Battle of Long Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Long Island |
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| Part of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||||
 A 2004 painting showing the battle |
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 United States |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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| 20,000 | 10,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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300 killed 800 wounded 1,079 captured or missing |
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The Battle of Long Island, also called the Battle of Brooklyn, was a major fight during the American Revolutionary War. It happened on August 27, 1776, in what is now Brooklyn, New York. In this battle, the British army defeated the Continental Army (the American army). This victory gave the British control of the important Port of New York, which they kept for the rest of the war. This was the first big battle after the United States declared its independence on July 4, 1776. It was also the largest battle of the war, with many soldiers fighting on both sides.
After winning the siege of Boston in March 1776, General George Washington, who led the American army, moved his troops to defend New York City. He knew New York's harbor was very important for the Royal Navy (British navy). So, Washington set up defenses and waited for the British. In July, the British, led by General William Howe, landed on Staten Island. Over the next six weeks, more British ships and soldiers arrived, bringing their total force to 32,000 troops. Washington realized it would be hard to defend New York City with the British navy controlling the harbor entrance. He moved most of his soldiers to Manhattan, thinking that would be the main target.
On August 21, the British landed in Brooklyn at Gravesend Bay. This was across from Staten Island and south of the crossings to Manhattan. After five days, the British attacked American defenses on the Heights of Guan. What the Americans didn't know was that General Howe had moved his main army around their back. He attacked them from the side, surprising them. The American soldiers were caught off guard and many were lost, either killed or captured. However, about 400 brave soldiers from Maryland and Delaware fought hard. Their stand helped prevent even bigger losses for the Americans.
The remaining American soldiers retreated to their main defenses on Brooklyn Heights. The British then prepared for a siege, which is when an army surrounds a place to try and capture it. But on the night of August 29–30, General Washington made a clever move. He secretly moved his entire army from Brooklyn to Manhattan. They managed to escape without losing any supplies or soldiers. After this, the American army faced more defeats and had to leave Manhattan. They retreated through New Jersey all the way to Pennsylvania.
Contents
Preparing for Battle
At the start of the war, the British army was stuck in Boston, Massachusetts. They had to leave Boston on March 17, 1776, and sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to wait for more soldiers. General Washington then moved his troops to New York City. He thought the British would attack New York next because its port was very important. Washington had sent General Charles Lee to New York earlier to set up defenses. Lee also made sure that people who supported the British (called Loyalists) were moved out of the area. After Lee left, General William Alexander took over building New York's defenses.
Washington arrived in New York on April 13. He set up his main office on Broadway. He found that the defenses were not finished because there weren't enough soldiers. General Lee had already thought it would be impossible to hold New York City if the British controlled the sea. So, the plan was to build defenses that could cause a lot of damage to the British. They built Barricades and small forts called redoubts around the city. One important fort, Fort Stirling, was built across the East River in Brooklyn Heights.
American Strategy and Defenses
Washington started moving soldiers to Brooklyn in May. Soon, thousands of troops were there. They built three new forts: Fort Putnam, Fort Greene, and Fort Box. These forts were connected by long ditches and had 36 cannons.
They also built Fort Defiance near Red Hook. Cannons were set up on Governors Island and at other points in Manhattan. To stop British ships, old ships called hulks were sunk in important waterways.
Washington was allowed to have an army of 28,501 soldiers. However, he only had 19,000 when he arrived in New York. The soldiers were not very well-trained. They often didn't follow orders, and their weapons were not always ready. There were also many small disagreements among the soldiers.
General Henry Knox, who was in charge of the cannons, convinced Washington to move 400 to 500 soldiers to help with the artillery. In June, Knox and General Nathanael Greene decided to build Fort Washington in northern Manhattan. They also planned Fort Constitution (later called Fort Lee) across the Hudson River. These forts were meant to stop British ships from sailing up the Hudson River.
British Arrival in New York
On June 28, Washington learned that the British fleet had left Halifax and was heading to New York. The next day, soldiers on Staten Island signaled that the British ships had arrived. Within hours, 45 British ships anchored in Lower New York Bay. People in New York City panicked, and soldiers rushed to their posts. On July 2, British troops began landing on Staten Island. American soldiers fired a few shots before leaving, and some local citizens joined the British side. A few days later, 130 British ships were off Staten Island. They were led by Richard Howe, General Howe's brother.
