The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

210 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1776.
removed with great difficulty for the want of wagons
and horses. General Washington proceeded with the
advanced division to White Plains, where he fortified a
camp in such a manner, as to afford security to the
whole army, and where he intended to hazard a general
engagement, if pushed by the enemy. The camp was
on elevated ground, defended in front by two lines
of intrenchments nearly parallel to each other, and
between four and five hundred yards apart. The right
wing rested on the Brunx, which, by making a short
bend, encompassed the flank and part of the rear. The
left wing reached to a pond, or small lake, of some
extent, by which it was effectually secured.
As Sir William Howe marched his army directly
forward in solid columns, without detaching any considerable parties towards New York and the Hudson,
it was evident he intended to seek an opportunity to
force a general' action. As soon as the baggage and
stores were brought up, therefore, Washington drew all
his troops into the camp at White Plains. In the interim,
parties of Americans attacked the enemy's outposts at
different points, and spirited skirmishes took place.
Before noon, on the 28th of October, the British
army came in view, and displayed itself on the sides 6f
the hills in front of Washington's lines, and within two
miles of his camp. A commanding height, called Chatterton's Hill, stood half a mile to the south of the
American right flank, and was separated from it by the
Brunx, and low marshy ground. A militia regiment
had been posted there, which was joined in the morning
by Colonel Haslet, with his Delaware regiment, and
afterwards by a battalion of Maryland troops, and others,
mostly militia, to the number of about sixteen hundred, the whole being under the command of General
McDougall. The British commander made it his first