The Battle of Brooklyn - Part Two

A view of Manhattan from Brooklyn Heights

Read Part One at this link

Please note: all photos enlarge when clicked on.

In the days preceding the Battle of Brooklyn, General George Washington was shifting the Continental Army troops from what is now the borough of Manhattan to the Brooklyn Heights area of Brooklyn. He kept many of the best units in Manhattan, as he expected the British to sail down the Hudson River and attack there. Washington was also misinformed about the size of the British and Hessian troops that came ashore in Brooklyn, believing the number to be much less than it was. Little did he know that the British had over 20,000 troops moving steadily towards Brooklyn Heights, flanking his troops from both the east and west and the south sections of Brooklyn, which would effectively corner the Continental Army and force a surrender.

An actual Revolutionary War cannon at The Lefferts House Museum

While the southern end of Brooklyn was bucolic farms in 1776, the middle section was covered in large areas by dense woods, similar to the above photo taken in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The Continental soldiers cut down many trees to block the roads so that the enemies cannon would not be able to pass through easily, and branches from the trees were meshed together and used as fortifications in the trenches.

The Dongan Oak Monument-click on to enlarge

At an area called Battle Pass, the Americans had chopped down a well known large oak tree called The Dongan Oak Tree to block the Flatbush Road where it went through the pass, to try to impede the advance of the British Army. The monument above recalls that feat.



A view of the area around Battle Pass in Prospect Park, which probably still appears very much like it did 233 years ago.

A commemorative marker at Battle Pass, Prospect Park-click on to enlarge

As British and Hessian soldiers approached from the south, the Americans fought in vain to hold them back at Battle Pass. Outnumbered, many Americans found themselves surrounded in the woods by rings of Hessian troops who closed in for the kill with bayonets. Some Americans were able to fight their way past the British and the fleeing patriots headed back toward the American lines on Brooklyn Heights or joined the Maryland 400 at the Old Stone House.

Another commemorative marker describing the battle at Battle Pass, Prospect Park--click on to enlarge

A Heritage Trail placard describing the battle at Battle Hill in Brooklyn, New York's Green-Wood Cemetery--click on to enlarge

A view from Battle Hill of Brooklyn, and the Manhattan skyline in the distance 

American riflemen had taken up a position on Battle Hill, in what is now Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery, and from the highest point in that area, they used their rifles to good advantage against the British officers.

Battle Hill's Minerva and The Altar Of Liberty Monument in Green-Wood Cemetery

The Minerva Monument has stood atop Battle Hill, arm raised, saluting the Statue of Liberty across the harbor for 85 years. The gift of the Irish-American businessman, Charles M. Higgins, the monument was dedicated on August 27, 1920.

A plaque at the base of the monument reads as follows:

“The Place Whereon Thou Standest is Holy Ground”

Glory to the Memory of Our First National Heroes Who Fought and Fell on this Battle Ground to Win Our Liberty and Independence! Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom, Glory, and Patriotism, Here Salutes The Goddess of Liberty and Enwreathes This Altar in Tribute to the Heroes of American Liberty and to the Wisdom of American Institutions."

Another dedication on the Altar To Liberty monument in Green-Wood Cemetery--click in to enlarge

The British lost over 60 officers and men in the attacks at Battle Pass and Battle Hill, as the Americans valiantly kept the invaders at bay for most of the morning until they were finally overwhelmed.

The Old Stone House in J.J. Byrne Park, Brooklyn, NY

The Maryland division of the Continental Army, under command by General William Alexander, waged a crucial battle at the Vechte house, now known as the Old Stone House. (The old Dutch house that stands today has been reconstructed from the original stones of the Vechte House)

Diorama inside the Old Stone House depicting the battle between the British and the Maryland 400

This Old Stone House model shows how the American fired on the British from a cannon placed on the second floor. The Americans were driven from the house several times but charged again to retake it. Within a few hours of the start of the attack, they were surrounded by the major portion of the British and Hessian troops. Sensing the potential to lose a good portion of his army, General George Washington ordered a retreat back to Brooklyn Heights. To cover the retreat, the men of the Maryland line, Pennsylvania line, and the Delaware line were left behind to provide cover for the only escape was to pass an old house and across a creek, which is now known as the Gowanus Canal.

