Battle of Long Island

Overview

The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn and the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, was an action of the American Revolutionary War fought on August 27, 1776, at and near the western edge of Long Island in present-day Brooklyn. The British defeated the Continental Army and gained access to the strategically important Port of New York, which they held for the rest of the war. It was the first major battle to take place after the United States declared its independence on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. It was the largest battle of the Revolutionary War in terms of both troop deployment and combat.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Long Island was the first major engagement of the American Revolutionary War following the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and the largest battle of the war in terms of troop deployment and combat. The British, fielding roughly 20,000 troops against approximately 10,000 Continental soldiers, defeated Washington's forces and secured access to the strategically vital Port of New York. That port remained under British control for the remainder of the war, providing a durable logistical and operational base that shaped the entire subsequent course of the conflict. American casualties stood at 1,079. The defeat demonstrated the immediate military vulnerability of the new republic and set the conditions for a prolonged British presence in the region.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (13)