The Battle of Long IslandA demolition of the Continental Army Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. [38], Meanwhile, British ships continued to arrive. Scholars argue that this could have been the end of the Revolutionary War, but the British made a mistake and did not finish the job. Amongst the American dead was Pennsylvanian Colonel Caleb Parry who was killed while rallying his troops. A Continental Army division under Major General Nathanial Greene occupied a line of fortifications on Long Island’s Brooklyn Heights, across the East River from New York City. [82] By 21:00, the sick and wounded began to move to the Brooklyn Ferry in preparation for being evacuated. Wagon wheels were muffled, and men were forbidden to talk. When a storm drove the British warships downriver, Washington used the opportunity to abandon Long Island. [56] No one, except the commanders—not even the officers—knew of the plan. [35] Brown was met by Joseph Reed, who on Washington's orders had hurried to the waterfront accompanied by Henry Knox and Samuel Webb. Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, (August 27–29, 1776), in the American Revolution, successful British action in Brooklyn, New York, against the American Continental Army and the first major battle of the war since the American declaration of independence on July 4. Five minutes after leaving the tavern, the five American militia officers stationed at the Pass were captured without a shot fired, as they thought the British were Americans. Surprised and outnumbered, American units fled to the main defense line. [12] Because Lee and Stirling had too few troops to do the job, Washington found the defenses only half done. [14] Lee had concluded that if the British commanded the sea it would be impossible to hold the city, so he built his defenses so as to force the British to pay with heavy casualties if they were to take any ground from the Americans. [92] The British quickly occupied the city. Reproduced in Sawicki 1982, pp. Newly promoted Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons a lawyer from Connecticut who had recently secured a commission in the Continental Army, and Colonel Samuel Atlee in command of the First Regiment of Pennsylvania Musketry - a veteran of the French and Indian War - were stationed further north on the Gowanus Road. [13] Lee remained in control of the city's defenses until the Continental Congress sent him to South Carolina in March, and the job of preparing the defenses was left to General William Alexander (Lord Stirling). No.5 is the Old Stone House. [73] If the Royal Navy is included, over 40,000 men took part in the battle. Washington and the Continental Army were driven out of New York entirely after several more defeats and forced to retreat through New Jersey and into Pennsylvania. This area is called Brooklyn today and the battle is often referred to as the Battle of Brooklyn.