You're listening to an Airwave Media Podcast. Hello and thank you for joining the American Revolution.

Today episode 112, The Battle of White Plains.

When we last left General Washington, he was holding firm at Harlem Heights

on Manhattan Island. Having created a series of defensive lines, he waited patiently for British General

Howe's frontal assault.

Washington expected that in such an attack, he would inflict large numbers of casualties on the British even if he had to give up the field.

The problem for Washington was that since Bunker Hill, General Howe was not stupid enough to attempt a frontal assault against an entrenched enemy.

Washington had given Howe several opportunities for such an attack, but Howe refused to take the bait.

In holding this ground, though, Washington did not consider the danger to his army.

Holding an entrenched area on Manhattan Island meant that the British could easily sail north of Washington's entrenched position, land a force, and effectively surround the Continental Army.

Fortunately for the Continental's,

Howe ignored General Clinton's advice to do just that.

Land a force to the north, capture King's Bridge, and cut off Washington's Army from any line of retreat.

Instead, after meeting resistance at Harlem Heights, on September 16, 1776, Howell did what he usually did.

Set up camp, entrench his troops in defensive lines,

and sit around for weeks doing nothing.

It appears that Howe was waiting to hear from Canada.

He knew Generals Carlton and Burgoyne

planned to invade Lake Champlain

and make their way down toward Albany. From there that

10,000-man Northern Army would be in Washington's rear while Hal still sat in

front of Washington's lines. The Continental's would have no choice but to see the

...