More on the 1926 Pageant Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Pelham

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On October 16, 1926, the Pelhams held a massive "Colonial Pageant" commemorating events important in the history of the area including the Battle of Pelham that occurred on October 18, 1776. The pageant celebrated the Sesquicentennial of the Battle of Pelham.

There were more than five hundred members of the cast. About five thousand spectators watched the spectacle.  The event was held along Split Rock Road which, at that time, extended from today's Shore Road near the Bartow-Pell Mansion to the Boston Post Road. The pageant was an important and major commemoration in the life of the three villages that formed the Pelhams at that time. There is an ample historical record of the event which included one of the earliest uses of outdoor amplified sound using electrical speakers in Pelham.  The event was well reported in local newspapers. 

I have written before about the Colonial Pageant held on October 16, 1926.  See:   Thu., Jul. 14, 2005:  Pelham's 1926 Pageant Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Pelham. Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting provides more information about the Pageant and the nature of the program presented that day.

The pageant was held in a natural hollow in the countryside with a grove of trees at the bottom of the hollow that served as the backdrop for the program.  Members of the massive cast moved in and out of the trees for the various scenes of the production.

The production was not slavish to the accurate portrayal of Pelham history.  Indeed, several scenes that commemorated historic events in Pelham bore little resemblance to the actual historical events they celebrated.  

The pageant began with an introductory "reading" to provide historical context and to set the tone of the celebration.  The reading was followed by the first scene dedicated to the historic massacre of Anne Hutchinson and most of her family in 1642.  Pelham Boy Scouts, led by famed American illustrator and artist Remington Schuyler, played the roles of the Native Americans who murdered most of the Hutchinson family.

"ANN [sic] HUTCHINSON VICTIM OF INDIAN BUTCHERY

Pelham Boy Scouts, led by Remington Schuyler, famous artist,

portray scene in Pelham's early history.  The re-enactment of this

episode was was one of the outstanding features of Pelham's

Sesqui-Centennial Pageant."  Source:  THE STORY OF THE PAGEANT,

The Pelham Sun, Oct. 29, 1926, p. 10, cols. 1-3.  NOTE:
Click on Image to Enlarge.

The second scene of the pageant celebrated Thomas Pell's signing of the deed on June 27, 1654 by which he acquired from local Native Americans the lands that became the Manor of Pelham.  Referenced erroneously during the pageant as "The Pell Treaty," the document was not an agreement between nations (i.e., a treaty) but, instead, was a form of deed.

The third scene of the pageant celebrated what was called "The Manor Period' of Pelham.  It depicted John Pell, nephew and principal legatee of Pelham founder Thomas Pell, and his wife as the equivalent of an English Lord and Lady who managed a grand Manor Home in Pelham.

This erroneous concept of a grand "Manor" much like English feudal Manors arises from the propensity of members of the Pell Family to refer to Thomas Pell, John Pell, and the eldest sons of each of John Pell's progeny as "Lords."  On October 20, 1687, John Pell obtained from New York Provincial Governor Thomas Dongan a patent that confirmed his ownership of the lands he inherited from his uncle, Pelham Founder Thomas Pell.  That patent referred to the lands as "the lordshipp and manner of Pelham."  Thus, for more than a century, members of the Pell Family have referenced Thomas Pell as "First Lord of the Manor of Pelham," John Pell as "Second Lord of the Manor of Pelham," etc.

Of course, the reference in the October 20, 1687 patent confirming John Pell's ownership of the lands did not confer a title of the peerage on him.  Nor did it constitute a Royal conveyance of the sort of feudal rights associated with grand English Manors.  (Nor is there any evidence to support the Pell Family legend that when the King of England learned of John Pell's inheritance from his uncle the King called John Pell before him and knighted him on the spot.)  Thus, the concept of Pelham as a grand English-style Manor is merely a romanticized notion of the more accurate fact that John Pell built a simple country home likely near today's Bartow-Pell Mansion and lived there with his wife, Rachel, and their children during the last decades of the 17th century.

