At the Battle of White Plains on October 28, 1776, British forces under General William Howe, numbering about 13,000 and including several brigades, regiments of foot, light infantry, chasseurs, grenadiers, artillery batteries, light cavalry, and Hessian battalions under Heister, Rahl, and Donop, fought American defenders. In the assault on Chatterton’s Hill, a reinforced 2nd Brigade of about 7,000 troops commanded by Brigadier General Leslie, including the 28th, 35th, 5th, and 49th Regiments of Foot, Hessian grenadier battalions, and the Lossberg Regiment, attacked with artillery batteries and the 17th Light Dragoons cavalry in support. After a one-hour artillery bombardment, they waded across the Bronx River and charged up the steep slopes, outflanking the Americans. By midday the defenders had been driven off the hill and retreated to their main lines north of town. British casualties totaled 276, and they inflicted nearly 150 killed, wounded, and missing on the Patriots. After the day’s action, the British regrouped and camped.
