Battle+of+Long+Island

BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND AKA - ** BATTLE OF BROOKLYN **OR ** BATTLE OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS ** Jessica Tin, Period 4

The Battle of Long Island occured on August 27, 1776, at Long Island, New York. The Americans' continental army, led by Commander-in-Chief General George Washington, was countered by the British, led by General William Howe. The Hessian force, led by General von Heister, also participated, aiding the British at Flatbrush Pass. In July, Gen. Howe directed the British across the harbor on Staten Island, where ships continued to arrive over the next month. This left the British in control of the New York Harbor with a force 32,000 men strong. Gen. Washington, meanwhile, moved his troops to Manhattan, believing that to be Britain's target. On August 22, 4,000 of Gen. Howe's men landed on Long Island, across the Narrows from Staten Island and across the East River from Manhattan. Five days later, they attacked the American defenses at the Guana (Gowanus) Heights. Meanwhile, Howe brought his main army around the back of the Americans, advancing in a surprise attack. Caught off guard, the Americans fled to the main defenses at the Brooklyn Heights. The British prepared to follow up with another attack, but Gen. Washington evacuated the continental army to Manhattan. After several more defeats, they were driven out of New York completely, and forced to retreat through New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Gen. Washington was surrounded on the Brooklyn Heights, with the British digging trenches allowing them to attack without crossing open ground. On the 28th, he sent for 1,200 more men from Manhattan to Brooklyn, and met with his other generals on the 29th. Washington and the other generals agreed unanimously that their best option was to retreat, so they evacuated troops that night. The British took the American fortifications, and Gen. Howe continued leading successful attacks on the Americans through September. After Howe defeated Gen. Washington's forces at White Plains and Fort Washington, the American troops were forced to retreat through New Jersey and into Pennsylvania. The Battle of Long Island was the Revolutionary War's first major battle following the Declaration of Independence's signing, the largest battle in North America at the time - and with the battle's enormity came great losses for the Americans. Their total killed (300) and captured (1,000) vastly surpassed the British and Hessian losses (only 59 killed with 267 wounded for the British, with 31 missing, and only 5 killed with 26 wounded for the Hessians). The decisive British victory was a hard hit on the Americans, serving as a reminder of the harsh possibilities of war and forcing them to rethink their decisions.


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