If I fall, it may not be amiss that these circumstances be known, and declaration made in credit to the justice of my character.

And if the men will stand by me (which by the by I despair of), I am resolved not to be forced from this ground while I have life; and a few days will determine the point, if the enemy should not change their place of operations; for they certainly will not--I am sure they ought not--to waste the season that is now fast advancing, and must be precious to them.[1] [Footnote 1: Ford, IV, 458.] The British troops almost succeeded in surrounding Washington's force north of Harlem.

Washington retreated to White Plains, where, on October 28th, the British, after a severe loss, took an outpost and won what is called the "Battle of White Plains." Henceforward Washington's movements resembled too painfully those of the proverbial toad under the harrow; and yet in spite of Lord Howe's efforts to crush him, he succeeded in escaping into New Jersey with a small remnant--some six thousand men--of his original army.

The year 1776 thus closed in disaster which seemed to be irremediable.

It showed that the British, having awakened to the magnitude of their task, were able to cope with it.