the north, and almost parallel with the left of the army, as it was then formed. "Yonder," says Major Gen. Lee, pointing to the grounds just mentioned, "is the ground we ought to occupy." "Let us then go and view it," replied the Commander-in-Chief. When on the way, a light horseman came up on full gallop, his horse almost out of breath, and addressed Gen. Washington"The British are in the camp, sir." The General observed, "Gentlemen, we have now other business than reconnoitring," putting his horse in full gallop for the camp, and followed by the other officers. When arrived at head-quarters, the Adjutant-General, (Read,) who had remained at camp, informed the Commander-in-Chief, that the guards had been all beat in, and the whole American army were now at their respective posts, in order of battle. The Commander-in-Chief turned round to the officers, and only said, "Gentlemen, you will repair to your respective posts, and do the best you can." "Our general," (Heath,) "on arriving at his own division, found them all in the lines; and, from the height of his post, found that the first attack was directed against the Americans on Chatterton's hill. The little river Bronx, which ran between the American right and this hill, after running round its north side, turned and ran down on the east and south-east. The British advanced in two columns. At this instant, the cannonade was brisk on both sides; directed by the British across the hollow and Bronx, against the Americans on the hill, and by them returned. Almost at the same instant, the right column, composed of British troops, preceded by about twenty light horse in full gallop, and brandishing their swords, appeared on the road leading to the court-house, and now directly in the front of our General's division. The light-horse leaped the fence of a wheat field, at the foot of the hill, on which Col. Malcolm's regiment was posted, of which the light-horse were not aware until a shot from Lieut. Fenno's field-piece gave them notice by striking in the midst of them, and a horseman pitching from his horse. They then wheeled short about, galloped out of the field as fast as they came in, rode behind a little hill on the road, and faced about; the tops of their caps only being visible to our General, where he stood. The column came no further up the road, but wheeled to the left by platoons, as they came up; and, passing through a bar, or gateway, directed their head towards the troops on Chatterton's hill, now engaged. When the head of the column had got nearly across the lot, their front got out of sight; nor could the extent of their rear be now discovered. The sun shone bright, their arms glittered, and perhaps troops never were shown to more advantage, than these now appeared. The whole now halted; and for a few minutes, the men all sat down in the same order in which they stood, no one appearing to move out of his place. The cannonade continued brisk across the Bronx. A part of the left column, composed of British and Hessians, forded the river, and marched along under the cover of the hill, until they had gained sufficient ground to the left of the Americans; when, by facing to the left, their column became a line, parrallel

with the Americans. When they briskly ascended the hill, the first column `resumed a quick march. As the troops, which were advancing to the attack, ascended the hill, the cannonade on the side of the British ceased; as their own men became exposed to their fire, if continued. The fire of small arms was now very heavy, and without any distinction of sounds. This led some American officers, who were looking on, to observe that the British were worsted, as their cannon had ceased firing; but a few minutes evinced that the Americans were giving way. They moved off the hill in a great body, neither running, nor observing the best order. The British ascended the hill very slowly, and when arrived at its summit, formed and dressed their line, without the least attempt to pursue the Americans. The loss on the side of the Americans was inconsiderable. That of the British was not then known. The British army having got possession of this hill, it gave them a vast advantage of the American lines, almost down to the centre."

Botta, in his history of the American Revolution, says: "The loss of men in this action was great on the one part as well as on the other."c

Among the principal actors in this scene, upon the American side, may be enumerated, Generals Washington, Clinton, McDougal, Lee, Heath, Sterling, and Read, Colonels Haslet, Smallwood, Malcolm and Glover; Majors Hand, Lee and Lieut. Fenno; and the gallant Hamilton, captain of artillery, &c., &c. On the British side, Brigadier Generals Leslie, Knyphausen, Rahl, De Heister, and Matthews; Lord Percy, Count Dunop, Colonel Ralle, Colonel Ritzema, and Major Rogers, &c., &c.

The following letter of General George Clinton, dated Camp, at the old Place near White Plains, Nov. 2d, 1776, to a friend, is copied from the journal of the Provincial Congress :

MY DEAR SIR :-Your favours of the 30th and 31st ultimo, were left at my tent a few minutes since. Since my last to you, dated the day before

While the British were thus advancing up the hill, a shot struck one of the standard bearers dead. Warren de Lancey, (then a boy 15 years of age,) instantly seized the colors, and rushing forward, was one of the first to gain the summit, where he planted them in the ground. For this act of bravery he afterwards received a cornet's commission from General Howe.-Author.

b Heath's Mem. 76.

