Washington’s Retreat at the Battle of Long Island
The Battle of Long Island, sometimes called the Battle of Brooklyn, was a British attack on George Washington and his troops. After the British left Boston in March 1776, Washington believed that their next target would be New York. By April 1776, Washington and his army, nearly 20,000 strong, were in Manhattan. The Americans waited on the British all through June. He had a viable plan to defend New York, but that plan spread his resources too thin, and the defenses were inadequate.
British General William Howe arrived with 400 ships and 32,000 men in early July. He offered the rebels a pardon; it was immediately declined by Washington. While Washington still expected an attack in Manhattan, he sent more troops into Brooklyn, led by able men. In total, 4,000 men were place in Brooklyn Heights on Long Island.
On August 27, fighting intensified throughout the region. American forces were heavily outnumbered. On the afternoon of August 27, Howe halted the fighting and prepared to dig trenches around the American troops, surrounding them.
Before the trenches could be completed, and the men surrounded, Washington ordered their retreat. He sent coded messages suggesting reinforcements would be crossing the East River. In fact, these were orders to prepare as many vessels as possible for the evacuation.
Unit-by-unit, the men were rowed across the river, under the cover of darkness, and drenching, heavy rain. As the sun rose, with men still left on Long Island, a heavy fog landed over the river, and shielded the men crossing it. The cover of fog provided time to get the remaining men to safety and to retreat. Washington was, according to reports, the last man to leave Brooklyn.
In nine hours, Washington and his men successfully evacuated 9,000 men, their supplies, and cannons from Long Island. While military and logistic skill were both essential for the withdrawal operation, the drenching rain and the heavy, dense fog provided the cover necessary to preserve Washington’s army for its final victory.