the contest might have been doubtful, had not Colonel
Rall, commanding his own regiment and that named
after Knyphausen, also forded the Bronx, outflanked
the Americans, and assisted the troops which were
making the attack in front. The river was deep, and
the Hessian soldiers hesitated to enter it. Lieutenants
Wiederhold and Briede dashed in first to set them
an example. We shall hear more of the former of
these officers.[1] The second fell a few days later at
the taking of Fort Washington.
Some of the Americans fought fairly well on this occasion, against much superior numbers. They had an undoubted advantage of position, and made good use of it, inflicting a loss of about two hundred and eighty killed and wounded on their enemy. Howe mentions in his despatches the good service done by the English and Hessian artillery. Heister's adjutant-general says that the Hessian field-pieces made such a “thunder-storm” that one could neither see nor hear. The Americans had but three small cannon on the hill.[2]
The American army at this time was largely composed of militiamen, sent by the various states for short periods of service. These militiamen were in great measure ill-armed and in rags, undisciplined, and commanded by officers who had but a few months be-
- ↑ See Wiederhold's (MS.) diary. Unless Ewald is mistaken, Wiederhold, although still a lieutenant, cannot have been very young at this time. He had already distinguished himself in 1762.—Ewald's “Belehrungen,” vol. iii. p. 130.
- ↑ For the action at White Plains: Bancroft, vol. ix. pp. 181-183; Eelking's “Hülfstruppen,” vol. i. pp. 71-77; Washington, vol. iv. pp. 526-529; MS. journal of the Grenadier Battalion von Minnigerode; of the Regiment von Lossberg (Heuser); Wiederhold's Diary.
