LONG ISLAND, BATTLE OF. A battle fought on Brooklyn Heights, Island. N. Y., August 27, 1776, during the Revolutionary War, bet WITH a British force of more than 1 5.000 under General Dove and an American force of about S000 under the immediate command of General Israel Put nam. The British,landing at a point of Long Island a short distance below the 'Narrow-2 marched by three routes against the Amerkan position, which had been strongly fortified in anticipation of an attack, Brooklyn Heights being necessary to the British if they were to succeed in their plans for the capture of New York. The most important road. the Jamaica Road, leading to the American position, seems to have been left al most wholly unguarded, and it was bv this that the British advanced in greatest force. Parts of the American army under Gen. William Alexander (Lord Stirling) mid General Sulli van, stationed in advance of the principal Ameri can fortification. were defeated after some stub born fighting,, both Alexander and Sullivan being eq,ptured; and Howe then pl'Oenslcd to invest the works. In the evening of the 27th Washington
crossed over to Long Island. and on the follow ing day brought over reilibweements. General Howe showing no disposition to storm, however, Washington decided to abandon the works and transfer his forces to Manhattan Island. and during the night of August 29-30 this was suc cessfully effected, the British not suspecting the movement until the Americans had crossed in safety. The British loss in killed, wounded. and missing in the battle of Long Island was about 400. while the American loss was about 1000. Consult: Field, Battle of Long Island (Brooklyn, 1369) ; Carrington, Battles of Hu' American Nero lutiou (New York. 1876) ; Dawson, Battles of the United States (New York, 1858) ; Johnston, Campaign of 17703 Around New l'o•k and Brook lyn (Brooklyn, 1878) ; and the critical article by Adams, "The Battle of Long Island." in American Historical Review (New York, 1896).