Brookland Ferry Landing

The Invasion of Long Island

Before the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, the British suffered a major defeat in Boston, and on March 17 of that year, the British army withdrew from Boston and sailed north to Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

Nonetheless, General George Washington took no time for celebration, and immediately began dispatching troops southward to New York City, as the area was considered a strategic port for British ships and soldiers. By early July, more than 130 British ships were moored off Staten Island, under the command of British Admiral Richard Howe. Throughout the rest of July and early August, negotiations and very small skirmishes were common, while the British fleet grew to over 400 ships. By August 12, nearly 32,000 British troops, including 8,000 Hessians, were camping on Staten Island.

The invasion of Long Island and Brooklyn began on August 22, 1776, with 4,000 British troops led by Generals Cornwallis and Henry Clinton landing on Long Island. By noon of that day, another 15,000 troops joined the first regiment. Washington had not fully prepared for such a grand invasion. In fear of a feint invasion in Brooklyn to guise a larger one in Manhattan, Washington dispersed his men to defend both areas. The total number of Continental troops on Long Island was 6,000 on the day of the invasion. Some fighting did occur, though no significant battles erupted.

A few days later, on August 26, the British troops wreaked havoc against the Continental defenses. The American soldiers, who fought with slow-loading muskets, were soon overrun by the bayonet-carrying British soldiers. The surviving American troops, who were flanked from the east and the south, were driven into the fortifications at Brooklyn Heights, and the British prepared for a siege.

Fortunately, the British didn’t want to make the same mistakes they had made in Boston, and instead of attacking the American defenses at Brooklyn Heights outright, Admiral Howe decided upon a methodical siege that involved the digging of zigzag trenches to reach the fort walls. This tactic would eventually give Washington the ability to safely evacuate more than 9,000 men.

The Ferry Crossing

As the British dug trenches and slowly moved ever closer to the fortifications at Brooklyn Heights, George Washington held an emergency meeting with his war council to discuss the possibility of a retreat to New York. The need for a quick decision was pressed by the fear that British ships would sail up the East River and cut off any further possibility of retreat. Thus, on the evening of August 29, Washington decided to retreat more than 9,000 troops with all their equipment across the mile-wide, fast-moving East River.

Around 9:00 p.m. that night, the sick and wounded were moved toward the Brooklyn Ferry for evacuation, and an hour later, troops on the lines strategically retired so as not to arouse any suspicion. Working the ferry were Colonel John Glover and his regiment of troops from Marblehead, Massachusetts, who were mostly fishermen and sailors renowned for their seamanship. Wagon wheels were muffled, and the marching men were forbidden to speak. Thus, under cover of night and silence, and with the guidance of Washington at the port, Glover and his ferries began evacuating the soldiers.

The evacuation continued in such a matter all through the night and into the following morning, and to Washington’s relief, daybreak on August 30 was accompanied by a heavy fog, further concealing the retreat. George Washington was the last man to step onto a boat from Brooklyn, and by 7:00 a.m. the next morning, less than 12 hours after the orders for retreat, Washington and the last American troops landed safely in New York. All 9,000 men successfully retreated without a single loss of life. 

Colonel Glover and the Marblehead, Massachusetts, troops received such great praise for successfully ferrying the army that Washington would later call them to his service again on Christmas Day, 1776, when Washington famously crossed the Delaware to a monumental victory in Trenton, New Jersey.₁ 

Inscription on the Historic Marker

This tablet marks the Brookland Ferry Landing from which point the American Army embarked during the night of August 29th, 1776, under the direction of General George Washington ably assisted by Colonel John Glover of Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Adjacent markers also feature the inscriptions:

On March 17, 1776, the British Army evacuated Boston and prepared to launch an assault on New York. By August 22, 1776, the British had assembled 200 vessels carrying 30,000 soldiers to attack New York. 

The Battle of Long Island began on August 27, 1776. Surrounded and outnumbered, the American Army retreated to their fortifications protecting the Village of Brooklyn and the ferry crossing.

“It is a matter of the utmost importance to prevent the enemy from taking possession of the City of New York and the North River, as they will thereby command the country.”  ,~George Washington, January 8, 1776

“The fate of unborn millions will now depend on the courage and conduct of this army. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer of die.” ~George Washington, July 22, 1776

“Remember, officers and soldiers, that you are Freemen fighting for the blessings of liberty.” ~George Washington, August 23, 1776₂