On July 6, New York received news that Congress had declared independence four days earlier. On July 9, Washington had his soldiers gather to hear the Declaration of Independence read aloud. After the reading, a crowd pulled down the statue of George III of Great Britain in Bowling Green. They melted parts of it down to make musket balls.
On July 12, two British ships, the Phoenix and the Rose, sailed up the harbor. American cannons fired at them, but the British ships fired back at the city. The ships continued up the Hudson River to Tarrytown. The British wanted to cut off American supplies and encourage people who supported the British. Six Americans were killed that day when their own cannon exploded.
The next day, General Howe tried to talk with the Americans. He sent a letter to Washington, but it was addressed to "George Washington, Esq." Washington's officers said he should not accept it because it didn't recognize him as a general. Washington agreed. Howe tried again on July 16 with a slightly different address, but it was also refused.
On July 17, Howe sent an officer to ask if Washington would meet with Howe's assistant. A meeting was set for July 20. Howe's assistant, Colonel James Patterson, told Washington that Howe had the power to offer pardons. Washington replied, "Those who have committed no fault want no pardon." Patterson soon left. Many people praised Washington for how he handled this meeting.
More British ships kept arriving. By August 12, the British fleet had over 400 ships and 32,000 soldiers on Staten Island. Washington wasn't sure where the British would attack. Generals Greene and Reed thought the British would attack Long Island. However, Washington believed an attack on Long Island might be a trick to hide the main attack on Manhattan. He split his army, sending half to Manhattan and half to Long Island. General Greene was in charge of the Long Island troops. On August 20, Greene became ill, so General John Sullivan took command.
British Invasion of Long Island
At 5:10 AM on August 22, 4,000 British soldiers, led by Generals Clinton and Cornwallis, left Staten Island. By 8:00 AM, all 4,000 soldiers landed without a fight at Gravesend Bay on Long Island. American riflemen had been there but retreated, burning farms as they went. By noon, 15,000 British soldiers and 40 cannons had landed. Many Loyalists came to greet the British. Cornwallis advanced about 6 miles (10 km) and set up camp in Flatbush, but he was ordered not to go any further.
Washington heard about the landings that day. He was told there were 8,000 to 9,000 British troops. This made him think it was the trick he had expected. So, he only sent 1,500 more soldiers to Brooklyn, bringing the total there to 6,000. On August 24, Washington replaced General Sullivan with General Israel Putnam to lead the troops on Long Island. Putnam arrived the next day with six battalions. That same day, the British on Long Island received 5,000 Hessian soldiers, making their total 20,000. There was little fighting right after the landing, just a few small clashes.
The American plan was for Putnam to lead the defenses from Brooklyn Heights. Generals Sullivan and Stirling would be positioned forward on the Guan Heights. These hills were up to 150 feet (46 meters) high and blocked the direct path to Brooklyn Heights. Washington hoped to cause heavy losses to the British on these heights before retreating to Brooklyn Heights.
There were three main paths through the heights: the Gowanus Road to the west, the Flatbush Road in the center, and the Bedford Pass to the east. Stirling was to defend Gowanus Road with 500 men. Sullivan was to defend Flatbush and Bedford roads with 1,000 and 800 soldiers, respectively. 6,000 soldiers were to stay at Brooklyn Heights. There was also a lesser-known path called the Jamaica Pass to the far east, guarded by only five mounted militia officers.
On the British side, General Clinton learned about the unguarded Jamaica Pass from local Loyalists. He created a plan for the main army to march at night through Jamaica Pass to attack the American side (flank). Other British troops would keep the Americans busy in front. On August 26, Howe approved Clinton's plan. Clinton was to lead the advance guard of 10,000 soldiers through Jamaica Pass. While they marched at night, General James Grant and 4,000 British and Hessian troops would attack the Americans from the front. This was to distract them from the main army's flanking move. Howe told Clinton to be ready to move that night.
