nysoldiers
Command Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2008
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A new exhibit on the "Battle of Brooklyn" or as the British still call it "The Battle of Long Island" opened today at the NY Historical Society Museum in NYC.
I was asked to build a diorama for the exhibit depicting a pivotal event that helped save the Americans from complete disaster. Using figures from LeMan's, Trophy and Imrie-Risely along with scenics from Build-a-Rama, TM Terrain and WBritains the diorama along with some very creative graphics is quite impressive.
A Maryland Regiment of approximately 400 soldiers held off over 2000 British and Hessian troops long enough for the surrounded American army to escape to safety across marshes and creeks to their fortifications on the Brooklyn Heights. The Maryland Regiment lost almost all their men in this encounter at the Vechte House (Old Stone House).
The Battle fought on August 27th, 1776 was the first battle fought after the Declaration Of Independence and the largest battle of the American Revolution. General Howe landed in Staten Island with close to 30,000 troops and seamen and then rowed them over to Long Island to engage an American army of approximately 9000 men. George Washington was the American commander of a mixed force of militias and several trained regiments including the Marylanders and a Delaware regiment.
The British led by Generals Clinton and Cornwallis used a night march that brought them behind the American lines while other British troops feigned a frontal assault on the American lines. Washington managed to extricate his army back to Manhattan by commandeering every boat available and with the luck of inclement weather that kept their movements concealed long enough for the British not to discover this retreat. So a loss that could have been a disaster for the fledgling American army was averted.
I remember learning about "Concord and Lexington", Bunker Hill, Saratoga and Yorktown in school but never a word on this battle.
The exhibit includes actual uniforms, weapons, documents and maps from the time of the battle. It is surprising to me how few people I speak with know about this battle.
There are few markers and memorials on the sites of the battle as Brooklyn is one of the most densely populated areas in America.
The exhibit runs through January 8th and the museum is located right next door to The Museum of Natural History on Central Park West.
There is a great 20 minute film on the history of New York City and a children's section downstairs. Please visit if you are in the area.
I was asked to build a diorama for the exhibit depicting a pivotal event that helped save the Americans from complete disaster. Using figures from LeMan's, Trophy and Imrie-Risely along with scenics from Build-a-Rama, TM Terrain and WBritains the diorama along with some very creative graphics is quite impressive.
A Maryland Regiment of approximately 400 soldiers held off over 2000 British and Hessian troops long enough for the surrounded American army to escape to safety across marshes and creeks to their fortifications on the Brooklyn Heights. The Maryland Regiment lost almost all their men in this encounter at the Vechte House (Old Stone House).
The Battle fought on August 27th, 1776 was the first battle fought after the Declaration Of Independence and the largest battle of the American Revolution. General Howe landed in Staten Island with close to 30,000 troops and seamen and then rowed them over to Long Island to engage an American army of approximately 9000 men. George Washington was the American commander of a mixed force of militias and several trained regiments including the Marylanders and a Delaware regiment.
The British led by Generals Clinton and Cornwallis used a night march that brought them behind the American lines while other British troops feigned a frontal assault on the American lines. Washington managed to extricate his army back to Manhattan by commandeering every boat available and with the luck of inclement weather that kept their movements concealed long enough for the British not to discover this retreat. So a loss that could have been a disaster for the fledgling American army was averted.
I remember learning about "Concord and Lexington", Bunker Hill, Saratoga and Yorktown in school but never a word on this battle.
The exhibit includes actual uniforms, weapons, documents and maps from the time of the battle. It is surprising to me how few people I speak with know about this battle.
There are few markers and memorials on the sites of the battle as Brooklyn is one of the most densely populated areas in America.
The exhibit runs through January 8th and the museum is located right next door to The Museum of Natural History on Central Park West.
There is a great 20 minute film on the history of New York City and a children's section downstairs. Please visit if you are in the area.
