fore the light infantry and the Heffian chaffeurs. The army formed with the right upon the road, from Mamaroneck, about a mile diftant from their centre, and the left to the Brunx, near about the fame distance from the right flank of their entrenchments. The Americans had a party lodged in an advantageous post that was feparated from their right flank by the Brunx, and which alfo by its windings covered that corps in front from the left of the British army. As this post would have been of great confequence, in attacking that flank of the entrenchment, BrigadierGeneral Leflie, with the feveral brigades of British troops, the Heffian grenadiers, under Colonel Donop, and a battalion of that corps were ordered to diflodge the enemy. Previous to the attack, Colonel Rall, who commanded a brigade of Heffians on the left, had paffed the Brunx, and gained a poft, which enabled him to annoy the enemy's flank, while they were engaged with the other forces in the front.

The paffage of the river was very difficult, but the troops performed it with readinefs and alacrity, and the 28th and 35th regiments having paffed first, formed with great steadinefs on the oppofite fide under the fire of their enemies. On this occafion the public ac counts fay-nothing of the lofs of our troops, but fuch as were upon the fpot have declared that our met fuffered feverely, and that the troops were greatly thinned by the fire of the enemy. They, however, afcended a steep hill, in defiance of all oppofition, and rushing upon the enemy, drove them from their works. The rest of the troops fhewed no lefs fortitude and fteadiness in fupporting thefe two regiments. The gaining of this important poft took up a confiderable time, which was prolonged by the enemy's ftill fup

porting

porting a fcattered engagement, under defence of the adjoining walls and hedges. In the evening the Heffian grenadiers were ordered forward within cannon shot of the entrenchments, the 2d brigade of the British formed in the rear, and the two Heffian brigades on the left of the second. The right and centre of the army did not remove from the ground upon which they were formed. In that pofition the whole army lay upon their arms during the night with a full intention and in the fullest expectation to engage in the morning, and to attack the provincial camp.--General Washington, with great address, before the morning had measured out more work for the British forces. He had drawn back this encampment in the night, and greatly strengthened his lines by additional works. For this reafon the attack was deferred, and it was thought neceffary to wait for the arrival of the fourth brigade, and of two battalions: of the fixth, which had been left with Earl Percy at New York. Upon the arrival of thefe troops, the neceffary difpofitions were made in the evening for attacking the enemy on the last day of October, but a very wet night and morning prevented the defign from being executed as was intended.

General Washington, who knew the intention of our General, had not the fmallest intention of venturing an engagement, while it was poffible to avoid it. He knew that delay was in fome refpects a victory to him, and that fmall fkirmishes, that could not in the leaft affect the public fafery, would train his men to war and inure them to danger, better than a general engagement, which in one day might decide their own and the fate of their country.

The enemies of Washington confeffed, that in the

course

courfe of this campaign, and more particularly in this part of it, he fully performed the part of a great commander.

It was faid by the Americans, that upon our men covering four or or five batteries with a powerful artillery preparatory to an attack, together with the general's knowledge, that by turning his camp the British forces might become. poffeffed of hills at his back, which totally commanded it, he found it neceffary to change his fituation. He accordingly quitted his camp. in the night of the first of November, and took higher grounds towards the North Castle district, after. having fet fire to the town or village of White Plains, as well as to all the houses and forage near the lines. The King's troops next day took poffeffion of their entrenchments. General Howe, finding that all his art could not draw Wafhington to an engagement, and that the nature of the country and his present fituation did not admit of his being forced to one, determined not to fpend his time in fruitlefs manoeuvres, without performing any thing of confequence. He therefore refolved to take this opportunity to drive the provincials out of York Ifland, which their army could not prevent. For this purpose General Knyphaufen croffed the country from New Rochelle, and having taken poffeffion of Kingsbridge without oppofition, entered York Island, and took his ftation to the North of Fort Washington, to which the enemy had retired at his approach. Fort Washington lay on the weft fide of New York Ifland, near to Kingfbridge Bow and Jeffery's Nook, and almost facing Fort Lee in the Jerfey fide, from which it was feparated by the North River. This was a ftrong work, but not fuffi, cient to refift heavy artillery, and it was by no means

of

of a fufficient extent for any other purpose, except ftrengthening the lines. But the fituation was ex, ceedingly strong and the approaches difficult.

Upon the 13th of November the army returned flowly by the North River, and encamped on the heights of Fordham, at a moderate distance from Kingsbridge, with the North River on the right, and the Brunx on the left. Every thing being prepared for attacking the fort, a fummons was fent to Colonel M'Gaw, who commanded it, to furrender, who declaring that he was determined to defend it to the Jaft extremity, a general affault was refolved upon, to fave the time, that would be loft in making regular approaches. The garrifon confifted of near 3000 men, and the ftrong guards near the fort were covered with lines and works. Four attacks were made at the fame time. The first on the north fide, commanded by General Knyphausen, at the head of two columns of Heffians and Waldeckers. The fecond on the east, was led on by Brigadier-General Matthew, at the head of the first and fecond battalion of light infantry, and two battalion of guards, fupported by Lord Cornwallis, with the first and fecond battalions of grenadiers, and the 33d regiment. Thefe troops croffed the East River in flat boats, and as the enemy's works there extended the breadth of the ifland, redoubts and batteries were erected on the oppofite fhore, both to cover the landing of the troops, and to annoy thofe works which were near the water. The third attack, which was principally intended as a feint to diffract the provincials, was conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel Stirling, with the forty fecond regiment, who paffed the Eaft River lower down, between the fecond and fourth attacks. The laf at

tack

tack was made by Lord Percy, with the party that he commanded on the fouth part of the island. of the island. All the attacks were fupported by a numerous, powerful, and well ferved artillery, The Heffians commanded by General Knyphaufen, had a thick wood to pass, where the provincials were advantageously posted, and where a warm engagement was continued for a long time, in which the former was greatly expofed, and suffered much, though they behaved with much bravery and firmnefs. The light infantry were lead on in the mean time, and were expofed both before and after to a very fmart and continual fire from the enemy, who were covered by the rocks and the trees, among which they were pofted. The troops, however, with their ufual alternefs and activity, extricated themselves by climbing up a very fteep hill, when they difperfed the enemy, and made way for the landing the reft of the troops, without oppofition. During thefe tranfactions, Earl Percy having carried an advanced work on his fide, Colonel Stirling was ordered to attempt a landing, and two battalions of the fecond brigade to fupport him. The colonel performed this fervice with great bravery, but with confiderable lofs; he advanced his boats through a heavy fire, which they bore with great firmnefs, and forcing his way to a fteep place, gained the fummit, and took 170 prifoners, notwithstanding the enemy made a bold and good defence. While these things were carrying on, Colonel Rall, who led the column of General Knyphaufen's attack, having forced the enemy, after a confiderable oppofition from their strong pofts oppofite to his line, pushed on to their works, and lodged his column within an hundred yards of the fort; and being foon joined by the General with the left column, who

had