This fall marks the 250th anniversary of the 1776 New York Campaign which brought the American Revolutionary War directly into Westchester County, including the pivotal Battle of White Plains on October 28, 1776.
Following a string of bruising defeats and retreats at the city of New York earlier that summer, including the Battle of Long Island, General George Washington withdrew the Continental Army northward into Westchester to secure his supply lines and escape encirclement.
British General William Howe pursued the American forces by staging amphibious landings in the county, aiming to slice off Washington’s retreat. This triggered several engagements across the county:
The Battle of Pell’s Point (October 18, 1776) was fought in the modern-day Pelham Bay Park area, as a heavily outnumbered brigade of Massachusetts patriots under Colonel John Glover delayed the British advance. Their resistance bought Washington the opportunity to move the main army north to White Plains.
The Battle of White Plains (October 28, 1776) was the principal clash of the Westchester campaign and focused on the strategic high ground of Chatterton Hill.
While Hessian and British regiments ultimately took the hill and won a tactical victory, Washington executed a disciplined withdrawal further north into the hills of North Castle.
In keeping his army intact, he denied Howe the decisive, war-ending blow he sought.
Following these battles, Westchester County spent the remainder of the war as the volatile “Neutral Ground” — a somewhat lawless territory torn between rival militias and foragers from both sides.
The latest episode of the Ben Franklin’s World podcast, investigates the experiences of farmers, families, and soldiers in Westchester during the American Revolution, and how figures like Washington Irving interpreted these events.
You can listen to the podcast here.
Ben Franklin’s World is an award-winning podcast. It’s for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our world.
Each episode features an interview with a historian who shares their unique insights into our early American past. It is a production of Clio Digital Media.
Read More About the American Revolution in New York
Illustration: The Continental Army reenactors recreate the march north in Westchester County (photo by Ken Bohrer).
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