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Red Hook
The Bloodiest Battle of the American
Revolution
by John Coppola
In a fish-hook like line, beginning slightly North of the Gowanis channel and bending
East to Brooklyn Heights, 10,000 poorly trained and equipped teen age American soldiers
faced a mighty British army of 32,000 including Hessian mercenaries in August, 1776. The
British navy had transported these troops from Staten Island and their navy controlled all
waterways surrounding Manhattan.
George Washington decided to make a defensive stand from the high ground overlooking
Manhattan. The battle was a disaster for his army. The British overran and outflanked his
line, and 5000 American boys, retreating from their positions, were bayoneted in the back
by Hessian troops. Only a miracle, and the bravery of Col John Glover's Massachusetts
fishermen regiment (the Marbleheaders) evacuated Washington's remaining forces across the
East River to fight another day.
Washington went on to lose every battle thereafter until the brilliant crossing of the
Delaware River (once again with the aid of the Marbleheaders), and attack on those same
Hessian troops at Trenton, NJ on Christmas Day. With only 2000 men left, the American army
took their revenge on the Hessions who had stabbed their fellows in the back on the shores
of Brooklyn. Alexander Hamilton, who would become the first Secretary of the
Treasury, distinguished himself in combat in the charge at Trenton. Not a single American
was killed or wounded-another miracle.
So, when you sail by Red Hook, on port or starboard, remember that time when the Gowanis
channel ran red with American blood.
- March 2000
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