George Washington's Westchester Gamble:: The Encampment on the Hudson and the Trapping of Cornwallis

by Richard Borkow

During the summer of 1781, the armies of Generals Washington and Rochambeau were encamped in lower Westchester County at Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley, Hartsdale, Edgemont and White Plains. It was a time of military deadlock and grim prospects for the allied Americans and French. Washington recognized that a decisive victory was needed or America would never achieve independence. In August, he marched these soldiers to Virginia to face General Cornwallis and his redcoats. Washington risked all on this march. Its success required secrecy, and he prepared an elaborate deception to convince the British that Manhattan, not Virginia, was the target of the allied armies. Local historian Richard Borkow presents this exciting story of the Westchester encampment and Washington's great gamble that saved the United States.

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2011

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, where has this book been? My brother was downsizing and offered me books from his library. I took a few including this slim volume of “George Washington’s Westchester Gamble”. As an almost lifelong resident of Westchester County I certainly knew about the battle of White Plains when the Washington’s army barely escaped intact from New York and kept retreating up the county. Eventually they escaped west across the Hudson River, across New Jersey and across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. On Christmas night in 1776 Washington and his army recrossed the Delaware and, in a surprise attack, routed the British army at Trenton.

When they defeated the British at Saratoga in 1777 the war bogged down into a waiting game with the British firmly entrenched in New York City. Washington entrenched his army in northern Westchester along the Hudson River holding and defending the strategic river from British attacks. With the British defending the city and Washington defending the Hudson Westchester was no-mans land and it’s rebel residents were at the mercy of the British while the loyalists were at the mercy of Washington’s army. There were atrocities on both sides.

At the same time the Continental Congress sent emissaries, notably Benjamin Franklin, to France, England’s traditional enemy, in order to obtain any kind of assistance to help gain its independence. France eventually came through with money, troops and naval assistance. Meanwhile, the British felt that they were in a stalemate so the army was divided with half sent to the Carolinas to win the hearts and minds of the Southern population. Unfortunately they thought they could do this by terrorizing the populace. When this heavy handed approach failed the British headed north to Virginia.

It was at this point Washington faced his big gamble in 1781. He heard that the French flotilla was supposed to arrive in Virginia in two months. If he joined forces with Rochambeau’s French army and marched south they might be able to trap General Cornwallis on the Yorktown peninsula between General Nathaniel Greene’s army and the French fleet. Another consideration Washington faced was the fact that talks were underway in Europe as to how to divide up the North American continent since the war for independence was so prolonged. Washington needed a victory and he needed it soon. But leaving his encampment near West Point would leave the northern Hudson completely exposed and could end the war disastrously.

We all know the history of how his gamble went. I found this book very informative since history books leave a void between the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 and Corwallis’ defeat at Yorktown in 1781. What the heck was Washington doing all that time? Take a chance and read all about it in “George Washington’s Westchester Gamble”.

[Chris Wares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Tells the story of the American Revolutionary War from 1776 through to 1781 with a focus on the role of Westchester culminating in the momentous events of August 1781 when Washington decided to send the army south to Yorktown instead of New York.

My family is from Dobbs Ferry and so I found it fascinating to discover that it played such a central role in the war. In fact they lived very near to the Gateway interchange (a mere block away) and so I was amazed to find that a pivotal - possibly THE pivotal - moment took place there when the army was ordered to turn right and head up Broadway instead of left and south towards New York.

I am visiting the area in a few weeks and plan to use this book to visit the sites. I don't think I will look at the village in the same way ever again.

[Daniel Palevski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living most of my life in Westchester County, it’s great to get this detailed account of Revolutionary War history happening here in the area.

However, I feel it could have used more detail on the events as they happened.

[Mark Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short but interesting history of Westchester County during the Revolutionary War years, particularly dealing with Washington's decision to bring Rochambeau's French forces down from Rhode Island for a possible invasion of the British stronghold of Manhattan and his eventual decision to take the joint allied forces to Yorktown instead. Often relying on correspondence or the work of other historians, Borkow does a wonderful job of bringing the historical characters to life, particularly Lafayette and Washington.

Having been born and raised in Westchester I found this a fascinating book, as the history of the war years has been somewhat lost, I think, in the past two centuries. Who knew, for instance, that the region experienced a "reign of terror" in the late 1770s, when roving bands of foragers roamed the countryside north of New York City plundering and terrorizing the residents who had little or no organized protection?

This book also reinforces the point that the independence of the thirteen colonies could never have been achieved without the financial, material and military support of France. The irony of the fact that republicanism eventually led to the overthrow of the French monarchy could not have been lost on many Frenchmen of the era.

[Liz C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool to be able to recognize current landmarks in my area and relate them to the Revolutionary battles/encampments!

[F Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best short book about the American War of Independence. Great use of primary sources.

A must for all inhabitants of the lower Hudson Valley. Including, but not limited to Westchester County.