27/08/2026
On this day in 1776, the 17th Regiment fought in the Battle of Long Island.
In early June 1776, the British army sailed for New York from Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving off Sandy Hook on June 29th and landing unopposed on Staten Island in early July where they mustered for the invasion of Long Island.
The 17th Regiment fought in all the battles for New York City. Landing on 22nd August, advancing on the evening of the 26th, then on the 27th the regiment engaged in the Battle of Long Island (with the 4th Brigade of the 17th, 40th, 46th & 55th under Major General Grant), which was directed to advance along the coast, with ten pieces of cannon. After much fighting, the American line was driven back to fortified lines in Brooklyn. The regiment had Captain Sir Alexander Murray and two rank and file killed; Lieutenant Marcus A. Morgan, one serjeant, and nineteen rank and file wounded.
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On this day in 1782, the 17th’s Major Brereton led a detachment on a foraging raid, which would be one of the last major actions of the revolutionary war in America. Along the Combahee River, near Chehaw Point (Beaufort, South Carolina), the British detachment abushed an American force under Colonel John Laurens, who lost his life leading a gallant charge.
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