WHITE PLAINS, N. Y., village, county seat of Westchester County, on the Harlem Di vivicm of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad, about 20 miles from the cen tral part of New York City. It has several manufactories and has grown rapidly as a residential suburb. it has a high school, opened in 1894, graded elementary public and parish schools. Saint John's Academy for Boys, Good Counsel Training School, several private schools and a public library. Bloomingdale Asylum for the Insane occupies a prominent position over looking the village, nearby arc several beauti ful lakes, connected with the water supply of New York City. Several golf clubs maintain splendid grounas, as does also the Westchester Fair Association. It has been an incorporated village since !Rik and owns and operates the waterworks. The government is vested in a pres;dent and board of trustees. Pop. 19,2S7.
White Plains and vicinity were the scenes of many battles and skirmishes during thc Revolution. Fortifications or their ruins were to be seen on all sides. On 21 October Washing ton established his headqnarters at White Plains. On the (-setting of 27 October Hallett with about 1,60() American troops had taken pos session of Chatterton Hill, a commanding mil miles on the west side of the Bronx, and on the morning of the 28th, re-enforced by a small add tional force under McDougall and two meet s of cannon under command of Alexander he fortified his position as well as time would allow. On the morning of that day Howe ads anced with his forces in two columns (numbering about 13.000 men) upon the
American army posted along the Bronx. Per ceiving the importance of the position on Chat t. rton Hill and regarding it as the only assail able point of the American army, Leslie was cent with a strong detachment to cross the Bronx and attack it in front, while Rall with a Hessian regiment was ordered to cross the river a quarter of a mile below and attack Hallett in flank. The hill was carried with great difficulty, the Americans retreating in good order and without being pursued. The British troops rested that night out Chatterton Hill The next day, 29 October. a skirmish took place between the two armies; hut Howe, finding the Americans still too strongly posted to be attacked with safety, waited for re-en foecements. These arrived on the evening of the 30th, hut a storm coming on, the Americans took advantage of it and withdrew to the still stronger position of Newcastle, two miles above, which they bad previously fortified. Afraid to attack them in this position. Howe fell back to the junction of the Harlem and Hudson rivers and encamped on Fordham Heights, and Washington withdrew his army leisurely into New Jersey and made his headquarters at Hack ensack. The loss of the Americans in the battle of White Plains and the skirmish of the succeeding days were nearly 300 in killed, wounded and prisoners, and that of the British about the same.