Headless Hessian of the American Revolution: The Real Life Inspiration Behind the Legend of Sleepy Hollow
On October 28, 1776 General George Washington’s Continental Army is heading northward in retreat. The American army has been forced to flee into Westchester County after having been routed by William Howe’s combined British and Hessian forces in a disastrous attempt to defend New York City. Now, encamped around the small village of White Plains, the Continental Army literally has its back to the wall and the fate of the American Revolution itself is hanging in the balance. General Howe has sailed a formidable force up the Hudson River from his base in New York City and he has landed several thousand troops behind Washington’s retreating army. Howe plans to cut off the American retreat route, smash the Continental Army and end the rebellion once and for all. On the morning of October 28, 1776 General Howe, headquartered just north of White Plains in the town of Scarsdale, orders a large British force under General Henry Clint...