Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY
Jason Wickersty

Brooklyn Battlefield

Long Island

One of the largest conflicts in North America during the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Brooklyn (also know as the Battle of Long Island) was also an unmitigated disaster for Washington. Though many units stood valiantly against the Redcoats, such as the Maryland 400, most of the Continentals panicked and fled at the British advance. 

Sadly, much of the land left over from the Revolution’s darkest hour has been swallowed up by the neighborhood of Brooklyn, but there are a few historic sites that either remain or were constructed to honor those who fell. The Old Stone House stands where the Marylanders made their final effort to hold back the British and help their comrades escape. The Dongan Oak Monument in Prospect Park lies were Continental troops cut down an enormous to slow the British advance. Battle Hill, the highest point in Brooklyn and now a part of Green-Wood Cemetery, was . Last, the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument in Fort Greene Park honors all those who suffered and died in miserable captivity after the battle. Explore what remains of the battle that might have ended everything, in the center of our largest city.

At Green-Wood Cemetery, visitors may regard an early act of battlefield land preservation by Charles Higgins by visiting Battle Hill and the statue of Minerva placed there through his foresight and generosity. 

Brooklyn Battlefield: What's Nearby

Brooklyn, NY
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Jersey City, New Jersey (NJ-121)
Jersey City, NJ
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Elizabeth, New Jersey (NJ-3)
Elizabeth, NJ
Rev War  |  Museum
Battle of Connecticut Farms and Liberty Hall Museum
Union, NJ
Rev War  |  Museum
Daughters of the American Revolution Van Bunschooten Museum
Wantage, NJ
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Greenwich, Connecticut (CT-154)
Greenwich, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Norwalk, Connecticut (CT-98)
Norwalk, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, West Point, New York (NY-73)
West Point, NY
National Purple Heart Hall of Honor
New Windsor , NY
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Beacon, New York (NY-77)
Beacon, NY
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Bristol, Pennsylvania (PA-35)
Bristol, PA
Grand Army of The Republic Civil War Museum and Library
Philadelphia, PA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, East Haven, Connecticut (CT-124)
East Haven, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Poughkeepsie, New York (NY-107)
Poughkeepsie, NY
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Branford, Connecticut (CT-135)
Branford, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA-63)
Philadelphia, PA
Rev War  |  Museum
Museum of the American Revolution
Philadelphia, PA
African American Museum in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Rev War  |  Marker
Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary Soldier, Philadelphia, PA
Phila, PA
Harvey Curtiss "Barney" Barnum Jr.
Cheshire, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Clinton, Connecticut (CT-72)
Clinton, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Middletown, Connecticut (CT-151)
Middletown, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Old Saybrook, Connecticut (CT-55)
Old Saybrook, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Cromwell, Connecticut (CT-116)
Cromwell, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Old Lyme, Connecticut (CT-45)
Old Lyme, CT

Related Battles

Brooklyn, New York | August 27, 1776
Result: British Victory
Estimated Casualties
2,388
American
2,000
British
388