OUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THE BOROUGH OF KINGS
COURIER LIFE, SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2021 17
BY BEN VERDE
Brooklynites gathered across the
borough this weekend to commemorate
the anniversary of the Battle of
Brooklyn, and honor the revolutionary
patriots at rest in Kings County.
In Fort Greene Park, the Society
of Old Brooklynites convened at the
Prison Ship Martyr’s Monument on
Aug. 28 to pay tribute to the American
soldiers buried there.
The monument is the fi nal resting
place of more than 11,500 men and
women who were captured by the British
during the Revolutionary War and
stowed on prison ships in New York
Harbor.
Thousands of prisoners died aboard
the ships, with many interred in shallow
graves along the Brooklyn coast,
where thousands of bodies were discovered
in the early 19th century, leading
to a temporary monument being
erected near the Brooklyn Navy Yard
in 1808.
The remains of the deceased patriots
were eventually moved to their
current site in 1873, 30 years after the
federal legislature approved an act to
secure land for the bodys in the park
that would replace the neighborhood’s
namesake fort.
Across town in Green-W0od Cemetery,
locals gathered for a commemoration
of the 245th anniversary of the
Batttle of Brooklyn, co-sponsored by
the historic Old Stone House.
The event featured historical reenactors
in period costumes, demonstrations,
storytelling, and sea-shanty sing
alongs, all on land where the Battle of
Brooklyn was fought 245 years ago.
The Battle of Brooklyn was the largest
battle of the revolution in terms of
the sheer amount of soliders on either
side. While the Continental Army was
a victory for the British, George Washington
was succesful in moving most
of his troops to safety and living to
fi ght another day.
“Green-Wood is proud to again
remember the crucial role Brooklyn
played in the birth of our nation.
We come together to honor the American
heroes who fought so valiantly 245
years ago,” said Richard Moylan, the
President of Green-Wood Cemetary.
A battle for
the ages
Locals remember
revolutionary heroes
on anniversary of
Battle of Brooklyn
FIGHT FOR HISTORY: Green-Wood Cemetery
honored the 245th anniversary of the Battle
of Brooklyn with reenactments and costumes
(top), while The Society of Old Brooklynites held
a ceremony at the Prison Ship Martyr’s Monument
(bottom). Photos by Arthur De Gaeta