Washington’s Escape from Brooklyn Heights to be Commemorated Saturday

By on August 24, 2011 11:52 pm in brooklyn bridge park, Events, History

Most Americans know about Washington’s crossing of the Delaware, preparatory to the young Continental Army’s victories at Trenton and Princeton. Lesser known is his crossing of the East River four months before, done under cover of night, allowing his troops to leave their position on Brooklyn Heights where, with their backs to the water, they faced a superior British force that had defeated them in the Battle of Brooklyn. The escape was made possible by a regiment consisting largely of fishermen, who were skilled at rowing quietly, from Marblehead, Massachusetts. This Saturday, August 27, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m., re-enactors playing the part of members of the Marblehead regiment will be at Brooklyn Bridge Park, at the foot of Main Street in the Fulton Ferry Historic District (for directions, see comments below), the site of the army’s embarkation, for, in the words of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, “an historic depiction of many aspects of maritime history, camp life and community, and the role of Fulton Ferry Landing in one of the most surprising moments of the American Revolutionary War.”

Share this Story:

, , , , , , , ,

  • lori

    Sounds interesting. Exactly where will this be? At Empire-Fulton Ferry Park? or Brooklyn Bridge Park? Thanks.

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com Claude Scales

    It’s at the northern end of what used to be Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, and is now part of Brooklyn Bridge Park. To get there, take Water Street from the foot of Old Fulton Street (by the Fulton Ferry Pier, River Cafe, Pete’s, etc.) up to Main Street (Powerhouse Arena, Galapagos Art Space), then turn left and go to the foot of Main.

  • dog lover

    As Claude wrote: It takes place “at the foot of Main Street in the Fulton Ferry Historic District,”

  • Billy Reno

    A brave retreat, worthy of recognition, indeed.

  • Andrew Porter

    Irene may have something to say about this…

  • Anon

    Wonder what Washington would have thought about Squadron and Millman capitulating on housing inside the park. Probably what the rest of us think: Cowards.