Battle of Long Island...

In honoring the anniversary of the Battle of Long Island, which happened on this day in 1776, here is a passage from my novel, "Then...A Patriot I'll Be". It recounts the series of events that unfolded throughout the battle from the point of view of one of the soldiers present in Manhattan during the time...

On the front lines, the Brooklyn defenders that had been enduring massive cannon fire were now about to realize how truly dire their situation was. The five thousand or so British soldiers that had stayed behind to feign the attack on the center of the continental position had stormed the Gowanus Pass and sent the militia forces gathered there in a heavy retreat. As the combined line of red coats and Hessians advanced closer to the American stronghold, General Putnam sent out his distress signals to General Washington that he was under attack. These pre-agreed upon signals were bundles of wood and brush that were to be lit ablaze so that they could be seen from Washington’s position on Manhattan.

Per Putnam’s orders, General Stirling had taken almost two thousand men with him to challenge the enemy in the direct front of the continental defenses. More cannon fire erupted from both sides, as the American’s now had their artillery engaged. Musketry rattled as the two forces clashed at the front of the engagement. The British fired vicious volleys into Stirling’s advance troops, only to receive just as fierce musket fire in return.

Not pleased with how well the Americans were faring while going toe to toe with their regulars, the British officers ordered a massive bayonet charge, as it was a known fact that the continent soldiers were fearful of the bayonet. The orders were given and the regulars charged into the open battlefield toward the Americans. The result however, was much like Bunker Hill, as the Continentals opened fire and drove the British back to their lines. Dissatisfied with this result, the regulars were ordered once again into another bayonet charge. This charge didn’t fare any better than the first one, and the British were once again forced back in a barrage of musket and cannon fire.

Just as the Americans believed that they had the upper hand in the engagement, the fearsome Hessians formed in the center of the British lines and their artillery began to concentrate on hurling devastating grape shot into the American lines. The apple sized projectiles launched from the gun tubes and cut through the continental forces gathered to the front. Many men were either killed outright, or maimed to the point that they would later die from their grisly injuries. Believing the Hessian troops were going to follow up the bombardments with a massive charge, Putnam ordered more continentals to be sent from the redoubts to reinforce Stirling’s men. Upon seeing the increasing numbers of American troops arrive, the Hessian foot soldiers wisely pulled back to safety while allowing their cannon to decimate the continental forces before them at a safe distance.

The engagement was beginning to appear as a stalemate, and the Americans were confident that they were holding their own against the superior trained British. Unfortunately, this elation wouldn’t last much longer though, as once General Howe had decided the American’s were fooled into their false security of winning a battle long enough, the true signal of the attack was given. Howe had his men that had been hidden since navigating the Jamaica Pass finally rise up out of the tall grass. He then ordered one of his field pieces to fire a booming volley of round shot into the left flank of the American defenses. This was the signal to the Hessians in the center to once again resume their frontal attack. The Hessians would fare much better this time, as the Americans now weren’t just fighting them off. Suddenly, they also had to contend with the ten thousand regulars that appeared out of nowhere on their left flank.

As the battle roared on, massive amounts of casualties began to pile up on both sides. Although the odds were against them, the Americans were holding up better than Howe expected them to be. Canon fire continued to thunder over both sides and the musket smoke drifting across the battlefield blurred the vision of the two sides during the melee. The rattling of musketry was loud enough that both sides had a hard time hearing the commands of their officers. In the midst of this confusion, both sides were prone to defectors, and many men managed to flee out of fear.

As the British continued to pour in their seemingly endless resources of men and munitions, it was clear to the Continental leaders that they wouldn’t be able to hold out for much longer. They had fought the good fight, but now it seemed that a retreat was all but inevitable. John Sullivan tried his best to muster his men up and orchestrate an orderly retreat, but by the time he began it was too late. The Hessians had broken through the lines and were now climbing over the defenses of the fortifications from the front. From the left, Howe’s men had been so proficient in their surprise attack that the whole of the left side of the American defenses had completely collapsed and began to run away on their own. By now, hand to hand fighting was occurring throughout the American defenses. Not skilled in the art of bayonet warfare, the Americans could only swing their muskets as clubs in defense against the highly trained bayonet wielding Hessians and regulars. The result was that many continental soldiers and American militia were slaughtered where they stood and fought bravely. There were reports that even the men that surrendered were hacked to bits by the non-quarter granting, blood thirsty Hessian soldiers.

Most of the men that were in the defenses were successfully evacuated to the American position at Brooklyn Heights. This was due to the brave actions and exquisite command of John Sullivan; although he couldn’t quite save himself. He was captured by the British during the retreat.

Washington finally arriving to Brooklyn Heights, realized how outnumbered his American troops were and ordered more reinforcements from Manhattan. Once again, luck looked upon me favorably, and I was still not ordered to the front lines. However, I could now hear the action more clearly from across the river and it sounded quite fierce. Judging from the sounds getting increasingly louder and frequent, I could tell that the battle must have been growing in size and intensity.

General Stirling had been holding his own with his men on the main of the American line’s right flank. In fact, they had been holding off the regulars so efficiently that some of the men in his line believed that they would actually drive the British back. Unfortunately for Stirling, a detachment of British Marines had joined the fray and along with a line of Hessians attacking on his left flank, began to push the Americans back instead. Wisely, Stirling began to fall back, but noticed that the British had gotten around him and were now closing in on his rear. His only means of escape was through an area of marshy swamp land that would lead him to Brooklyn Heights, and the assistance of the reinforcements that were located there. In a desperate retreat, he ordered his men into the marsh. Stirling himself stayed behind with close to three hundred of his men to cover the retreat of the main of his troops. Bravely, he was able to hold the regulars off until it was no longer possible to stop the British advances. He then ordered the remainder of his men to retreat by any means necessary. Of course this meant through the marshland toward the heights.

The men broke off in all directions in their attempt to flee the charging British regulars and bloodthirsty Hessians. Many men were either cornered or not able to swim the marshland and were forced to surrender. Unfortunately, most of these men would later perish inside the rotting British prison hulks that would soon be anchored in the bay. Stirling himself had no interest in surrendering to the British. He made a daring attempt to break through the enemy’s lines, but soon found himself surrounded by the Hessians and seeing he had no other choice, promptly surrendered to them.



Map of the Battle of Long Island (showing British and American Positions)