128 THE BOROUGH OF THE BRONX 



returned to the Neck, and, after throwing up earthworks, encamped. 

 For six days Howe's Army remained inactive at Throgg's Neck. 

 When he finally got his army in motion, the Americans had with- 

 drawn to White Plains, a more strategic position. Howe's inac- 

 tivity had lost him a golden opportunity. 



On the 14th of October the Americans held a council of war 

 at Kingsbridge, at the quarters of General Lee, who arrived that 

 day from the South. 



It was decided that it would be impracticable to blockade the 

 Sound or even the North River. The only method of preventing 

 the British from cutting off Washington's communication with the 

 country was an immediate northern movement towards the strong 

 grounds in the upper part of Westchester County. Fort Wash- 

 ington, however, in compliance with the wishes of the Continental 

 Congress, was to be maintained as long as possible. 



On the 18th the whole British army was in motion. Lord 

 Howe re-embarked part of his troops in flatboats, crossed East- 

 chester Bay, and landed on Pell's Point (now Pelham Bay Park) 

 at the north of the Hutchinson River. Here he was joined in a 

 few hours by the main body, and proceeded thru the manor of 

 Pelham, still with the intention of getting above Washington's 

 Army. Washington, believing that Howe was planning an attack 

 upon Morrisania, where the Americans had a strong outpost, or- 

 dered Heath and his troops to that position to watch the enemy; 

 thus leaving the British free to capture and destroy the scattered 

 American army. But in their march the British were waylaid 

 and harassed from behind stone walls by the brigade under the 

 command of Colonel John Glover. 



This brigade was composed of the regiments of Colonels Shep- 

 ard, Read and Baldwin, as well as his own Marblehead, Massachu- 

 setts, regiment which had played so important a part in skillfully 

 manning and rowing the boats in the retreat from Long Island, 

 and later when Washington took his army across the Delaware and 

 surprised the Hessians at Trenton. Colonel Glover's regiment was 

 composed almost wholly of fishermen, and was therefore styled 

 the "Amphibious Regiment." They were hardy, adroit and 

 weather-proof; fresh and full of spirit; and, as they marched 

 briskly along the line with alert and cheery aspect, they inspired 

 the other soldiers with enthusiasm. 



The British made their landing under cover of darkness. 



