01 Work, The Art of War, Domenick D’Andrea’s Battle of Long Island, with footnotes
Battle of Long Island on August 27, 1776, c. 2004
National Guard Bureau
Colonel Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee, father of Robert E. Lee, once commented that during the war “the state of Delaware furnished one regiment only; and certainly no regiment in the army surpassed it in soldiership.”
At the Battle of Long Island, the actions of the Delaware Regiment kept the American defeat from becoming a disaster. Indeed, the soldiers from tiny Delaware, fighting alongside the 1st Maryland Regiment, may well have prevented the capture of the majority of Washington’s army, an event which might have ended the colonial rebellion then and there.
Organized in January, 1776 by Colonel John Haslet, the Delaware Regiment was noteworthy from the start as the best uniformed and equipped regiment of the Continental Army. Their blue jackets with red facings and white waistcoat and breeches would later become the uniform for all the Continental troops.
During the Battle of Long Island, the Delaware and Maryland troops were positioned on the right of Washington’s line, defending the most direct route from the British landing site in south Brooklyn to the American fortifications in Brooklyn Heights. Though they faced the fiercest fighting of the day, they held their ground, allowing the remainder of Washington’s army to retreat to the safety of the fortifications. When they in turn were outflanked and forced to retreat, the Delaware Regiment conducted an orderly retreat through marshland and across the Gowanus creek, carrying off with them 23 prisoners. Two nights later, Washington entrusted his Delaware and Maryland soldiers to be the rear guard as he secretly withdrew his army from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Today. More on Battle of Long Island
Domenick D’Andrea has illustrated covers for many history and adventure books. He specializes in illustrating stories about the West — especially horse stories. Mr. D’Andrea lives in Stratford, Connecticut. More on Domenick D’Andrea
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