifh might become poffeffed of hills at his back which totally commanded it, he found it neceflary to change his pofition. He accordingly quitted his camp on the night of the 1ft of November, and took higher grounds towards the North Caftle dif trict, having first fet fire to the town or village of White Plains, as well as to all the houfes and forges near the lines. The British army on the next day took poffeffion of their entrenchment.

A gene

General Howe seeing that the enemy could not be enticed to an engagement, and that the nature of the country did not admit of their being forced to it, determined not to lose time in a fruitless pursuit, and to take this opportunity of driving them out of their ftrong holds in York Island; an operation which their army could not now poffibly prevent. For this purpose, General Knyphaufen croffed the country from New Rochelle, and having taken poffeffion of King's Bridge without oppofition, entered York Inland, and took his ftation to the north of fort Washington, to which the provincials had retired at his approach.

Fort Washington lies to the weft of New York Ifland, not far from King's Bridge, near Jeffery's Hook, and almoft facing Fort Lee on the Jerfey fide, from which it was feparated by the North River. This work though not contemptible, was not fufficient to refift heavy artillery; and it was by no means of a fufficient extent for any other purpose than the ftrengthening of lines. But the fituation was extremely ftrong, and the approaches difficult.

The army having returned flowly by the North ral affault River encamped on the heights of Fordham, at a moderate diftance from King's Bridge, with the Wash- river on its right, and the Brunx on the left. Every ington. thing being prepared for attacking the Fort, and the

against Fort

com

16th

commander Colonel Magaw, refusing a fummons to 1776. furrender, and declaring he would defend it to the laft extremity, a general affault was determined up. Nov. 15. on, as faving the time that would be loft in regular approaches. The garrifon confifted of near 3000 men, and the strong grounds round the Fort were covered with lines and works. Four attacks were made at the fame time. The first, on the North fide, was conducted by the General Knyphaufen, at the head of two columns of Heflians and Waldeckers. The fecond on the Eaft, was led on by Brigadier General Mathew, at the head of the it and 2d battalions of light infantry, and two battalions of guards, fupported by Lord Cornwallis with the 1st and 2d battalions of grenadiers, and the 33d regiment. Thefe forces croffed the Eaft river in flat boats, as the provincial works there extended the breadth of the Island, redoubts and batteries were erected on the oppofite fhore, as well to cover the landing of the troops, as to annoy those works which were near the water. The third attack, which was principally intended as a feint, to distract the enemy, was conducted by Lt. Col. Sterling, with the 42d regiment, who paffed the Eaft river lower down, between the 2d and 4th attacks. The laft attack was made by Lord Percy with the corps which he commanded on the fouth of the Island. All the attacks were fupported with a numerous, powerful, and well ferved artillery.

The Heffians under General Knyphaufen had a thick wood to país, where the provincials were very advantageously posted, and a warm engagement was continued for a confiderable time, in which the former were much expofed, and behaved with great firmness and bravery. In the mean time the light infantry landed, and were expofed both before and after to a very brifk and continual fire from the provincials, who were themiclves covered by the rocks and trees among which they were pofted.

The

CHAP. XII. 1776. The former however with their ufual alertnefs and activity, extricated themfelves by clambering up a very fleep and rough mountain, when they foon difperfed the enemy, and made way for the landing of the rest of the troops without oppofition. During these tranfactions, Lord Percy having carried an advanced work on his fide, Col. Sterling was ordered to attempt a landing, and two battalions of the 2d brigade to fupport him. This fervice was effected by the Colonel with great bravery. He advanced his boats through a very heavy fire, which they bore with the greatest firmnefs and perfeverance, and forcing his way up a steep height, gained the fummit, and took 170 prifoners, notwithstanding a bold and good defence made by the enemy.

In the mean time Colonel Ralle, who led the right column of General Knyphaufen's attack, having forced the provincials, after a confiderable oppofition, from that strong poft, in his line, pushed forward to their works, and lodged his column within an hundred yards of the Fort; and being foon after joined by the General with the left column, who had at length overcome the impediments which he met with in the wood, the garrifon furGarrifon rendered prifoners of war. The lofs on either fide furrender was not in any degree proportioned to the warmth, length, and variety of the action. The quantity of gun-powder found in the Fort was utterly inadequate to the purpofe of almost the thorteft defence. How fo large a body was left with fo poor a provifion, is extremely unaccountable. But the narrative of all thefe tranfactions is hitherto very imperfect.

prifoners

of war.

Upon this acquifition, a ftrong body of forces Fort Lee under the command of Lord Cornwallis was pailed taken and over the North River in order to take Fort Lee and great part make a further impreffion in the Jerfeys. The garofthe Jer- rifon of 2000 men, had a narrow efcape, by abanfays over- doning the Fort just before his Lordship's arrival,

leaving