Battle of Long Island, Maryland soldiers memorial collection
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
This collection consists of material spanning the period 1869 to 1957 and relating to the commemoration of the 250 Maryland soldiers who were killed defending the retreat of the Continental Army during the Battle of Long Island.
Historical Note
The Battle of Long Island (also known as the Battle of Brooklyn) occurred on August 27, 1776 in what is now the borough of Brooklyn, New York City. The battle was the largest of the American Revolutionary War. It resulted in a victory for the British army and the retreat of the Continental Army through Manhattan and New Jersey into Pennsylvania. The Continental retreat was made possible by a company of 400 Maryland soldiers, who made a stand against the British near Lookout Hill (now located in Brooklyn's Prospect Park) to allow time for the Army's retreat across Gowanus Creek. Roughly 250 of the Maryland soldiers were killed and were buried in trenches along present-day 3rd Avenue between 7th and 8th Streets. A memorial monument to the soldiers now stands in Prospect Park.
Source:
- New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. "Prospect Park: Maryland Monument." Accessed April 20, 2011. http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/prospectpark/highlights/19641
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of material spanning the period 1869 to 1957 and relating to the commemoration of the 250 Maryland soldiers who were killed defending the retreat of the Continental Army during the Battle of Long Island. Materials include correspondence, charts, maps, photographs, and street plans regarding casualties of the battle, memorial monuments and tablets, and burial sites of the Maryland soldiers. Correspondence also includes a reference to an African American burial ground near 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. Materials in the collection were compiled or created by various individuals, namely Henry Wildhack, Jr.
Subjects
Topics
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Battle of Long Island, Maryland soldiers memorial collection, 1973.232, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The source and date of acquisition for this collection are unknown. The collection was formally accessioned in 1973.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Minimally processed to the collection level.