The fourth scene of the pageant included a romanticized reenactment of the Battle of Pelham fought on October 18, 1776 -- likely on the very site where Pelham's "Colonial Pageant" was held 150 years later.  The organizers of the pageant took fictional liberties to convey the concept that Colonel Glover and his men fought a delaying action to halt the advance of British and Hessian troops attempting to surge across the mainland to halt the escape of George Washington and his army from upper Manhattan to White Plains.

The final scene of the pageant was an "Allegory" of beautiful young women "draped" and depicting Westchester County, the Town of Pelham, and the three villages that then comprised "The Pelhams."

As the celebration ended, Pelhamite and United States Congressman Benjamin L. Fairchild was permitted to address the crowd using the electrical amplification system.  He spoke of no politics -- only his pride in the history of his little hometown of Pelham, New York.

"CONGRESSMAN BEN L. FAIRCHILD CONGRATULATES PAGEANTEERS
Pelham Representative watching the pageant is invited to speak
to audience.  He did not mention politics.  Colonel C. Sidney Haight,
director-general of the pageant is the officer in the background, dressed
in the uniform of Col. Glover's military staff."  Source:  THE STORY OF
THE PAGEANT,The Pelham Sun, Oct. 29, 1926, p. 10, cols. 2-4.  NOTE:

Click on Image to Enlarge.

" THE STORY OF THE PAGEANT
-----
(Published by Request)

'Turn your thoughts backward, O dweller in Pelham, back to the days when this nation was founded!'

Clearly, impressively came the words, compelling the attention of the vast aggregation of 5000 people to eager attention.  Below them, as they sat or stood on the historic hill on Split Rock Road, the gentle slope spread out to a small plateau.  A grove of trees with their brightly tinged leaves made a natural background.  As the last words of the reading die upon the air, from the little cabin that sets peacefully in the hollow there comes Ann Hutchinson and her family to greet their neighbors and fellow-refugees.  A day of celebration is at hand in the little colony of 1642.

The arrival of the Dutch governor's envoy is greeted with cheers as with courtly gesture, he presents Ann Hutchinson with the official grant to the land where she and her followers have found refuge from the persecution of the Puritans of Massachusetts.

The children dance and play games while the women served food and drink to their guests.  Freedom from besetting cruelty and intolerance seems very close at hand.  Suddenly, destroying the hope and happiness of the little group, comes the dread of the colonists.  A lone Indian, of sullen mein and treacherous aspect, is pounced upon as he sulks behind a tree.  Brought before the Dutch official and forced to his knees in homage, he gives a cry of hatred and with a sudden struggle breaks free from their grasp and rushes madly into the concealing wood.  The shots that ring out mingle with the frightened cries of the women and children.  Almost within the drawing of a breath, the guests depart.  Ann and her family are left alone.  As her sons go to the field, she had her daughters apprehensively make the house secure.  A pause, and from the woods rings the dreaded war-whoop of the Indians.  Led by him who so recently escaped, they surround the house and their straight brown bodies flash in a wild dance of cruel anticipation.  A louder shout and a rush to the door of the cabin, as the redskins crash in the door and drag Ann and her daughters forth.  A wrangling over the women, and the chief raises his tomahawk and brains Ann Hutchinson with a blow.  The older daughter meets her mother's fate while the younger child is carried off to the wood.  The men of the village, hearing the tumult, rush in, but their only mission is one of heartbreak and sadness as they lift the poor, broken bodies of their fearless leader and her daughter, and bear them slowly from the scene.

The Pell Treaty

A brighter scene now takes its place upon the setting.  Siwanoy and Wykagyl Indians appear from the forest.  The squaws busy themselves in erecting the gaily painted tepees while the braves make the council fire.  An atmosphere of expectancy pervades the encampment.  As an Indian scout comes running to tell of the approach of Thomas Pell of Connecticut with his English followers, the entire tribe group themselves around the chief to receive the visitors.  The white men approach on horse-back, their elaborate costumes contrasting vividly with the brown bodies and picturesque garments of their hosts.  The council fire is lighted and the pale face and the red man seat themselves in peace and friendliness about the glowing blaze.  With solemnity and dignity they smoke the peace pipe and, having smoked, discuss the terms of the agreement which Thomas Pell desires to make with the Indians.  A treaty is produced and signed by both which conveys to Thomas Pell all the lands lying in the region that later became the Manor of Pelham and vicinity.  Indian women, subservient, respectful, bring forth gifts of corn and fruit and Pell makes payment to the red men in trinkets, blankets and metals for metal working.  Suddenly the sounds of inharmony disturb the scene as a party of Dutch stride angrily into the scene from boats in the Sound demanding to know under what authority that the English have purchased the lands which they claim.  [Illegible] this treaty which so enrages the Dutch official that he draws his sword and orders his soldiers to arrest the British party.  The Indians spring to the assistance of Pell and his followers and the Dutch, far outnumbered, reluctantly withdraw in the direction of their boats.

