Portrait illustrating an interaction between colonial and indigenous soldiers

White Plains

New York  |  Oct 28, 1776

On October 28, 1776, George Washington’s Patriot army was attacked by British forces under the command of William Howe at the Battle of White Plains. In the resulting action, the Patriot force was defeated and forced to retreat from the field. Faced with the crippling defeats at White Plains followed by Forts Washington and Lee, Washington was forced to evacuate New York and New Jersey. 

How It Ended 

British Victory. After successfully pushing back British attacks up and down his fortified lines, George Washington's right flank broke when a Hessian force punched through the Patriot lines. This defeat caused Washington to retreat from the battlefield and evacuate New York.

In Context

After defeats in New York, General George Washington moved his defeated Patriot army to their base of supplies at White Plains, New York. However, British General William Howe was pursuing him, determined to defeat Washington once and for all.

After American defeats at the Battles of Long Island and Harlem Heights, General George Washington moved his army northwards in New York. The British pursued him doggedly by land and river. Skirmishes erupted almost daily as the Continentals marched just ahead of their British foes. British General William Howe hoped that if he could move his troops quickly enough, he could cut off Washington’s escape route near White Plains. By October 28, the Americans had reached their base of supplies at White Plains, New York. They fortified the town with a line of breastworks that some soldiers later claimed was composed primarily of cornstalks. The tired Americans did not have to wait long for their British adversaries to arrive on the scene.

Forces Engaged
10,600
American
3,100
British
7,500

On the morning of October 28, a sharp firefight erupted as American skirmishers tried to slow the British advance. The skirmishers eventually fell back to Chatterton Hill, a position on the main American line. Once the fighting began, the American fortified lines held against repeated British assaults. Eventually, Howe maneuvered his men to outflank and overwhelm the fortified American position. The British and Hessians soldiers launched one final desperate assault and were met by determined musketry as they climbed the slopes of Chatterton Hill. Finally, a Hessian force dislodged the militia that protected the American right flank despite their fierce resistance. The line began to unravel as more British soldiers rushed in to exploit the breakthrough. Soon, Washington's army was conducting a fighting withdrawal, with the 1st Delaware Regiment guarding the army's rear.

American
217
50 killed
150 wounded
17 missing & captured
Estimated Casualties
450
American
217
British
233
British
233
47 killed
182 wounded
4 missing & captured

After his defeat, Washington was forced to retreat from New York and into New Jersey. The campaign was rough for Washington's soldiers, and after the string of losses, it seemed as if the Revolution was all but finished. However, since Washington and what remained of the Patriot army escaped, the war was not over.

1. Why did British General William Howe attack at White Plains?

After crushing Washington’s army in the Battles of Long Island and Harlem Heights, Howe planned to try and finish Washington’s retreating army once in for all. His goal was to try and attack Washington’s escape route at White Plains and hopefully end the rebellion. However, this did not work out as planned since the Patriot army successfully retreated from the area to fight another day.

2. What role did Hessian Soldiers play in the battle?

During the Battle of White Plains, Hessian soldiers played a vital role in the fight's outcome. After repeated failed assaults on the American main lines, Hessian soldiers under the command of Johann Gottlieb Rall attacked the American right flank and British soldiers and successfully broke the American right flank, causing the entire line to buckle and retreat from the field.

All battles of the New York and New Jersey Campaign

Rev War  |  Battle
Brooklyn
Brooklyn, New York  |  Aug 27, 1776
Result: British Victory
Est. Casualties: 2,388
American: 2,000
British: 388
Rev War  |  Battle
Pell's Point
New York  |  Oct 18, 1776
Result: British Victory
American: 21
British: 244
Rev War  |  Battle
Fort Lee
Fort Lee, NJ  |  Oct 20, 1776
Result: British Victory
Est. Casualties: 8
American: 8
Rev War  |  Battle
White Plains
New York  |  Oct 28, 1776
Result: British Victory
Est. Casualties: 450
American: 217
British: 233
Rev War  |  Battle
Fort Washington
New York  |  Nov 16, 1776
Result: British Victory
Est. Casualties: 613
American: 155
British: 458
Rev War  |  Battle
Mount Holly
Burlington County, NJ  |  Dec 21 - 23, 1776
Result: British Victory
Est. Casualties: 250
American: 200
British: 50
Rev War  |  Battle
Trenton
New Jersey  |  Dec 26, 1776
Result: American Victory
Est. Casualties: 910
American: 5
British: 905
Rev War  |  Battle
Princeton
New Jersey  |  Jan 3, 1777
Result: American Victory
American: 75
British: 270
Rev War  |  Battle
Connecticut Farms and Springfield
New Jersey  |  Jun 7 - 23, 1780
Result: American Victory
Est. Casualties: 506
American: 174
British: 332

Related Battles

New York | October 28, 1776
Result: British Victory
Commanders
Forces Engaged
10,600
American
3,100
British
7,500
Estimated Casualties
450
American
217
British
233

The Battlefields Today