Pelham Manor, New York

Pelham Manor, New York
Village
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Westchester
Area
• Total	1.4 sq mi (3.6 km2)
• Land	1.3 sq mi (3.4 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation	62 ft (19 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	5,466
• Density	4,121.3/sq mi (1,591.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	10803
Area code	914
FIPS code	36-57023
GNIS feature ID	0960112

Pelham Manor is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 5,466 at the 2000 census. A village, it is located in the Town of Pelham.

History

On November 11, 1654, Thomas Pell negotiated a treaty with Wampage, Chief of all the Siwanoy Indians, and acquired title to about 50,000 acres (200 km²) including all of today's Bronx and everything east of the Hutchinson River north to Mamaroneck. Pell took possession of his property and called it "Pelham" in honor of his tutor, Pelham Burton.

Pell was challenged almost immediately by the Dutch who sent the Marshall of the Dutch Court in March 1655 with a court order stating that the English were trespassing on Dutch territory. Pell refused to accept the Dutch order and for the next several years they tried unsuccessfully to dislodge him. Finally, on September 21, 1664, English warships, supported by a militia unit called the Westchester Trained Band and led by Thomas Pell, sailed into the harbor of New Amsterdam and accepted the surrender of Governor Stuyvesant.

Battle of Pelham

War came to Pelham Manor on October 18, 1776 when Sir William Howe, Commander-in-Chief of the British army, landed around 4,000 English and Hessian troops near the stables on Pelham Parkway in an action which became the first permanent invasion of the American mainland in the American Revolution.

Howe's objective was to outflank the American army by marching west across today's Bronx along the Boston Post Road. This would also cut off Washington's vital supply route from New England and enable the British to surround Washington and quickly end the rebellion. Washington placed 4 skeleton regiments in their way to delay them in order that the main body of the Continental Army could escape. These primarily Massachusetts regiments were as follows (on October 5):

• 14th Continental Regiment, commanded by Col. John Glover - 179 privates fit for duty
• 13th Continental Regiment, commanded by Col. Joseph Read - 226 privates fit for duty
• 3rd Contintental Regiment, commanded by Col. William Shepard - 204 privates fit for duty
• 26th Continental Regiment, commanded by Col. Loammi Baldwin - 234 privates fit for duty

Total: 843 privates and 3 small cannon

Col. John Glover, of Marblehead, MA, was in command. The British forces which landed at Rodman's Point, were composed of:

• 4th Regiment of Foot's Light Infantry and Grenadiers - exact numbers unknown
• 16th Regiment of Foot's Light Infantry and Grenadiers - exact numbers unknown
• 16th Light Dragoons (dismounted) - exact numbers unknown
• 4 Hessian Regiments (Von Stirn's Brigade) - 3,000 men

Total: more than 4,000 men and 6 cannon

According to a letter (titled "A Letter from Camp at Miles Square in East Chester, 23rd Octo. 1776.") published in the Freeman's Journal, the New Hampshire Gazette:

"Friday morning last, we were alarmed by the drums beating to arms, and the enemy landed at Rodman's point (a place about 4 miles from our encampment) with their whole force; the brigade under the command of Col. Glover consisting of about 700 men, on regiment being absent for guard. We marched down towards the place where the enemy were advancing, with a body of 16,000, with a very large artillery." and the enemy landed at Rodman's Point (a place about four miles from our encampment)." His analysis of the British strength seems to be a bit inflated, however definite numbers are unknown. As soon as Glover found out of the British landing, he sent forward a Captain (either Peters, Pond, or Warren of Read's 13th Continental Regiment) and his company of 40 men to the stop the British advance. This prompt action on Glover's part gave him time to carefully position his force. According to the journal of Ezra Stiles ( later president of Yale College and a member of the 14th Continental Regiment), "Three regiments were ordered to pass a causeway (the only passage) and march to oppose them, and our regiment (Glover's) with three pieces of artillery, was posted on an eminence overlooking the causeway, to secure a retreat for the other and prevent the enemy from advancing." These three regiments proceeded East to lay an ambush along the Split Rock Road, the only road leading inland from the British landing site. Then Glover rode forward to join the skirmishers at "Glover's Rock" where they had fired upon an advance party close to their own size. Glover ordered them to push forward and traded five volleys before British reinforcements arrived. At which time Glover ordered them to fall back, which in his own words "was masterly well done." Advancing British troops then gave a cheer and advanced confident of an easy victory. But positioned behind the walls lining the Split Rock Road were the three Regiments Glover had so carefully positioned in a leap frog pattern on both sides of the road. The first, Read's 13th Continental Regiment, rose from behind the left side of the wall and at a range of thirty yards sent a powerful volley into the unexpecting British column. When the smoke cleared they witnessed considerable casualties on the British side and the remaining troops falling back toward the main body. An hour and a half later the British column moved forward in full strength, with artillery covering their advance. At fifty yards Read's men again opened fire and for twenty minutes traded rounds with the superior British force. Finally, the order to retreat was given and they marched behind Shepard's 3rd Continental Regiment. After the British advanced again they met the Shepard's regiment, who from behind a double stone wall, fired by "grand divisions" and exchanged 17 volleys with the British. They were forced to retreat several times until the order for both regiments fall back was given. By this time it was late afternoon and the British force halted and exchanged cannon fire with Glover's artillery until dark. After darkness fell, Glover formed up his regiments and marched 3 miles to Dobb's Ferry and from their rejoined the Continental army. American casualties numbered 8 men killed (including Col. Shepard) and 13 wounded. British casualty figures do not seem to exist but an entry in Sir Henry Clinton's journal shows that it was certainly very costly. Because of the stalling action of Col. Glover and his regiments, the British advances was halted for several days which allowed Washington and his army to escape. Glover's creativity and determination held back the British advance and saved the army to fight another day. This would not be the last time that Glover and his Marblehead sailors and fishermen would save the Continental army, later evacuating the army from Long Island, and rowing Washington's troops across the Delaware River to enable the surprise attack at Trenton. The main significance of the Battle of Pelham lay in the fact that it bought time for Washington to remove the American army from an extremely perilous position and to retreat to White Plains. It is for this reason that the Battle of Pelham has been called the battle that saved the American Revolution .

Incorporation

In response to resident's demands for improved fire and police protection, as well as water, gas and electricity, Pelham Manor was incorporated as a village. The election for incorporation was held at the Pelham Manor School House on Monday, June 8, 1891. The official incorporation date for the Village is July 6, 1891.

External links

• Pelham Manor official website

• Historic Pelham Web Site by Town Historian
• Historic Pelham Daily Blog by Town Historian