The Battle Begins
The British Night March
At 9:00 PM, the British army began to move. Only the commanders knew the full plan. Clinton led a group of skilled soldiers with bayonets. Behind him was Cornwallis with eight battalions and 14 cannons. Then came Howe and Hugh Percy with six more battalions, cannons, and supplies. The column of 10,000 men stretched for over two miles. Three Loyalist farmers guided them toward Jamaica Pass. The British left their campfires burning to trick the Americans into thinking nothing was happening. The column marched northeast, then north toward the heights.
The British column reached Howard's Tavern, close to Jamaica Pass, without seeing any American soldiers. The tavern owner, William Howard, and his son were forced to guide the British to an old trail that went around Jamaica Pass.
Five minutes after leaving the tavern, the five American militia officers guarding the pass were captured without a fight. They thought the British were Americans. Clinton questioned them and learned they were the only ones guarding the pass. By dawn, the British were through the pass and rested. At 9:00 AM, they fired two cannons. This was the signal for the Hessian troops to attack Sullivan's men from the front, while Clinton's troops attacked from the east.
Grant's Distraction Attack
Around 11:00 PM on August 26, the first shots of the Battle of Long Island were fired near the Red Lion Inn. American guards fired at two British soldiers looking for food. Around 1:00 AM on August 27, about 200–300 British soldiers approached the Red Lion. The American troops fired at them, then retreated up Gowanus Road. Major Edward Burd was captured with some of his men. This first fight happened near 38th and 39th Streets.
General Samuel Holden Parsons and Colonel Atlee were further north on Gowanus Road. Putnam was woken up at 3:00 AM and told the British were attacking. He sent signals to Washington in Manhattan and then rode to warn Stirling.
Stirling led 1,600 soldiers, including troops from Delaware and Maryland. He moved to reinforce Parsons and Atlee and stop the British. Stirling placed Atlee's men in an apple orchard. When the British advanced, the Americans fired and then fell back to a hill.
Stirling positioned the Delaware and Maryland regiments on a rise of land. Some Maryland troops were on a small hill called "Blokje Berg." At the base of this hill, Gowanus Road crossed a bridge over a marshy area. The Americans fired at the British from the north side of this ditch.
Southeast of Blokje Berg was Battle Hill, the highest point in Brooklyn. The British tried to go around the American positions by taking this hill. The Americans tried to stop them and fought fiercely. Battle Hill saw very brutal fighting, and the Americans caused the most British casualties here during the entire battle.
British Colonel James Grant was killed, making Americans think they had killed General James Grant. An American rifleman was said to have shot him from a tree. American Colonel Caleb Parry was also killed while leading his troops. The Americans still didn't realize this was not the main British attack.
Battle Pass and American Collapse
The Hessians, led by General von Heister, began firing cannons at the American lines at Battle Pass. These American lines were commanded by General John Sullivan. The Hessians did not attack directly yet, waiting for a signal from the British. The Americans still thought Grant's attack was the main one, so Sullivan sent 400 soldiers to help Stirling.
Howe fired his signal cannons at 9:00 AM. The Hessians then attacked Battle Pass, while the main British army attacked Sullivan's troops from behind. Sullivan left some soldiers to hold off the Hessians and turned the rest of his force to fight the British. Many soldiers on both sides were killed or injured. Sullivan tried to keep his men calm and lead a retreat. By this time, the Hessians had taken the heights, and the American left side had completely fallen apart. There was hand-to-hand fighting, with Americans using their muskets like clubs. It was later said that Hessians used bayonets on some Americans who surrendered. Despite the chaos, Sullivan managed to get most of his men back to Brooklyn Heights, though he himself was captured.
The Maryland 400's Brave Stand
At 9:00 AM, Washington arrived from Manhattan. He realized his earlier prediction about a trick attack was wrong. He ordered more troops from Manhattan to Brooklyn. His exact location during the battle is not known, but he was likely at Brooklyn Heights, where he could see the fighting.