And now the Indians, their mission accomplished, break camp and silently depart.  Pell and his followers proudly plant the standard of Great Britain in the ground and reverently kneel and offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the success of their undertaking.

The Manor Period

Half a century has passed before the time of the next scene.  The Manor period is at its height.  The Lord and Lady of the Manor approach the village green where the tenants of the Manor and the neighboring gentry are gathering to pay their respects to them and to witness the presentation of the royal patent to the Lordship and Manor of Pelham at the hand of the British envoy from His Majesty, James the second.

A wrestling match, games and children's dance are performed for the entertainment of the guests.  From the direction of the Manor House there approaches a coach and four drawn by spirited horses and driven by a picturesque coachman in his colorful costume.  It brings to the festivities a group of Lord Pell's friends.  As they descend their elaborate and costly garb lends a note of grandeur to the assembly.  Charming and dashing ladies and gentlemen ride in on horseback and when the guests are all arrived, the tenants pay their yearly tribute to Lord and Lady Pell.  A cow, a goat, fruit and grain are paid in lieu of taxes as the tenants crowd round to do homage to their gracious leige.

From the road is driven a large post coach.  The British envoy and his escort are courteously received by Pell.  Amid the cheers of the populace, the Lord of the Manor is presented with the royal grant and proclaimed rightful owner of the lands.

The envoys depart and the assembly gradually breaks up.  Lord and Lady Pell are alone except for a few Indians who have mingled unnoticed in the crowd.  Respectfully they approach the white man and signify their desire for friendship and goodwill.  As they withdraw, the Lord and Lady of the Manor clasp hands and, holding aloft the grant, retire to the Manor house.

The Battle of Pell's Neck

The Manor period passes, the colonists are no longer loyal subjects of Britain's king.  The strife of war and struggle is abroad in the land and the scene of the Manor has become a scene of battle.  A patrol of Continental soldiers occupies the grove, and after posting sentries, builds a watch fire and waits for orders from Colonel Glover who is in charge of the detachment.  An Indian enters with a warning that the British are landing at Pell's Neck.  The inactivity of the patrol is suddenly changed into the quick stern preparation for conflict.  Village women and children hurry through, fleeing before the British.  Their pathetic bundles of cherished possessions bespeak the unexpectedness of their departure from the little homes where they had for so long found new-world peace.  As the officer of the patrol reassures them, the sentry rushes in with the news that more ships and troops are landing.  A group of village boys come in and are armed with pitchforks and clubs and drilled by one of the soldiers.  As the sound of firing is heard in the direction of the Sound, the villagers who had huddled at the side of a ruined settler's cabin are sent on the road to safety by the soldiers.  Some, fearing for the safety of their children, go willingly, but a mother lags behind, her eyes on her son who may fall before the day is past.  A girl, forgetting her Puritan training, sobs as she clings to her sweetheart, the young patrol officer.

