Reference Entry
BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND
On August 27th, 1776, British forces struck the Continental Army positions on the heights and fields around Brooklyn in the first major battle after the Declaration of Independence.
Dated Historical Context
A RECORDED MOMENT IN HISTORY
Battle of Long Island
On August 27th, 1776, British forces struck the Continental Army positions on the heights and fields around Brooklyn in the first major battle after the Declaration of Independence. British commanders aimed to crush the rebellion quickly by seizing New York and its superb harbor. Using a night march through lightly guarded roads, they outflanked the American lines and slammed into Patriot units from an unexpected direction, turning the fight into a desperate retreat. Contingents like the Maryland troops who later became known for their stand near the Old Stone House fought stubbornly to buy time for others. The battle was a painful defeat, but George Washington’s subsequent evacuation of his army across the East River preserved the force that would continue the war. The day’s fighting showed that survival and endurance, not quick victories, would keep the American cause alive.
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