Stirling still held his position against Grant on the American right. He fought for four hours, not knowing about the British flanking move. Some of his soldiers even thought they were winning. However, Grant received 2,000 more soldiers, and by 11:00 AM, he attacked Stirling's center. Stirling was also attacked on his left by the Hessians. Stirling began to pull back, but British troops were coming from behind him. The only way to escape was across Brouwer's millpond on Gowanus Creek, which was 80 yards (73 meters) wide. The American defenses on Brooklyn Heights were on the other side.
Stirling ordered all his troops to cross the creek, except for a group of Maryland soldiers led by Major Mordecai Gist. This group became known as the "Maryland 400", though they numbered about 260–270 soldiers. Stirling and Gist led these troops in a brave fight against more than 2,000 British soldiers, who were supported by cannons. The Marylanders attacked the British twice, who were positioned in and around the Vechte–Cortelyou House. After their last attack, the remaining soldiers retreated across Gowanus Creek.
Some men trying to cross the marsh got stuck in the mud and were shot at. Others who couldn't swim were captured. Stirling was surrounded. He didn't want to surrender to the British, so he broke through their lines to the Hessians and surrendered to them instead. About 256 Maryland soldiers were killed in front of the Old Stone House, and fewer than a dozen made it back to the American lines. Washington watched from a nearby fort and reportedly said, "Good God, what brave fellows I must this day lose."
British Halt the Attack
American soldiers who were not killed or captured escaped behind the strong defenses at Brooklyn Heights. General Howe then ordered all his troops to stop attacking. Many of his officers disagreed, believing they should push forward to Brooklyn Heights. However, Howe decided against a direct attack on the American defenses. He chose instead to start a siege, surrounding the American positions. He thought the Americans were trapped, with his troops blocking land escape and the Royal Navy controlling the East River, which they needed to cross to reach Manhattan.
Howe's decision not to continue the attack has been debated. He might have wanted to avoid heavy losses like those the British suffered at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He might also have hoped Washington would realize his situation was hopeless and surrender. Howe later told Parliament that his main duty was to avoid unnecessary British casualties. He believed capturing Brooklyn Heights might not have meant capturing the entire American army.
Aftermath
The Great Escape to Manhattan
Washington and the Continental Army were surrounded on Brooklyn Heights, with the East River behind them. As the day went on, the British began digging trenches, slowly moving closer to the American defenses. This would allow the British to attack without crossing open ground. Despite this dangerous situation, Washington ordered 1,200 more soldiers from Manhattan to Brooklyn on August 28. Two Pennsylvania regiments and Colonel John Glover's regiment from Marblehead, Massachusetts, responded. General Thomas Mifflin, who commanded the Pennsylvania troops, volunteered to check the outer defenses. Small fights were still happening in these areas. On the afternoon of August 28, it began to rain, and Washington's cannons fired at the British throughout the night.
As the rain continued, Washington sent a letter to General William Heath, asking him to send every flat-bottomed boat and sloop quickly. This was in case soldiers from New Jersey came to help. At 4:00 PM on August 29, Washington met with his generals. Mifflin suggested retreating to Manhattan. He and his Pennsylvania regiments would stay behind as the rear guard, holding the line until the rest of the army had left. The generals all agreed that retreating was the best option. Washington sent out orders that evening. The troops were told to gather their ammunition and baggage and prepare for a night attack. By 9:00 PM, the sick and wounded began moving to the Brooklyn Ferry for evacuation. At 11:00 PM, Glover and his Massachusetts men, who were skilled sailors and fishermen, began moving the troops.
As more troops were evacuated, others were ordered to leave the front lines and march to the ferry. Wagon wheels were muffled, and soldiers were told not to talk. Mifflin's rear guard kept campfires burning to trick the British. At 4:00 AM on August 30, Mifflin was told it was his unit's turn to leave. Mifflin thought there was a mistake, but the officer insisted. Mifflin then ordered his troops to move out. When Mifflin's troops were close to the ferry, Washington rode up and asked why they weren't at their defenses. Washington exclaimed, "Good God. General Mifflin, I am afraid you have ruined us." Mifflin explained he had been told to evacuate. Washington told him it was a mistake. Mifflin then led his troops back to the outer defenses.