A view of the Gowanus Canal

The Old Stone House has become an informational museum for the Battle Of Brooklyn.


The Heritage Trail placard about the Maryland 400's Brave Feat located at Michael A. Rawley American Legion Post 1636--click on to enlarge

Information from the Maryland 400 web site:

"The Colonial Army, numbering less than 13,000, were matched against 34,000 British forces. Within a few hours of the start of the attack, they were surrounded. Sensing the potential to lose a good portion of his army, General George Washington ordered a retreat. To cover the retreat, the men of the Maryland line, Pennsylvania line, and the Delaware line were left behind to provide cover for the only escape was pass an old house and across a creek.

Eventually, the Delaware and Pennsylvania lines gave way and they were ordered to retreat, leaving six Maryland companies, totaling about 400 men, who were ordered to take the old house where British cannons were killing retreating colonists.

The Marylanders attacked five times, losing more men with each attempt. General Washington said to Gen. Israel Putnam, ‘‘Good God, what brave fellows I must this day lose,” as he watched the Marylanders being slaughtered.

As the Marylanders continued to charge and the killing continued, In the sixth attempt, the remnants of the 400 successfully took the house and stopped the carnage. With only two pieces of artillery, they silenced the six British cannons and for a brief time, the killing was stopped. Eventually, the Maryland 400 were overwhelmed and ordered to join in the retreat. After the order for retreat, the Maryland 400 spiked their cannons and crossed the creek to safety.

By the end of the battle, 256 of the Maryland 400 lay dead. More than 100 were wounded or captured. Because of their heroic performance, the Maryland Line would become known as the "Old Line", and that is where Maryland earned the nickname 'The Old Line State'."

Michael A. Rawley American Legion Post 1636

There has been a longstanding mystery surrounding the remains of the Maryland 400 who perished that day. They are thought buried in a mass shallow grave by the British, on what was then marshy land on the farm of Adrian Van Brunt, now containing 19th-century brownstones, businesses, and apartment buildings.

Unfortunately, their gravesite was never found and an old plaque honoring them was placed above the Michael A. Rawley American Legion Post 1636 a block away from where it was originally located.

The Maryland Monument on Lookout Hill, Prospect Park

Information from Wikipedia:

"Thomas Field, who wrote of the Battle of Long Island in 1869, called the stand of the Marylanders an hour more precious to liberty than any other in history. And well it might be! These brave Marylanders stood as the final anchor of the crumbled American front line, and their heroic action not only saved many of their fellows but afforded Washington critical respite to regroup and withdraw his battered troops to Manhattan and continue the struggle for independence."

The monument was donated by the Maryland Society, Sons of the American Revolution. The column was designed by noted architect Stanford White and the dedication ceremony was held on August 27, 1895.

Unfortunately, the monument is in a secluded area of Prospect Park, and is under constant threat from vandalism, as you can see in the photos of the base. The inscription has been partially worn away by cleaning off the graffiti markings.

I could not help but feel in awe by the bravery of those young men who sacrificed their lives to hold off the advance of the British army that day, to allow the bulk of the troops to retreat to safety. If it were not for their valiant action a large portion of the American Continental troops, and General George Washington, would have been pursued and probably forced to surrender that very day. I was also saddened to think that they have received so little recognition as heroes in the annuals of history, perhaps because they died in a battle that was a concise defeat. It is very sad that the actual location of their mass grave has been lost in time.

At this point in the battle, the British General Howe decided to hold fast and regroup. The weather was bad and a storm was approaching. His men were tired, and they had many wounded and also many prisoners to detain. They camped to rest and prepare for the next siege.

In my "Part Three" blog post I will describe The Continental Army's daring escape from Brooklyn Heights to Manhattan, one of General George Washington's most daring feats!

On the day of the battle, Aug. 27, 1776, General Israel Putnam was in overall command of the 10,000 American troops in Brooklyn. General John Sullivan was in command of the advanced position with 3,500 men on the low hills. Gen. William Alexander, who preferred the title Lord Stirling, was in charge of the troops along the Gowanus Road near the Harbor. Unfortunately for the Americans, there were only tiny units at the passes to the east, especially on the Jamaica pass near the present-day East New York/New Lots neighborhoods, and they were soon entirely overtaken by the British troops.