27/08/2026
250 years ago today Gen Sir William Howe, Commander in Chief of His Majesty’s forces in North America, launched a combined arms assault on entrenched Continental positions on Long Island. Howe employed 10,000 men in two divisions (1 British and 1 German) to fix the continentals while a third division of an additional 10,000 men (British and German) conducted a nighttime flanking march and struck the Americans from behind their left flank.
The ensuing battle was the largest of the war in terms of troops, and was the first action of The United States following independence. The action lasted most of the day and despite gallant Continental valor and resistance the British achieved one of the most decisive victories of the war.
Evening fell with American forces withdrawing to their last remaining entrenchments with their backs to the East River. Generals Clinton and Cornwallis urged Gen Howe to undertake a night assault, and destroy what remained of Washington’s army. Remembering the lessons learned from Bunker Hill the year before, and confident in the ability of the Royal Navy to secure the river, Howe demurred and decided instead to entrench and attack using siege techniques. Bad weather the next few days prevented that assault and gave Washington enough time to withdraw his army to Manhattan.
