THE TOWN Or WHITE PLAIN'S. 573 



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." 4 



The head-quarters of Washington, while stationed here, were at a 

 small farm-house to the north of the village, situated amid a deep soli- 

 tude of woods, surrounded by hills and wild romantic scenery. The fol- 

 lowing account of a visit paid to this spot, is taken from a newspaper 

 printed in New York, in 1845. 



"When we entered the little room of Mr. Miller's 6 farm-house, where that great 

 and good man hud 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 old-fashioned buffets, where 

 his table service was deposited for his acommodation. 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 repre- 

 sentations of his last moments at Mount Vernon." 



In the north-east angle of the town, lies St. Mary's Lake — 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. 



The general surface of White Plains, " is somewhat hilly, but mostly 

 arable ; soil, orincipally 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 Journal of N. Y. Prov. Congress, vol. ii, 31T. 



b Mr. Elijah Miller (who is since deceased) was a soldier of the Revolution. 



c Disturnell's Gazetteer, N. Y. 



