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Introduction

Colonial Period

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Special Feature: Memorials showing the positions held by Washington's army at the Battle of White Plains.

AFTER his defeat at the Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776, Washington abandoned New York and occupied a position at Harlem Heights on upper Manhattan Island. In order to avoid a frontal attack upon this strongly fortified position, Sir William Howe, the British commander, undertook a movement designed to surround the American army and cut its line of communication with Connecticut. The occupation of White Plains was his immediate objective since that town was located at the junction of important roads.

Washington, however, arrived there ahead of Howe and erected a line of fortifications extending through the town. He also occupied Chatterton Hill on the west side of the Bronx River. On October 28, in the Battle of White Plains, Howe attacked the Americans on the hill and drove them from its crest. Three days later Washington withdrew to a much stronger position several miles to the rear, thus frustrating by his alertness the British attempt to surround his army. Howe had, however, forced him to evacuate his strong position on Harlem Heights.

To commemorate the battle three monuments have been erected. One stands at the base of Chatterton Hill, while the other two are in White Plains and mark the center and the right of Washington's position. These memorials were placed under the administration of the War Department in 1926 and later were transferred to the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior.

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Last Modified: Thurs, Nov 23 2000 10:00:00 pm PDT
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