WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VARIETY. From Westchester County Department of Communications October 25,2002:Find out why New York City and Westchester were so important to victory in the American Revolution during a presentation by historian and author Barnet Schecter on Saturday, November 2, 1 p.m., at the Miller House Farm House (Washington’s Headquarters Museum) in North White Plains.
Schecter’s talk will describe the invasion of New York City, paying special attention to Westchester’s critical role in the winning of American independence. His presentation will include the landing of British forces at Throg’s Neck, the Battle of Pelham Bay, the Battle of White Plains, and the protection offered to Washington’s army by the hills of North White Plains after the battle. The presentation will be preceded by a self-guided tour of the historic Miller House and it will conclude with a walk to Miller Hill, where Schecter will discuss its strategic importance.
On September 15, 1776, the British army under General William Howe invaded Manhattan Island. George Washington’s Continental Army had by then retreated north to Harlem Heights, leaving New York in British hands. Control of the city was Howe’s primary objective; located at the mouth of the strategically vital Hudson River, it had become the centerpiece of England’s strategy for putting down the American rebellion. However, as Schecter will reveal, far from furnishing a key to the colonies, New York proved to be the fatal albatross that strangled the British.
Schecter is a Manhattan-based writer, historian and sculptor, who recently authored The Battle for New York, which tells the story of how the city became the pivot on which the American Revolution turned
Parking is free. There is a suggested donation of $3 per person. Pre-registration is required. Please call 914-864-7177.