Cannons, supplies, and soldiers were all being moved across the river. It was not going as fast as Washington had hoped, and daybreak was approaching. A thick fog then rolled in, hiding the evacuation from the British. British patrols noticed there were no American guards and began searching the area. As they did this, Washington, the last soldier left, stepped onto the last boat. By 7:00 AM, the last American troops landed in Manhattan. All 9,000 troops had been evacuated without losing a single life.
After the Escape
The British were shocked to find that Washington and the Continental Army had escaped. Later that day, on August 30, British troops took over the abandoned American forts. When news of the battle reached London, there were many celebrations. Bells rang, candles were lit, and King George III honored General Howe. Some people thought Washington's defeat showed he wasn't a good military leader. His inexperienced generals misunderstood the battle, and his new troops fled. However, Washington's daring escape that night is now seen by some historians as one of his greatest military achievements. Other historians focus on why the British navy failed to stop the retreat.
Howe did not attack again for two weeks. On September 15, he landed troops at Kip's Bay. The British quickly took over New York City. Although American troops had a small victory at Harlem Heights in mid-September, Howe defeated Washington again at White Plains and then at Fort Washington. Because of these losses, Washington and his army had to retreat across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania.
Casualties and Prisoners
At the time, this was the largest battle ever fought in North America. If you include the Royal Navy, over 40,000 soldiers took part. Howe reported that the British lost 60 killed, 267 wounded, and 31 missing. The Hessians lost 5 killed and 26 wounded. The Americans suffered much heavier losses. About 300 were killed, and over 1,000 were captured. Sadly, as few as half of the captured soldiers survived. They were kept on prison ships in Wallabout Bay and later in places like the Middle Dutch Church. They faced harsh conditions, and many became ill with diseases like smallpox.
Historians believe that as many as 256 soldiers from the First Maryland Regiment were killed in the battle. This was about two-thirds of the regiment. They were buried in a mass grave, but its exact location has been a mystery for many years.
Legacy of the Battle
The most important lesson from the Battle of Long Island was that the war would not be easy. It showed that the fight for independence would be long and difficult. The British took control of the important harbor and kept New York City under military rule until the war ended. With the British army in the city, it became a center for spying and gathering information. The areas around the city and harbor often saw small battles and conflicts.
Here are some ways the battle is remembered:
- The Altar to Liberty: Minerva monument: This monument includes a bronze statue of Minerva on Battle Hill, the highest point in Brooklyn, located in Greenwood Cemetery. The statue was put up in 1920. It faces the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. Each year, a ceremony for the Battle of Long Island starts at the cemetery entrance and marches up to this monument.
- The Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument: This tall column in Fort Greene remembers all the American prisoners who died on British ships near Brooklyn.
- Soldiers' Monument – Milford, Connecticut: This memorial remembers 200 very sick prisoners from the Battle of Long Island. They were left on the beach at Milford on January 3, 1777.
- The Old Stone House: This rebuilt farmhouse (from around 1699) was central to the Marylanders' brave stand. It is now a museum about the battle, located in J. J. Byrne Park in Brooklyn. It has models and maps.
- Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Battle Pass: On the eastern side of East Drive, there is a large granite rock with a brass plaque. Another marker is for the Dongan Oak, a very old tree that was cut down to block the pass from the British. The park also has the Line of Defense marker and the Maryland Monument.
Today, 30 units in the U.S. Army can trace their history back to the colonial and revolutionary eras. Five Army National Guard units and one Regular Army Field Artillery battalion are descended from American units that fought in the Battle of Long Island.
Interesting Facts About the Battle of Long Island
- The Battle of Long Island was the largest battle of the Revolutionary War. It had the most soldiers fighting and was the biggest battle ever fought in North America at that time.
- 8,000 Hessians (German soldiers) came to help the British.
- The battle is also known as the Battle of Brooklyn or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights.
- Five Army National Guard units and one Regular Army Field Artillery battalion today are connected to American units that fought in the Battle of Long Island.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Long Island para niños
- List of American Revolutionary War battles
- American Revolutionary War §British New York counter-offensive. This shows where the Battle of Long Island fits in the overall war.
- Dr. John Hart, a surgeon who was stationed at Governor's Island.
- Long Island order of battle
- New York and New Jersey campaign
