The Battle of White Plains 28 October 1776

The Battle of White Plains in New York pitted 14,000 British and German troops against 14,500 Americans on 28 October 1776. The battle was ‘drawn’, with the Americans pulling back and the British failing to block their escape route. The British General, Sir William Howe, led his army to White Plains via Throgs Neck and Pells Point on the 12–18 October, where there were skirmishes. While Howe’s army was advancing northwards, General George Washington took his army from its garrison at Fort Washington and set up fortified lines in White Plains. Howe split his force into two columns and attacked the American right flank, advancing through a burning field. Despite low morale the Americans put up stiff resistance against the British, particularly the Delaware rear-guard. Despite this, with the right flank exposed, the left flank collapsed and the army crumbled. Washington decided on a general withdrawal towards Castle Hill.