The steady hold of Harlem Heights against Howe’s advance on the sixteenth day of September, sometimes called the Battle of Harlem Heights, was another “object lesson” for General Howe’s improvement, and he observed its conditions. His adversary invited and he declined the invitation to attack the American position. His next plan was self-suggestive, to cut the American army from its Connecticut supplies, since his fleet controlled the Hudson River, and by a flank and rear movement to pen it up for leisurely capture. He began this movement October twelfth. The Guards, Light Infantry, Reserve, and Donop’s Hessians, landed at Throgg’s Neck (see map). But Hand’s American Rifles had already destroyed the bridge to the mainland; and even at low tide the artillery could not safely effect a crossing. Colonel Prescott, with others, especially detailed by Washington, watched every movement, and held firmly their posts without flinching; so that Howe placed his troops in camp, “awaiting reënforcements.” On the sixteenth and seventeenth, several brigades from Flushing, with the Grenadiers, landed at Pell’s Point. Even here, Washington had anticipated his advance; for Colonel Glover made such resistance from behind stone fences, then common to that region, that this last command also went into camp, “waiting for reënforcements.” On the twenty-first, Howe advanced his right and centre columns beyond New Rochelle, where he again went into camp, “waiting for reënforcements.” During the week, General Knyphausen reached Staten Island from Europe with additional Hessian troops; and these, with the British Light Dragoons, landed at Myer’s Point near New Rochelle. De Heister also came up from Howe’s first camping-ground, and the entire army advanced parallel with the River Bronx, to within four miles of White Plains. Much had been expected of the Light Dragoons and their charges on horseback, with drawn sabres, to cut to pieces the undisciplined rebels. But they inspired no terror. It was the rebels’ opportunity. Washington reminded the army, “that in a country where stone fences, crags, and ravines were so numerous, the American riflemen needed no better chance to pick off the riders and supply the army with much-needed horses.” He offered a “reward of one hundred dollars to any soldier who would bring in an armed trooper and his horse.” Colonel Haslet crossed the Bronx and attacked the Queen’s Rangers, captured thirty-six, and left as many on the field, besides carrying away sixty muskets. Colonel Hand next had a lively skirmish with the Hessian Yagers, who, accustomed to marching in close array, met an experience similar to that of Braddock’s command years before.