The firing becomes louder, nearer.  The first detachment of Colonel Glover's men enter in retreat before the overwhelming force of the British.  Colonel Glover and his staff gallop in, dismount and hold consultation on the wisest plan of action to prevent the British from reaching the White Plains Road and cutting off Washington as he withdraws from Harlem to White Plains.  The Continentals continue to straggle through, firing incessantly to hold back the enemy until Washington shall have passed the danger zone.  As the last detachment retires beyond the summit of the hill, the advance detachment of the Hessian troops springs over the stone wall that lies at the foot of the hill.  On up the hill they pursue the fighting Continentals.  Lord Howe, in splendid uniform, rides on the scene.  With his staff he discusses the situation.  A captured Continental, the young patrol officer who had so recently led his men against the enemy, is brought before the general.  Wounded, weak, but still courageous, he replies to their insistent questioning with a graphic description of the numberless force of Continentals that await them over the brow of the hill.  An Indian scout is dragged in by two soldiers and questioned.  He too, tells Lord Howe of the inadvisability of proceeding further inland and the difficulty of a successful advance against the Colonial troops.  The British officers, convinced that Washington has eluded them, decide to withdraw and Lord Howe sends an officer to recall the Hessians.  As they march off toward the troop ships on the Sound, the wounded Continental painfully drags himself up from the ground, and staggers to the foot of the hill.  His last strength goes into a signal to the Americans and as they rush down the hill, cheering and rejoicing that there effort has been successful, he falls, his duty to the new-born nation done.

The Pelhams In Allegory

Again the scene is changed, the contrast startling, vivid.  The bright uniforms, the military atmosphere is gone.  In its place comes a host of lovely young women.  Soft colors, soft lines drape them gracefully.  Westchester County, now unawakened, takes her place in the background.  Each of the Three Villages with their attendants group themselves on the scene, Pelham, the town, sends forth the spirits of the villages and as they surround Westchester County and give to her the Lamp of Knowledge, she awakens and gives to them her protection and benediction.

As the allegory closes, the five hundred people who took part in the pageant are grouped artistically on the setting.  The lovely costumes of the Manor period, velvets, brocades, in brilliant hues, vie with the resplendent uniforms of the troops.  The modest dress of the early settlers and the barbaric color of the Indian garb mingled effectively and a fitting climax inspired the thousands present as the spectators and participants joined in the singing of the national anthem."

Source:  THE STORY OF THE PAGEANT, The Pelham Sun, Oct. 29, 1926, p. 10, cols. 1-7.

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A Description of the Revolutionary War Battle of Pelham Published in 1926 for the Sesquicentennial Celebration

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The Battle of Pelham fought during the Revolutionary War on October 18, 1776 has fascinated local historians and Pelham residents for centuries.  On October 16, 1926, the Pelhams held a "Colonial Pageant" commemorating events important in the history of the area including the Battle of Pelham that occurred on October 18, 1776. There were more than five hundred members of the cast. Thousands watched the spectacle. The event was held along Split Rock Road which, at that time, extended from today's Shore Road near the Bartow-Pell Mansion to the Boston Post Road.

The pageant was an important and major commemoration in the life of the three villages that formed the Pelhams at that time. There is an ample historical record of the event which included one of the earliest uses of outdoor amplified sound using electrical speakers in Pelham. The event was well reported in local newspapers. 

In advance of the pageant, the Town Historian at the time, John M. Shinn (a former Town Supervisor), published an account of the battle.  Though the account misplaced the location of the start of the battle at Glover's Rock (as did most accounts of the day), it is still an interesting summary of Shinn's research regarding the battle.  The account is transcribed in its entirety below, followed by links to many of my prior Blog postings that deal with the Battle of Pelham.  

"THE BATTLE OF PELL'S POINT
OCTOBER 18, 1776
By JOHN M. SHINN
Town Historian

The only engagement in the neighborhood between the armies of the British and Continentals during the Revolutionary War was fought October 18, 1776.  In the official records of two of the British regiments, the 16th and 17th Lancers, the engagement was called that of Pelham Moor.  Others designate it as Pell's Neck.  Under whatever name it may be known it is certain that it was of great importance to General Washington in its checking the advance of General Howe's army toward White Plains.

After the battle of Harlem Heights, which in its successful conclusion had partially restored the morale of the Continental army after the disastrous Long Island experience, Washington determined to vacate his position and make at least a temporary stand at White Plains.

General Howe, leaving only about two thousand men in New York, embarked with his army and sailed up the Sound as far as Throgg's Neck, where he landed a large part of his troop on October  12, the rest of his army continued on to New Rochelle.

