POD: 28th October 1776, White Plains, New York
Once there was a dream, a dream called the United States of America.
This is the story of how it died.
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The Battle of White Plains on the 28th October 1776 was part of the New York and New Jersey Campaign of the Continental Revolution. The objective of the British forces under General William Howe was to cut off the retreat of the Continental Army under General George Washington.
When the British were detected by scouts, General Washington ordered his forces to take the field, with Joseph Spencer's 2nd Connecticut Regiment marching to delay the oncoming enemy. The 2nd Connecticut would march until they exchanged fire with Colonel Johann Rall's Hessian forces, at modern-day Hartston (New York). Unable to hold the line, the 2nd Connecticut withdrew in order across the Bronx River fifteen minutes after initial contact with the Hessians, escaping after Spencer made no order to pause to fire (POD). British dragoons chased the 2nd Connecticut away as Rall's Hessians advanced towards Chatterton Hill.
Haslet's Delaware Regiment repelled with gunfire, to then face the dragoons on their right flank, with McDougall being alerted after Haslet had been attacked on the front and flank. After five minutes of fighting with the dragoons and seeing Rall's Hessians charge, Haslet ordered a hasty retreat. The retreat turned from hasty to hurried, as the Hessians reached the hill fighting off McDougall's advance with the dragoons retreating to conserve numbers. The entire front line of the Continentals was shocked by the flanking on the right side and the British assaulting the entire line. McDougall's brigade was forced to withdraw north to Upper Road upon facing the dragoon's counterattack as well as Hessian reinforcements and artillery. McDougall's retreat would leave the dragoons and the Hessians capable of striking at the flank. The Hessian artillery on the left of the line advanced further until it hit could hit the highest positions of the Continentals further away.
General Washington, seeing the right flank broken, ordered Spencer's retreat to the Upper Road to link back with McDougall. Having heard the news, General Howe gave the order for the line to continue, with the Continentals' front line withdrawing. The Hessians were ordered to then push on, attacking the Continentals before McDougall could reform his lines. Dragoons were then able to punch through the lines, fording the Bronx River and taking themselves on the Upper Road. It was when the British continued their advance that Haslet's Delaware Regiment broke, having sustained severe casualties as they kept hold of the line. General Alexander Leslie was able to bring the British right flank to bear on the unorganised Continentals, who were starting to lose hope after General Washington ordered an orderly retreat. As he attempted to saddle his horse, he was discovered by several dragoons. Charging at him, they faced gunfire from infantry and from a few stray cavalrymen, but the job was done. One dragoon managed to shoot Washington's horse, causing it to panic and buckle. Unable to control his steed and with the men around his fleeing, Washington fell from his horse, right onto his back. As he came back up to draw his sword, the dragoons were quicker, striking the General at his neck and face before he fell down in the mud.
He would be 44 years old.
It would be one of the worst defeats for the Continental Army, with General Washington among the casualties. Out of 3,100 Continentals, 83 were killed, 213 were wounded and 61 were taken captive. Out of General Howe's forces (numbering between 4,000 and 7,500), 71 were killed and 194 were wounded. Joseph Spencer would, for the time being, establish himself as the commander of the leaderless army. He would order a retreat further north, with McDougall establishing a final defence to hold back the British.
King George III, meanwhile, would address Parliament on the 31st October 1776 on the matter of the fighting in America. He would state that all was not going well. Little would he know, by Christmas, that things were quite the opposite.
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I would like to thank @Claudius for starting the Pre-1900 thread "Washington killed early" for the idea of this TL. I have no idea if I want to do anything with this apart from being an ATL Revolutionary War.
All comments and thoughts are welcome.
This is the story of how it died.
*************************************************************************************
The Battle of White Plains on the 28th October 1776 was part of the New York and New Jersey Campaign of the Continental Revolution. The objective of the British forces under General William Howe was to cut off the retreat of the Continental Army under General George Washington.
When the British were detected by scouts, General Washington ordered his forces to take the field, with Joseph Spencer's 2nd Connecticut Regiment marching to delay the oncoming enemy. The 2nd Connecticut would march until they exchanged fire with Colonel Johann Rall's Hessian forces, at modern-day Hartston (New York). Unable to hold the line, the 2nd Connecticut withdrew in order across the Bronx River fifteen minutes after initial contact with the Hessians, escaping after Spencer made no order to pause to fire (POD). British dragoons chased the 2nd Connecticut away as Rall's Hessians advanced towards Chatterton Hill.
Haslet's Delaware Regiment repelled with gunfire, to then face the dragoons on their right flank, with McDougall being alerted after Haslet had been attacked on the front and flank. After five minutes of fighting with the dragoons and seeing Rall's Hessians charge, Haslet ordered a hasty retreat. The retreat turned from hasty to hurried, as the Hessians reached the hill fighting off McDougall's advance with the dragoons retreating to conserve numbers. The entire front line of the Continentals was shocked by the flanking on the right side and the British assaulting the entire line. McDougall's brigade was forced to withdraw north to Upper Road upon facing the dragoon's counterattack as well as Hessian reinforcements and artillery. McDougall's retreat would leave the dragoons and the Hessians capable of striking at the flank. The Hessian artillery on the left of the line advanced further until it hit could hit the highest positions of the Continentals further away.
General Washington, seeing the right flank broken, ordered Spencer's retreat to the Upper Road to link back with McDougall. Having heard the news, General Howe gave the order for the line to continue, with the Continentals' front line withdrawing. The Hessians were ordered to then push on, attacking the Continentals before McDougall could reform his lines. Dragoons were then able to punch through the lines, fording the Bronx River and taking themselves on the Upper Road. It was when the British continued their advance that Haslet's Delaware Regiment broke, having sustained severe casualties as they kept hold of the line. General Alexander Leslie was able to bring the British right flank to bear on the unorganised Continentals, who were starting to lose hope after General Washington ordered an orderly retreat. As he attempted to saddle his horse, he was discovered by several dragoons. Charging at him, they faced gunfire from infantry and from a few stray cavalrymen, but the job was done. One dragoon managed to shoot Washington's horse, causing it to panic and buckle. Unable to control his steed and with the men around his fleeing, Washington fell from his horse, right onto his back. As he came back up to draw his sword, the dragoons were quicker, striking the General at his neck and face before he fell down in the mud.
He would be 44 years old.
It would be one of the worst defeats for the Continental Army, with General Washington among the casualties. Out of 3,100 Continentals, 83 were killed, 213 were wounded and 61 were taken captive. Out of General Howe's forces (numbering between 4,000 and 7,500), 71 were killed and 194 were wounded. Joseph Spencer would, for the time being, establish himself as the commander of the leaderless army. He would order a retreat further north, with McDougall establishing a final defence to hold back the British.
King George III, meanwhile, would address Parliament on the 31st October 1776 on the matter of the fighting in America. He would state that all was not going well. Little would he know, by Christmas, that things were quite the opposite.
****************************************************************************************
I would like to thank @Claudius for starting the Pre-1900 thread "Washington killed early" for the idea of this TL. I have no idea if I want to do anything with this apart from being an ATL Revolutionary War.
All comments and thoughts are welcome.