From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 163
"The pickets are driven in, but our army is in order of battle," Adjutant-General Reed informed him, as he
reached headquarters.
"Gentlemen, return to your respective posts, and do the best you can," the general responded, without the least
excitement.
By this time the British army was discovered upon the high ground beyond the village, advancing in two
columns, "in all the pomp and circumstance of war." General Heath wrote afterwards:
"It was a brilliant but formidable sight. The sun shone bright, their arms glittered, and perhaps troops never
were shown to more advantage."
A brief but hard-fought battle followed, in which there was a loss of about four hundred men on each side.
The enemy waited for reinforcements, and Washington improved the time to fall back to Northcastle, five
miles, where, in the rocky fastness, he could defy the whole British army. To add to his advantages, the day
on which the British commander decided upon an attack, after the arrival of reinforcements, a violent rain set
in, and continued through the day, rendering an attack impossible, so that the Americans had still more time to
strengthen their position.
On the night of Nov. 4, a heavy rumbling sound was heard in the direction of the British camp. It continued
all through the night, and resembled the noise of wagons and artillery in motion. Day break disclosed the
cause: the enemy was decamping. Long trains were seen moving over the hilly country towards Dobb's Ferry
on the Hudson.
"A feint!" said General Lee, as soon as he discovered the situation.
"A retreat, more like," replied another officer. "The enemy sees little hope in attacking this stronghold."
"I can hardly believe that so large and well-disciplined an army is going to withdraw without giving battle,"
responded Washington. "No doubt an attack upon Fort Washington is the immediate purpose; and then,
perhaps an invasion into the Jerseys."
There was much speculation among the officers as to the meaning of this manoeuvre, and all of them were in
more or less perplexity. Washington wrote immediately to Governor Livingston of New Jersey and hurried a
messenger away with the letter:
"They have gone towards North River and King's Bridge. Some suppose they are going into winter quarters,
and will sit down in New York without doing more than investing Fort Washington. I cannot subscribe wholly
to this opinion myself. That they will invest Fort Washington is a matter of which there can be no doubt, and I
think there is a strong probability that General Howe will detach a part of his force to make an incursion into
the Jerseys, provided he is going to New York. He must attempt something on account of his reputation, for
what has he done as yet with his great army?"
Satisfied that General Howe intended to capture Fort Washington, he advised its evacuation. He wrote to
General Greene:
"If we cannot prevent vessels from passing up the river, and the enemy are possessed of all the surrounding
country, what valuable purpose can it answer to hold a post from which the expected benefit cannot be had? I
am, therefore, inclined to think that it will not be prudent to hazard the men and stores at Mount Washington;
but as you are on the spot, I leave it to you to give such orders as to evacuating Mount Washington as you
may judge best, and so far revoking the orders given to Colonel Morgan, to defend it to the last."