[Image of Split Rock]
THE SPLIT ROCK

General Howe, no doubt, intended to get in front of Washington's troops with the Throgg's Neck contingent.  He made the mistake of landing on Throgg's Neck instead of Pell's Point.  His attempt to get to the main land [sic] was checked by the Continentals under Hand and Prescott, and no further attempts were made until October 18, when he once more embarked with his army at one o'clock In the morning, and crossing Eastchester Bay, landed on Pell's Point, in the Manor of Pelham.

Unfortunately, there is no complete record of the British forces which landed on that occasion.  It is certain, however, that there were four regiments of Hessions [sic], and the Third Grenadier Battalion.  The Hessian regiments each consisted of 633 men, white the Grenadier Battalion had 500, a total of over 3,000 men.  Historians vary in their estimates of the strength of the British forces.  Some estimate it as high as sixteen thousand which is improbable.  As there were over 3,000 Hessians, there surely must have been an equal number of England's regulars, so we will assume, which seems reasonable, that the British forces on that memorable morning consisted of about 6,000 troops.

Washington's army, being without a sufficient number of horses for his artillery and army wagons, was slowly making its way across the county in a long line, one part of it having encamped the night of the 17th of October at Mile Square in the Township of Yonkers, about four miles from Pell's Point, and about three miles from Glover's Rock where the first conflict occurred.  [Editor’s Note:  This placement of the beginning of the Battle of Pelham is now known to be incorrect.  Click here to learn more about the error.]  General Clinton commanded this division.

Col. John Glover of "Glover's Regiment" also known as the "Fishermen" was then commanding a brigade composed of the skeleton of four regiments, which includes, Glover's, the 14th with 179 men; Joseph Read's, the 13th, with 226 men; Shephard's, the 3rd, with 204 men; and Loami Baldwin's, the 26th with 234 men.  All of these were Massachusetts regiments, totaling 843 men, were part of General James Clinton's division.

Glover's regiment was left at the Hutchinson River as a rear guard. 

William Abbott's history of the battle claims that Col. Glover had only 750 troops able for duty on the morning of October 18th, the before given number having been returned on October 5th. 

As Col. Glover was in charge of Gen. Clinton's division during the General's absence, he was naturally more than usually precautious and, as he said in a letter to a friend in New Hampshire, "I went on the hill with my glass and discovered a number of ships in the Sound under way, the small boats, upwards of two hundred, all manned and filled with troops."

As General Charles Lee was the next in rank to Washington, Col Glover therefore reported to him for orders.  There is no record of Lee's having paid any further attention, nor did he ever appear on the scene of action, although only three miles away. 

Col. Glover was fortunately a man of deeds; diminutive in size, he was a giant in action; while he could initiate activities, he nevertheless desired the approval of his superiors, and even their co-operation, as he says in his letter  ‘1 would have given a thousand worlds to have had General Lee, or

[Image of Glover’s Rock]
HISTORIC GLOVER'S ROCK

some other experienced officer present, to direct or at least approve, but" he adds "it was very lucky, the enemy had stolen a march one and a half miles on us."

Glover immediately formed his men, and without delay started for Pelham.  Upon arriving he posted his men in three of the most advantageous positions behind the stone walls on both sides of the road leading from Pell’s Point to the Old Boston Post Road.  (Now Colonial avenue).

The true location of the battle is shown by the position of at least two well-known points, viz. Glover's Rock and Hutchinson River bridge on the Old Boston Road, the present Boston Post Road was not in existance [sic]; Tradition, which always has a basis of fact, also establishes Glover's Rock as the place where the first attack took place; besides this, the discovery of cannon
bails nearby when building the street railway, is additional testimony.  At least two historians mention that a heavy fire was kept up by the ships, while the troops were disembarking.  Then again it is certain that Wolf's Lane or Split Rock Road is the shortest route to Pell’s Pint, and Col. Glover’s statement that he posted his men on the ‘left of the road’ made it more certain.

Col. Glover in his account of the retreat says ‘we retreated to the bottom of the hill and had to pass through a run of water (the bridge I had taken up before) and then marched up a hill the opposite side of the creek where I left my artillery.’  This must have referred to Split Rock Road, Wolf’s Lane, Hutchinson River and the hill in Mount Vernon opposite the Memorial High School.