The remains of those slain in the conflict, were interred in a hollow on the south-west side of Chatterton hill, near a hickory tree.

yesterday, the centre and right wing of our army, having possessed themselves of the heights in their rear, north-east of the road leading to Young's; yesterday morning evacuated that part of our lines which passed through the town, and south-east of N—, and fell back on those heights; firing all the barns, hay and corn stacks in front. This induced the enemy to believe we had again retreated, and determined to take the advantage of our apparent flight, their army instantly moved forward into the part of our lines which were evacuated. This brought on a pretty brisk cannonade, though at too great a distance to do much execution. I lost one man, and had two wounded. I have heard of no other injury done us. We are by the late movements now far advanced-in front of course most exposed. The enemy retired to their former encampment in the evening, leaving strong advanced pickets, and working parties who are busily employed in erecting banks on the heights in and near the town. Deserters, (especially from the Queen's light dragoons,) come daily over to us; and now and then our Rangers send in a straggling prisoner. Captain van Wick of my brigade, who, at his earnest desire, was appointed to a company of rangers, was the day before yesterday unfortu nately killed. He went out in the morning with about 30 men, and fell in with about 100 of the enemy in a house not far distant from their lines-charged them with spirit, gave them a brisk fire, but unfortunately, when loading his piece the second time, was shot in the head, and fell dead. His lieutenant shot down the man who killed his captain. The enemy fled; our party brought off their captain, and yesterday evening I had him interred with the honors of war. He was a good man, and a valiant officer. Pray communicate this sad news to his widow, (to whom I would write, had I leisure,) in a manner that will least affect her.

I know of no other news worth communicating you. Though in the camp, I am not acquainted with the disposition of our army. Some brigades to the north-east of us, in my humble opinion, are where they can do no good; perhaps I am mistaken: I am not well acquainted with the country. I must beg an answer to my letter wherein I desired you to ask a favor of the Convention :

And am, with the utmost esteem,

Yours affectionately,

GEORGE CLINTON.

P. S. I need not ask you to forward the enclosed. I know you will do it. Though I determined never to meddle with the disposition of officers, I cannot help recommending Colonel Duboys and his officers, who served in our army to the northward last year, to the Convention. Should they quit the army by any neglect, it will be a public loss. They are brave men and good officers, at least such of them as have joined our brigade."

Journal of N Y. Prov. Congress, vol ii. 317.

The head-quarters of Washington, while stationed here, were at a small farm house to the north of the village, situated amid a deep solitude of woods, surrounded by hills and wild romantic scenery. The following account of a visit paid to this spot, is taken from a newspaper printed at New York in 1845.

"When we entered the little room of Mr. Miller's farm house, where that great and good man had resided, and where he resolved to try the hazard of a battle with a flushed and successful foe, we could not repress the enthusiasm, which the place and the moment and the memory inspired. We looked around with eagerness at each portion of the room on which his eye must have rested, we gazed through the small window panes through which he must have so often and so anxiously looked towards the enemy, and at the oldfashioned buffets where his table service was deposited for his accommodation. But little change has taken place in the building, and its amiable and patriotic inmates have shown their respect for the hero by placing on the walls his portrait and several representations of his last moments at Mount Vernon."

In the north-east angle of this town lies Willett's pond, a large and beautiful sheet of water, which falls into the Mamaroneck river. Its banks on the north-west side are very steep and the views from the summits of the surrounding hills are extremely fine. At the outlet of the pond is situated the grist mill and clothier works of Mr. Henry Willett.

The general surface of White Plains, "is somewhat hilly, but mostly arable; soil, principally loam, well adapted to grass, and much of it highly cultivated." The higher lands abound with good timber, which consists chiefly of oak, chestnut and hickory. There is perhaps no town in the county better watered by rivers, brooks, and springs.

a Mr. Elijah Miller (who is since deceased) was a soldier of the Revolution. Disturnell's Gazetteer, N. Y.

YORKTOWN.

YORKTOWN is situated sixteen miles north of the village of White Plains, distant forty-two miles from New York, and one hundred and seventeen from Albany, "bounded north by Putnam county, east by Somers and New Castle, south by New Castle, and west by Cortlandt. Its length, north and south, ten miles, and it is nearly four miles wide.

Prior to 1788, Yorktown and Somers constituted the old township of Hanover, within Cortlandt's manor. A portion of the former early acquired the name of Gertrude's borough, in honor of Gertrude Beeckman, wife of Colonel Henry Beeckman, and one of the daughters and devisees of Stephanus van Cortlandt.

The Mohegan term Appamaghpogh appears to have been applied to the whole Indian territory within the manor, west of Cortlandtown. The eastern section of Yorktown still bears the name of Amawalk, probably an abbreviation and corruption of the former term, thus Appamaghpogh, Amaghpogh, or Amawalk. The lands of Appamaghpogh were originally granted to Stephamus van Cortlandt in 1683, by the Indian sachems Pewemind, Oskewans, and others, as mentioned in our description of Somers, &c.

The principal aboriginal settlement in this part of Appamaghpogh occupied the summit of Indian hill, a vast height, which rises to an elevation of nearly six hundred feet above the northern margin of Lake Magrigaries, (Hollow Lake) situated in Jefferson valley. On the southern side of the hill lies the Indian burying-ground. The remains of several Indians have been lately disinterred near the residence of Dr. Fountain, whose property borders on the lake. Indian hill is also memorable as the last spot inhabited by a band of aborigines in Westchester

The present township was erected 7th March, 1788. Rev. Statutes, 486.
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