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The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Battle of White Plains (10/26/1776) - June 10th, 2004
www.uswars.net ^

Posted on 06/10/2004 12:00:49 AM PDT by SAMWolf



Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


...................................................................................... ...........................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

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The Battle of White Plains


The events leading up to the Battle of White Plains in October 1776 flowed from the British defeat of Washington's troops in the Battle of Long Island that previous summer. The American commander evacuated Long Island with his army intact to fight again another day. (Estimated 14,000 men.)



Gen. Sir William Howe, British Commander-In-Chief and his tory sympathizers, had a stronghold in New York City, while patriot fervor was stronger in upstate New York. Westchester County was considered to be the neutral ground though lower Westchester was more loyalist oriented. (Estimated troop strength; 15,000 disciplined, highly trained soldiers.)

Washington had concentrated his forces in Ft. Washington and Kings Bridge and slowly moved north to White Plains along the Albany Road. The rear, brought up by Gen. Charles Lee's Virginia Division, laden by baggage and provision, started out on October 18th travelling the west side of the Bronx River and took nine days to reach White Plains. There they joined Washington's advance unit which started arriving October 21st and were fortifying Chatterton, Purdy, Merritt, Hatfield and Miller hills. Along the way, occasional skirmishes broke out across the Bronx River as the rival forces from time to time tested one another. (There is the story of Col. Rufus Putnam reconnoitering for the colonials who stopped, reportedly at Wayside Cottage to pick up intelligence on British strength and local tory sympathy.)



Lord Howe landed about 4,000 men at Throg's Neck, October 12th, with the intention of encircling Washington's army and bringing the rebellion to an early end. He was met by Col. Ed Hand's crack Pennsylvania riflemen who destroyed the bridge and causeway leading from Throg's Neck to the Westchester mainland. Howe's men were isolated for six days before they re-embarked and landed at Pell's Point in Pelham Manor on October 18th.

Col. John Glover and his weakened brigade of Marblehead troops fortunately were posted in the right position, as a rearguard to Washington's northerly movement, assigned to protect the Boston and White Plains Post Roads. Glover commanded three regiments under Cols. Baldwin, Read and Shepherd. Glover placed his regiments in a succession of ambush points along the route of Howe's army. The ensuing enfilade and leapfrog ambush tactics triggered by Glover's daring headlong charge into the British and Hessian advance guard was cited later by the colonials, for training purposes, on how a small force could hold up a larger advancing troop. Casualities: Americans, 8 killed and 13 wounded, British, 11 killed and 44 wounded, A few historians have theorized that the Hessian losses, not reported, could have been as high as 800 men! Assuming this to be true, "the Battle of Pelham' could have exceeded the 500 estimated combined number of soldiers killed at the Battle of White Plains.


Gen. George Washington


Howe, normally cautious and deliberative, became even more so. The main body of the British and Hessian mercenaries proceeded up North Avenue in New Rochelle. The first column, under Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, marched up Quaker Ridge Road to Weaver to Old Mamaroneck Road through East Scarsdale towards White Plains. An historic marker at Weaver and Cornell reads,

"A detachment of British troops on their way to the Battle of White Plains marched along this road and encamped near this spot on Oct. 27, 1776. Gen. Wilhelm von Knyhausen, Hessians!' The second column of Hessians marched up Mamaroneck Road to Secor Farm and bivouacked in the Heathcote area. Howe took up quarters at the Griffen House (still standing at Mamaroneck and Garden Roads in Scarsdale) on October 25th and remained until November 4th.

Many Scarsdale families, i,e., Varians, Barkers, Griffens and Cornells, of patriotic persuasion, fled as the British advanced in strength. The Secors and Tompkins, among the few exceptions, stayed to later recount for posterity their eyewitness accounts of unfolding events in Scarsdale. The Hessians, particularly in the forefront of the advance, pillaged and plundered the countryside regardless of friend or foe. (Helen Hultz reports that Hessian sabre marks can still be seen on the Wayside Cottage door where legend has it the Varians managed to hide their cow in an underground area.)


Gen. Sir William Howe


Caleb Tompkins drove the family cattle before him to safety behind Washingtons lines in White Plains. One account states that at one point he hid in a swampy area immersed up to his neck.

British movement, as previously reported, did not go unchallenged. On October 22nd, Washington dispatched Col. Haslett's Delaware Regiment and Col. Green's 1st and 3rd Virginia Regiments, 750 men in all, to harrass the right wing of Howe's army stationed in Heathcote where Col. Rogers Queen's "American" Rangers (loyalists) were encamped. Haslett's guides in a nighttime raid, ran into Roberts' pickets. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting ensued. The brief skirmish left 25 British dead (buried in an orchard near the school house that served as Rogers' headquarters). Haslett returned with 36 prisoners including John and James Angevine - whose house at 164 Mamaroneck Road still stands. Thereafter, the Queen's Rangers became ineffective and disintegrated as a fighting unit though whether as a result of this engagement, history does not make clear.



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: americanrevolution; freeperfoxhole; georgewashington; newyork; sirwilliamhowe; veterans; whiteplains
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To: HiJinx

But, I'm no stranger than the average Joe on the street...


Ah...never mind I'm going to be nice. I promised myself I'd try it at least once just to see what it's like.


101 posted on 06/10/2004 8:41:51 PM PDT by Valin ("Well..there you go again" R. Reagan)
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To: w_over_w
Here is a good link with quotes, jokes, etc. Hope you like it.

LINK

102 posted on 06/10/2004 8:46:05 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul (I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born ~ Ronald Reagan)
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To: Valin
Ah...never mind I'm going to be nice.

It's nice to be nice, to the nice.
~Maj. Frank Burns, MASH 409th~

Think that's a keeper?