On the 18th day of October 1776, as it continued to be up to the year 1910 – Wolf’s Lane was a narrow, winding and most picturesque country lane from the Old Boston Post Road up to the top of Prospect Hill, and for upwards of 150 years it continued over the hill in a direct line until it merged into what is now called the Split Rock Road near its junction with Washington avenue.  When the present Boston Turnpike was cut through from Hutchinson River bridge to the toll gate in New Rochelle (Drake avenue) the road was straightened to its present location.

Col. Glover marched over the land which is now the city of Mount Vernon and having crossed the Hutchinson River at Colonial avenue, Pelham, took his men up Wolf’s Lane and along Pelham Road, Split Rock Road, to Pell’s Pint and posted on the way, at three of the most favorable points, one of his skeleton regiments.  He accompanied Col. Read with his regiment to the vicinity of a large glacial boulder on Pell’s Point, since named in his honor, Glover’s Rock.

It is not possible from any existing records to establish with certainty the location of the various detachments though it is certain that Col. Read held the most advanced position on the eastern side of the road and that Col. Shephard held a position on the western side, while Col. Baldwin’s force was posted farther to the north on the eastern side of the road. 

Not having met the enemy until his arrival at Pell’s Point, Col. Glover sent forward a skirmishing party of forty men, and in the vicinity of Glover’s Rock was met by an equal number of the enemy. 

The British attacked when only about fifty yards away but without inflicting any loss to the Americans who returned the fire, which either killed or wounded four of the enemy.  These antagonists even at this short distance from each other exchanged five rounds of firing, when the British having received reinforcements and the Americans having two men killed and several wounded retired, as Col. Glover said, in good order, when the enemy was less than one hundred feet away.

The British continued to advance cheering and confident of a speedy victory.  They were ignorant of the fact that their march led them past a point where behind the stone walls lining the road were about two hundred resolute men from Massachusetts, some of whom may have been neighbors of the Embattled farmers who at Lexington fired the shot heard around the world, but there they waited stern, determined, fearless, knowing that upon their stand that day might depend the destiny of their country. 

The enemy came on cheering until within about thirty yards, marching as usual in solid column, offering a mark it was difficult to miss. 

These two hundred of Col. Read’s men were faced by two regiments of over eleven hundred trained troops who at the distance of less than one hundred feet were met by a most destructive fire with heavy muskets, light hunting guns and long rifles.  The cheering stopped, clouds of powder hid the foe from the Americans who peered through the darkness listening for the dread command, ‘charge bayonets!’ which in their inexperience they knew they could not withstand.

The lifting smoke revealed not the fierce faces of foreign emissaries with bristling bayonets set in deadly charge, but the backs of their foes as they fled in hasty retreat towards the main body of their army, while the grass lined lane and beaten road were thickly strewn with the dead and wounded foe.

Back again behind their friendly walls crept Read’s tired and hungry patriots, in the shelter of their ramparts they patiently waited, knowing well that General Howe would not so easily surrender his hope of crushing the army of Washington.  They had plenty of time to consider their [position] and to anticipate their fate.

At last after waiting one and a half hours the foe appeared, but not as before with two regiments, but in full force of over four thousand men with seven cannons which covered the advance with a heavy cannonade, which however, was with scarcely any effect because of the sturdy stone walls behind which the patriots were concealed.

This time there was no surprise attack, it was expected.  And Read’s two hundred were not dismayed by the overwhelming odds against them.  Coolly and steadily, at the distance of thirty yards as before, the patriots poured their leaden hail into the ranks of the enemy; this first deadly volley halted the onslaught but the fire was returned ‘with showers of musketry and cannon balls’ as Glover says.  Read’s men from their shelter behind the walls steadily withstood the enemy’s fire and for at least twenty minutes they fired at will amid the booming of cannons and the rattle of musketry. 

Retreat was then ordered, which was acomplished [sic] in fairly good order until they had reached the position occupied by the third regiment under Col. Shephard.  Here Read’s men once more took their places behind stone walls and awaited the enemy. 

