The aim of
Howe was to get control of the Hudson and to meet half way the
advance from Canada by way of Lake Champlain which Carleton was
leading. On the 12th of October, when autumn winds were already
making the nights cold, Howe moved. He did not attack Washington
who lay in strength at the Harlem. That would have been to play
Washington's game. Instead he put the part of his army still on
Long Island in ships which then sailed through the dangerous
currents of Hell Gate and landed at Throg's Neck, a peninsula on
the sound across from Long Island. Washington parried this
movement by so guarding the narrow neck of the peninsula leading
to the mainland that the cautious Howe shrank from a frontal
attack across a marsh. After a delay of six days, he again
embarked his army, landed a few miles above Throg's Neck in the
hope of cutting off Washington from retreat northward, only to
find Washington still north of him at White Plains. A sharp
skirmish followed in which Howe lost over two hundred men and
Washington only one hundred and forty. Washington, masterly in
retreat, then withdrew still farther north among hills difficult
of attack.
Howe had a plan which made a direct attack on Washington
unnecessary. He turned southward and occupied the east shore of
the Hudson River.
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