103 posted on 06/10/2004 8:50:41 PM PDT by w_over_w (I recommend it to all my frins 'n you tell 'em you heard it here first on roller derby!)
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To: Victoria Delsoul
ROFLOL! I'm hooked!


104 posted on 06/10/2004 8:57:19 PM PDT by w_over_w (I recommend it to all my frins 'n you tell 'em you heard it here first on roller derby!)
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To: Victoria Delsoul

Evening Victoria.


105 posted on 06/10/2004 9:55:25 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: Professional Engineer

We saw this young man live on Fox during the viewing, still standing tall in his uniform and looking sharp!


106 posted on 06/10/2004 9:56:21 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: w_over_w
See, I'm learning too!

For the benefit of others now that you and I have looked it up.

enfilade:

gunfire directed from a flanking position along the length of an enemy battle line

107 posted on 06/10/2004 9:58:44 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: Victoria Delsoul

It's Mr. Cable :-)


108 posted on 06/10/2004 9:59:31 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: Darksheare
Its those New Jersey Democrats.

and behold.....their hockey team .."The Devils" : )

Abraham Lincoln's short remarks to the New Jersey House of Representatives, he attested to his peaceful intentions concerning the present national strife, but when he added "it may be necessary to put the foot down firmly," his audience roared its approval with loud cheering.

They thought he was talking about the war.....he probably meant them : )

Both houses of the New Jersey legislature passed antiwar resolutions. And Trenton judge, David Naar, stated,"We are cutting each other's throats for the sake of a few worthless Negroes."

New Jersey....Al Gore country.

109 posted on 06/10/2004 10:00:30 PM PDT by Light Speed
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To: SAMWolf; snippy_about_it; Aeronaut; E.G.C.; The Mayor; Tax-chick; Valin; Professional Engineer; ...

Chelsea Clinton was at a Starbucks at the lower left, thinking how George Washington's tax cuts had caused the air of New York to fall below OSHA guidelines.

Hitlery Clinton, Pretending to be Abroad

Tories objected to alleged "over coverage" of the funeral of G. Washington.

Those not tarred, feathered and drowned in the Potomac were placed in stocks and pelted with pantaloons studded with rock salt.

High resolution Col. John Glover

No relation to drooling homeless shouter Danny Glover

Giant Economy Size Hawker Hunter

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)

Freshwater washdown

We've done our part. And as I walk off into the city streets, a final word to the men and women of the Reagan revolution, the men and women across America who for eight years did the work that brought America back. My friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. We made the city stronger. We made the city freer, and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all.

And so, good-bye, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

110 posted on 06/10/2004 10:11:23 PM PDT by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: PhilDragoo
    Chelsea Clinton was at a Starbucks at the lower left, thinking how George Washington's tax cuts had caused the air of New York to fall below OSHA guidelines. Hitlery Clinton, Pretending to be Abroad

LOL
111 posted on 06/10/2004 10:21:29 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (~The Dragon Flies' Lair~ Poetry and Prose~)
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To: PhilDragoo
Evening POhil Dragoo

Chelsea Clinton was at a Starbucks at the lower left, thinking how George Washington's tax cuts had caused the air of New York to fall below OSHA guidelines.

LOL!

Whatever happened to tarring and feathering of politicians who violated their oaths of office. Heck even riding them out of town on a rail can'r be done.

Great picture of the washdown.

112 posted on 06/10/2004 10:29:58 PM PDT by SAMWolf (I'm as bored as a pacifist's pistol.)
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To: PhilDragoo
Hitlery Clinton, Pretending to be Abroad

LOL! That'll laugh will last for ahwile. :-)

113 posted on 06/11/2004 12:30:10 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: SAMWolf
In June of 1776 a large British war fleet led by Gen. Howe sailed into New York harbor

That should read "large British war fleet led by Admiral Howe, General Howe's brother. Thanks for another piece of our War of Independence, SAM! As an aside....I've been watching the Rotunda at the Capitol for the past hour (it's 4.15AM in D.C.) and the lines, always double lines, and sometimes triple lines, have been endless, moving briskly and thickly! People of every age -- teenagers, babies in strollers, adults, young people -- it's brought me to tears several times, the reverence and the solemnitude. The men doff their hats, some salute, a lot of people cross themselves, some kids of eight or nine stand mesmerized and have to be tugged along by their parents. This sight is truly American!

114 posted on 06/11/2004 1:19:45 AM PDT by WaterDragon
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To: PhilDragoo

BTTT!!!!!!!!!


115 posted on 06/11/2004 4:32:10 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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To: PhilDragoo
Freshwater washdown

Impressive!

116 posted on 06/11/2004 5:42:23 AM PDT by Professional Engineer (Ronald Reagan, a Patriot on loan from God, has gone to his reward.)
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To: Light Speed

Yikes!
Sounds just like New Jersey.


117 posted on 06/11/2004 8:07:24 AM PDT by Darksheare (enthusiasm + energy * willpower / time available = probability of trouble/discovery)
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To: WaterDragon
large British war fleet led by Admiral Howe, General Howe's brother

Good catch, now I know someone is reading these threads. ;-) Watching the motorcade to the Regan Library. Unbelievable, the crowds along the entire route and stopped traffic in the opposing lanes. Brings tears to your eyes.

118 posted on 06/11/2004 6:36:46 PM PDT by SAMWolf (I'm as bored as a pacifist's pistol.)
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To: w_over_w

Good one w_over_w.


119 posted on 06/11/2004 6:37:25 PM PDT by SAMWolf (I'm as bored as a pacifist's pistol.)
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To: Victoria Delsoul

:-( I just don't seem to have time anymore. Working a a special personal project that has really been eating up my time.


120 posted on 06/11/2004 6:39:16 PM PDT by SAMWolf (I'm as bored as a pacifist's pistol.)
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