From the beginning of the fight and the time required to reform a scattered regiment with the time engaged in the conflicts it was then about or after ten o’clock and Shephard’s men were awaiting the enemy somewhere on Split Rock Road, probably near the old house which in 1848 was occupied by B. S. Collins as related by Bolton in his History of Westchester County. 

Here occurred the sharpest and hottest conflict of this eventful day.  Read’s and Shephard’s forces were now united and a force of about four hundred now opposed the six thousand British and Hessians. 

As the enemy approached, the Americans met them with a steady and well directed fire at short range, which at first halted the enemy for a short time, but who quickly recovered and with the usual bravery and pugnacity of the British soldier they kept up a long and continual fire upon the patriots for over an hour, during which the Americans fired seventeen rounds, some of which must have caused a retreat for a considerable distance, for at one time at least, one patriot leaped the stone wall and took a cap and canteen from a fallen officer.

Col. Glover realized that further resistance to such a superior force was futile and ordered a retreat to the point where Col. Baldwin’s men were concealed awaiting their turn to join battle with the enemy.  There the entire force of about 800 patriots awaited the foe but at what particular spot is uncertain.  From the descriptions of Glover, Heath’s Memoirs and Scharf’s history, as well as the opinions of military officers, I believe the last stand taken by the Americans was in Wolf’s Lane, somewhere near the top of the hill in the vicinity of what is now that road’s junction with the Esplanade. 

This engagement was of short duration; Col. Glover says the ground was much in the enemy’s favor, especially as all their cannons had been brought up.  Discovering that the British were attempting a flanking movement, a general retreat was ordered and the remainder of the three regiments, crossing the Hutchinson River at Colonial avenue, rejoined the regiment which, with three cannons had been left on guard on the high land near the stone quarry on the western bank of the Hutchinson River.  This regiment took no part in the battle, but was stationed there to secure the retreat of Col. Glover’s troops and to prevent the enemy’s advance.  The entire force then marched back to or near the point which they had left in the morning.

The British did not attempt any pursuit but turned up the Old Boston Post Road and encamped on what they called the Heights of New Rochelle, probably near what is now the Catholic Cemetery.

The loss of the Americans this day was only six patriots killed and Col. Shepard [sic] and twelve privates wounded. 

No historian has attempted to give the exact figures of the enemy’s loss, which was mainly incurred by the Hessians whose loss was only reported to their German superior officers. 

The British reported a loss of only three privates killed and twenty wounded.

The Hessian loss must have been great, as several officers of that army are buried in St. Paul’s Church yard, that church having been used as a hospital after the battle.  Then there is the testimony of Hessian and British deserters who for several days came into the American camp.  Abbott’s history says that each was questioned separately and without the other’s knowledge and the sum of their testimony was that Howe’s total loss was between eight hundred and a thousand.

Davoran also says ‘It is difficult to believe that four hundred Americans, familiar with the use of firearms, sheltered by ample defenses from which they could fire deliberately and with their guns rested on the tops, could have fired volley after volley into a large body of men, massed in a compact column in a narrow roadway, without having inflicted as extended damage as this.’

The experiences of the British at the battle during the Boer War surely showed just such a disparity as those claimed at the battle of Pell’s Point. 

The day after the battle, General Lee, who was next in command to Washington, came to the camp and publicly thanked Colonel Glover, his officers and soldiers under his command for their noble-spirited and soldier-like conduct during the battle.

On October 21st General Washington in General Orders issued a congratulatory address in which he said, the hurried situation of the last two days having prevented him from paying that attention to Col. Glover and the officers and soldiers who were with him in the skirmish on Friday last, their merit and good behaviours deserved, he flatters himself that his thanks tho’ delayed will nevertheless be acceptable to them as they are offered with great sincerity and cordiality."

Source:  Shinn, John M., Battle of Pell’s Point October 18, 1776, The Pelham Sun, Sep. 17, 1926, p. 13, col. 1.

Below are a few images relating to the Battle of Pelham.

