THE TOWN OF WHITE PLAINS. 57 1 



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 iight-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 li_ r ht-horse were notaware until a shot from Lieutenant Fenno's field- 

 piece gave them notice by striking in the midst of them, and a horseman pitch- 

 ing 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 those now r 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, com- 

 posed 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, parallel 

 with the Americans. When they briskly ascended the hill," the first column re- 

 sumed a quick march. As the troops, which were advancing to the attack, as. 

 ceuded 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 the small arms was 

 now very heavy, and without any distinction of sounds. This led some Ameri- 

 can 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 inconsider- 

 able. 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, al- 

 most down to the centre." 6 



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, 



a While t lie British were thus advancing up the hill, a shot struck one of the standard 

 bearers dead. Warren de LaDcey, (then a boy lifteen years of age,) iustantly seized the 

 colors, and mailing 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 llowe. — Author. 



b Heath's Mem. 76. 



c The remains of those slain in the conflict, were interred iaa hollow on the south-west side 

 of ( hatterton hill, near a hickory tree. 



