Battle+of+Long+Island+(P5)


 * The Battle of Long Island** **By: Emily James**


 * The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, was fought on August 27th, 1776. Lead by General George Washington, the 10,000 American troops faced over 32,000 British come the battle, lead by General William Howe, on Long Island. However, unknown to the Americans, Loyalists provided information to the British about an unidentified pass leading to the Heights of Guan, a position that would leave the British right between the American troops. At daylight, the British opened fire, and the Americans suffered nearly 1,400 losses, while the British suffered a mere 400. Washington retreated with his troops to Manhattan Island when the British became inactive during the days following the ambush at Guan. Historians suggest that General Howe was cautious in attacking the Americans, who were now in the fortified southern tip of Manhattan, because of his previous loss at the Battle of Bunker Hill. On the evening of the 29th, Washington and his troops ferried across the East River in crafts which had been supplied by civillians, and so admitted defeat.**
 * This was the first major battle in the American Revolutionary war, which followed the signing of the Declaration of Independence. After Washington's loss, morale was extremely low. The loss of Brooklyn and New York struck the Patriotic cause deeply. The fact that the British had lost so few, about 400 men, when compared to the losses of America, which totaled to over 2,000 troops and several hundred guns, was extremely disheartening. Parts of the Continental Army collapsed, and whole companies deserted the cause. This terrible loss caused the Americans to seriously consider the thought of going to, and the fact that war itself was a tangible thing, and not some wild adventure that they were sure to succeed in. Under the command of Washington, the Patriot Army rebuilt itself, regrouped, and went back into the war with a new sense of purpose and confidence.**


 * Citations:**

1. __ [] __ __﻿__ 2. [] 3. []