 

The detail above, which shows a "skirmish" within "Pelham's Mannor" on October 18, 1776 is from a map entitled "A Plan of the Operations of the King's Army Under the Command of General Sir William Howe, K.B. in New York and East New Jersey, Against the American Forces Commanded by General Washington from the 12th of October to the 28th of November 1776, Wherein is Particularly Distinguished the Engagement on the White Plains the 28th of October", ca. 1776 by C.J. Sauthier (often referenced as The Sauthier Map and generally deemed an inaccurate depiction of events surrounding the Battle of Pelham).  The map is held in the collection of the Library of Congress (Call Number G3804.W7S3 1776 .S2 Faden 58; Control Number gm 71000649; Repository:  Library of Congress Geography and Map Division, Washington, D.C., 20540-4650 USA).

 

Logo Designed for the Town of Pelham as Part of the

Bicentennial Celebration of the Battle of Pelham Held in 1976.

 

Portrait of Colonel John Glover.

 

According to tradition, the night after the Battle of Pelham ended, the British army encamped within today's Village of Pelham on the grounds of today's Pelham Memorial High School.  General Howe is said to have camped beneath a great chestnut tree that stood for many years afterward near Pelham's Boy Scout hut near the parking lot above today's Friendship Field in the Glover Field complex.  The photograph above, courtesy of The Office of The Historian of the Town of Pelham, shows the giant chestnut tree near its end.  Even the stump of General Howe's Chestnut, after the tree departed this life, was treated reverentially for many years.

I have written extensively about the Battle of Pelham fought on October 18, 1776.  See, for example, the following:  



The Battle of Pelham:  October 18, 1776, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 41, Oct. 15, 2004, p. 10, col. 1.  


Bell, Blake, History of the Village of Pelham:  Revolutionary War, HistoricPelham.com (visited Feb. 6, 2014). 
Thu., Jul. 14, 2005:  Pelham's 1926 Pageant Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Pelham.  

Wed., Oct. 26, 2005:  Remnants of the Battlefield on Which the Battle of Pelham Was Fought on October 18, 1776.  

 Mon., Apr. 18, 2005:  Restored Battle of Pelham Memorial Plaque Is Unveiled at Glover Field.  

Mon., Feb. 28, 2005:  Glover's Rock on Orchard Beach Road Does Not Mark the Site of the Battle of Pelham.  

Wed., Jul. 18, 2007:  Another British Military Unit History that Notes Participation in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.  

Wed., Nov. 1, 2006:  Two British Military Unit Histories that Note Participation in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Thu., Jan. 18, 2007:  Three More British Military Unit Histories that Note Participation in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Fri., May 19, 2006:  Possible Remains of a Soldier Killed in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Found in 1921.  

Fri., Apr. 23, 2010:  Charles Blaskowitz, Surveyor Who Created Important Map Reflecting the Battle of Pelham.  

Wed., Feb. 17, 2010:  British Report on Killed, Wounded and Missing Soldiers During the Period the Battle of Pelham Was Fought on October 18, 1776.  

Thu., Jan. 22, 2009:  Another Brief Biography of Sir Thomas Musgrave, a British Officer Wounded at the Battle of Pelham on October 18 1776.  

Mon., Oct. 30, 2006:  Brief Biographical Data About Sir Thomas Musgrave, British Lieutenant Colonel Wounded at the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Fri., Oct. 12, 2007:  Images of The Lord Howe Chestnut that Once Stood in the Manor of Pelham.  

 Mon., Oct. 8, 2007:  American Troops Who Guarded Pelham's Shores in October 1776. 

 Thu., Sep. 6, 2007:  Information About St. Paul's Church, the Battle of Pelham and Other Revolutionary War Events Near Pelham Contained in an Account Published in 1940. 

 Wed., Aug. 8, 2007:  A Description of an Eyewitness Account of the Interior of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester During the Revolutionary War. 

 Tue., Aug. 7, 2007:  An Account of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Contained in the McDonald Papers Published in 1926.  

Tue., Jul. 17, 2007:  Mention of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 in Writings of Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Aide-de-Camp to British General Clinton. 

 Mon., Jul. 16, 2007:  Mention of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 in Revolutionary War Diary of David How. 

Mon., Feb. 12, 2007:  Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site Opens New Exhibition:  "Overlooked Hero:  John Glover and the American Revolution." 

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