PELHAM AND WESTCHESTER 



177 



In the woods not far from the large stone Pell mansion is the "Lord 

 Howe chestnut" beneath wjiose unbrageous branches Lord Howe 

 and his officers lunched with a number of Westchester loyalists 

 whom he had invited for the occasion. On the morning of October 

 23, 1776, Westchester County beheld a most magnificent pageant. 

 Preparatory to pursuing Washington towards White Plains, Lord 

 Howe drew up for review his entire army consisting of about 10,- 

 000 men each clad in his Sunday uniform. The soft green of the 

 Hessians formed a charming contrast with the brilliant scarlet 



Lord Howe Chestnut 



of the British regulars, while the bright arms of the troops glis- 

 tened in the sunlight. After riding along the lines to inspect the 

 army, Howe and his officers with the loyalist gentlemen, sat down 

 at noon to partake of some refreshments. "Let us hope, however," 

 we read, "that the meal of these fine gentlemen was not spoiled 

 by the presence of that rough old German, the Count Von Kny- 

 phausen, who tho a dashing soldier and a brave man, was no 

 courtier and anything but a pleasant dining companion." 



Pelham Neck, which was called by the Dutch Annes Hoeck, or 

 Ann's Neck, is situated between the Sound on the north and East- 

 chester Bay on the south, and is the largest of all the necks in the 



