battle white plains battle white plains battle new_york new_jersey campaign american revolutionary war fought october near new_york following retreat george_washington continental_army northward new_york_city british general landed troops intending cut washington escape route alerted washington retreated farther establishing position village failed establish firm control local high ground howe troops drove washington troops hill near village following loss washington ordered americans retreat farther north later british movements chased washington new_jersey pennsylvania washington crossed delaware surprised brigade troops december background british general evacuating boston march halifax nova scotia embarked june campaign gain control new_york_city campaign began unopposed landing early july british troops unopposed landing long_island august south areas general george_washington continental_army organized significant defenses losing august general washington army troops escaped night august manhattan called general howe followed landing manhattan september advance checked day abortive landing neck landed troops resistance point october begin maneuver intended trap washington army force troops manhattan hudson_river dominated warships royal_navy howe established camp advance elements army near miles lightly defended continental_army supply depot prelude october general washington sent colonel reconnaissance mission camp discovered general placement british troop locations recognized danger army supplies reported washington evening washington immediately dispatched orders lord troops north immediately march arrived white plains october followed units army day progressed washington decided withdraw army white plains leaving garrison men defend manhattan general howe army advanced slowly troops center right moving road white plains unit loyalists occupied attacked night detachment lord troops took thirty prisoners supplies suffered killed wounded result howe moved elements right wing occupy october howe reinforced landing new additional troops command washington established headquarters october chose defensive position fortified lines trenches situated raised terrain protected right ground near hills place retreat american defenses miles long right hill commanded plain british advance hill initially occupied militia companies numbering probably including massachusetts militia company october howe army moved established camp covering eastern bank apparently hopes catching column alter route execute forced march night avoid howe remained morning october forces marched british troops right general primarily troops left general battle washington terrain determine best station troops alerted british advancing returning headquarters ordered 2nd connecticut regiment slow british advance sent 1st delaware regiment brigade 19th 1st reinforce hill force crossed set stone wall exchanged fire led colonel head british left column eventually forced retreat clinton column threatened flank companies retreated fire troops hill covered troops attempted gain hill repelled fire troops militia retreated nearby river defense brought entire british_army maneuvering attack entire american line stop howe command conferred artillery left opened fire position succeeded driving militia panicked retreat arrival brigade helped rally defensive line established militia right hill howe finally issued orders army waited detachment british troops sent hill british attack organized regiments leading assault charge american right battalion colonel consisting regiment attack center british column general consisting 5th 28th 35th 49th foot attack right force difficulty crossing river reluctant elements british force cross river charge scattered militia american right leaving flank maryland new_york regiments exposed poured musket fire british attackers temporarily halted british advance exposure flank caused begin fighting retreat progressively forced remainder american line engaged segments british force way retreat delaware regiment anchored american left provided covering fire remaining troops retreated north leave hill fighting intense sides suffered significant casualties disciplined retreat casualties john history british_army says howe casualties numbered british points figure includes entire casualties october fact casualties incurred battle white plains revised figure total british killed wounded missing white plains hand gives howe loss killed wounded missing american loss uncertain range killed wounded captured numbers casualties killed wounded estimates killed wounded missing commands information losses regiment aftermath generals remained days howe reinforced position hill washington organized army retreat hills arrival additional troops lord october howe planned act americans following day heavy rain fell day howe finally prepared act find washington grasp washington withdrew army hills north night october establishing camp near howe chose follow instead attempting success draw washington november turned army south finish continental_army troops manhattan task accomplished november battle washington eventually crossed hudson_river army leaving new_england regiments guard supply stores important river crossings later british movements chased new_jersey pennsylvania british established chain outposts new_jersey washington seeing opportunity victory boost nation morale crossed delaware surprised troops december legacy year near anniversary date hosts commemoration event new_york ships united_states_navy named escort carrier world war combat stores ship decommissioned suffering extensive damage according historians depicted short story legend hollow inspired real life soldier lost head cannon fire battle
Battle of White Plains