The Battle of White Plains

It's always amazing how much you can learn from the past.

In October of 1776, George Washington and the Continental Army were in a precarious position. Situated in Harlem Heights, the Continental Army was in retreat after the Battle of Long Island. The British commander, General Howe, was in the process of placing his forces in an encircling position to trap Washington's army. Colonel Rufus Putnam was dispatched by Washington on a reconnaissance mission and recognized the danger facing his men. Washington quickly issued orders to have most of the army move to White Plains.

British forces dominated the Hudson River and were also positioned in Mamaroneck, Scarsdale and New Rochelle. The Continental Army hastily arranged their defenses in White Plains, with three miles of entrenchments and the swamps of the Bronx River protecting their right. To the rear of the Continental lines were numerous hills, offering a venue for retreat if necessary. Also, next to American line was Chatterton's Hill, which overlooked the plain on which the British would advance.

Among those men on the hill was Captain Alexander Hamilton who commanded an artillery detachment. During the battle, Hamilton and his artillery would inflict numerous casualties among the British, but would eventually be driven from Chatterton's Hill. The Continental Army as a whole would also retreat, owing their escape to heavy rains which prevented General Howe from further advancing on them.

Washington and his men would continue to be pursued by the British across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Eventually Washington would make a historic crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas night of 1776, leading to a victory at the battle of Trenton, and a turning the tide of the American Revolution.

The White Plains of 1776 looked very different from the city of 2010. The swamps which protected Washington's line are now downtown White Plains and Chatterton's Hill is now called Battle Hill.

The country has changed dramatically over the years, but once again citizens from towns like Harrison and White Plains are risking their lives in battle. While at war they face the daily prospect of death, yet it is when they return home that they must face a new set of challenges.

George Washington once remarked, "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."

We as a nation still owe a debt to those who have served. The battle is not over for our veterans once they return home. The struggles are just as great, if not greater. The veteran must now come to grips with, and try to make sense of their experiences at war. Innocence lost, questions of life and death pervade. They are peered into the abyss and seen the precariousness of life. He has faced the prospect of death, lost friends and perhaps taken the life of another. Trying to sort through such profound experiences presents a unique set of challenges, and is in some ways a war altogether its own.

Not all win this personal battle, and none come out unscathed. Many veterans simply give up, unable to find meaning in life. Others immerse themselves in work or some cause, pushing away their experiences and thoughts, hoping that if they ignore them, they will go away.

Health care and services at the Veterans Administration are lacking. It is not uncommon to have to wait several months to receive care. The unemployment rate is high, and veterans face the extra challenge of trying to transition military skills into a civilian career. These issues and others pervade the everyday life of the veteran, with the long term effects of the wars yet to be manifested.

We, as a nation, must be prepared to support those most in need of our help. They have served us and protected us abroad. Let us do the same for them at home, and not forget the words of General Washington.