This town had a full share of the military operations during the Revolutionary war; and was for a long time in the possession of the British army. It is covered with the remains of fortifications which were thrown up by the Americans[14] and English for their defence against each other. In this town was fought the most sanguinary part of the battle of Long-Island, August 27, 1776; which took place on the retreat of the American army within their lines, and the attempt of a portion of them to ford the mill ponds at Gawanos; in which attempt nearly the whole of a Regiment of young men from Maryland were cut off.

Many of the minor events connected with this battle, and the Revolutionary contest, are fast sinking into the shades of oblivion: the compiler has therefore thought proper to give place to the following piece of history, not with an idea, that he can immortalize any event which he relates; but with a hope, that his efforts will call forth some nobler pen to do justice to the memories of many of the almost forgotten heroes of those hard fought battles, and arduous contests. In the battle above-mentioned, part of the British army marched down a lane or road leading from the Brush tavern to Gowanos, pursuing the Americans. Several of the American riflemen, in order to be more secure, and at the same time, more effectually to succeed in their designs, had posted themselves in the high trees near the road. One of them, whose name is now partially forgotten, shot the English Major Grant; in this he passed unobserved. Again he loaded his deadly rifle, and fired—another English officer fell. He was then marked, and a platoon ordered to advance, and fire into the tree; which order was immediately carried into execution, and the rifleman fell to the ground, dead. After the battle was over, the two British officers were buried in a field, near where they fell, and their graves fenced in with some posts and rails, where their remains still rest. But for “an example to the rebels,” they refused to the American rifleman the rites of sepulture; and his remains were exposed on the ground, till the flesh was rotted, and torn off his bones by the fowls of the air. After a considerable length of time, in a heavy gale of wind, a large tree was uprooted; in the cavity formed by which, some friends to the Americans, notwithstanding the prohibition of the English, placed the brave soldier’s bones to mingle in peace with their kindred earth.

August 28, 1776. Before day break, in a very thick fog, General Washington retreated with his army from near the old ferry, Brooklyn, to New-York. As the last boat of the Americans left the shore, the fog dissipated, and the British made their appearance on the hills above the place of embarkation, when a shot or two from an American Battery on the hill near the house of Col. Henry Rutgers, in New-York, compelled the British to desist in their march to the ferry.

A short time after the retreat of the Americans, Captain Hale, of the American army, was dispatched by General Washington, to see if the English had taken possession of his camp at Brooklyn, and what their situation was. This unfortunate young officer was taken by the English and hung as a spy, without even a form of trial; and not allowed a clergyman at his execution. It is believed he was executed somewhere along the Brooklyn shore, to the south-west of the old ferry. In our pity for Major Andre, we have almost entirely lost sight of this meritorious officer, whose claims on our gratitude ought ever to be remembered, in proportion as his sufferings were greater than those of the former.

During the stay of the American army on Long-Island, the head quarters of General Washington were at the house on Brooklyn heights, now owned and occupied by Henry Waring, Esq. The house now owned and occupied by Teunis Joralemon, Esq. was used by the English as a Hospital during the Revolution, and in its vicinity, hundreds of British soldiers and sailors are buried.

Most of the records of this town were destroyed by the English when they came in possession of it after the battle of Long-Island.

In the month of November, 1776, one of the British prison ships, called the Whitby, was moored in the Wallaboght, near Remsen’s mills. On board this vessel great mortality prevailed among the prisoners, and many of them died. Those of the prisoners who died from this ship, and from the others, which were afterwards brought to this place, were interred in the hill at the present Navy-Yard; where their remains were found, and in the year 1808, deposited in a vault erected for that purpose. March 1777, two other prison ships anchored in the Wallaboght, one of which bore the name of Good Hope; which vessel in the month of October, in the same year, took fire and was burnt. The prisoners were saved and transferred to the other vessels.—The hull of this ship lies under a dock at the Navy Yard, in this town. In the month of February, 1778, on a Sunday afternoon, another British prison ship was burnt in the Wallaboght. The hull of this vessel lies in the mud in that Bay. 1778, the Jersey ship of the line, having arrived at New-York, was condemned as unfit for the service, and converted into a prison ship. As such she anchored in the Wallaboght during the month of April, in the same year, together with the Falmouth and Hope, for Hospital ships; where they remained till the close of the Revolutionary war.

October 22, 1779, An act of attainder was passed by the Legislature of this State, against John Rapalje, Esq. of this town, by which his property was confiscated to the use of the State. That part of his property lying within the bounds of the present village of Brooklyn, was on the 13th of July, 1784, sold by the Commissioners of Forfeitures, to Comfort, and Joshua Sands, Esqrs. for £12,430.

In the year 1780, the British being apprehensive of an attack from the American army under General Washington, commenced fortifying the high grounds about Brooklyn; which works they continued until the peace in 1783. In this town the British had their army yard, where their forage department, and blacksmith’s shops, &c. were kept. The entrance to this yard was near the junction of Main-street with Fulton-street, in the present village of Brooklyn.

During the Revolution, this place was much resorted to by the officers of the English army, and the fashionables of the day, as a scene of amusement. In the Royal Gazette of August 8th, 1781, published at New-York, Charles Loosley advertises a Lottery of $12,500, to be drawn at “Brooklyn Hall.” The same paper contains the following advertisement: “Pro bono publico. Gentlemen that are fond of fox hunting, are requested to meet at Loosley’s Tavern, on Ascot Heath, on Friday morning next, between the hours of five and six, as a pack of hounds will be there purposely for a trial of their abilities: Breakfasting and Relishes until the Races commence.—At eleven o’clock will be run for, an elegant saddle, &c. value at least twenty pounds, for which upwards of twelve gentlemen will ride their own horses.—At twelve, a match will be rode by two gentlemen, Horse for Horse.—At one, a match for thirty guineas, by two gentlemen, who will also ride their own horses.—Dinner will be ready at two o’clock, after which, and suitable regalements, racing and other diversions, will be calculated to conclude the day with pleasure and harmony. Brooklyn Hall, 6th August, 1781.”

Lieutenant Anberry, in a letter from New-York, to a friend in England, dated October 30th, 1781, says, “on crossing the East River from New-York, you land at Brooklyn, which is a scattered village, consisting of a few houses. At this place is an excellent Tavern, where parties are made to go and eat fish; the landlord of which has saved an immense fortune this war.” The public house referred to in the above advertisements, and letter, was the same house, which after the Revolution, and in the Compiler’s recollection, was called the “Corporation House.” It was a large, gloomy, old fashioned, stone edifice; and was destroyed by fire, September 23d, 1812.

This town was left by the British troops, the same day that they evacuated New-York.