On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence proclaimed that thirteen British colonies had joined together to create the United States of America, and only two months later in Brooklyn the survival of that new nation was tested in battle. The Battle of Brooklyn marked the debut of the Continental Army and its untested commander-in-chief, Gen. George Washington. After setbacks in New England, the British concentrated their forces in and around New York City, intending to suppress the rebellion by separating New England from the mid-Atlantic and Southern colonies. Anticipating this move, the Americans fortified Brooklyn Heights and other key locations around the city and, despite British attempts to negotiate an end to the rebellion, remained committed to independence. On August 22, British troops and supplies began landing in Brooklyn, and on August 27 Washington’s young army of 9,000 faced an attack by more than 20,000 well-armed and experienced British and Hessian troops. Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, the Americans were overpowered and Washington and his troops retreated from Brooklyn. Though also known as the Battle of Long Island and an undeniable upset for the Americans, the battle strengthened the new nation’s patriotism and gave both soldiers and civilians the resolve to continue the struggle for independence.
