Battle of Brooklyn 1776 re-enactment

Commemorate the important 1776 Battle of Brooklyn, with FREE Revolutionary War re-enactors on horseback, artillery demonstrations, a parade of flags and more, where where the momentous battle was held, on land including what is now Green-Wood Cemetery.

The event on Sunday, August 30th at Green-Wood commemorates the 239th anniversary of  the Battle of Brooklyn, fought on August 27, 1776.  It was the first battle of the American Revolution to be waged after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and it did not go well for the Continental Army under Gen. George Washington.

Here’s the schedule of family-friendly events:

10am to noon – Trolley tour of Green-Wood’s Revolutionary War-related sites led by author and historian Barnet Schecter and Green-Wood historian Jeff Richman.

12:30pm to 1:30pm – Living history programming on Green-Wood’s meadow, including drills, weapons demonstrations, and re-enactors from Continental Line regiments as well as historic figures. 18th-century cooking and other demonstrations will bring colonial America to life.

1:30pm to 2pm – Battle of Brooklyn Parade from Green-Wood’s Main Gate to Battle Hill led by The Regimental Band of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Along the parade route will be nearly 100 replicas of Revolutionary War flags which attendees are invited to carry to Battle Hill.

2pm-3pm – Battle of Brooklyn Commemoration Ceremony atop Battle Hill – the highest natural point in Brooklyn – with picture postcard views of the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor, and the Manhattan skyline.

All events are free, except for the trolley tour, which is $30; $25 for Green-Wood Historic Fund and Brooklyn Historical Society members. To make reservations or to find out more information, call 718-210-3080 or visit www.green-wood.com/toursevents. 

Reservations for the trolley tour are recommended as it usually sells out quickly. Walk-ups will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Subway directions:   Take the “R” train to 25th Street in Brooklyn and walk up the hill one block and into the Cemetery. Free parking is available.

More about the Battle of Brooklyn:  The battle went so badly that it resulted in the British occupation of New York City until the end of the war. Washington and his remaining troops escaped across the East River and fled north through Manhattan, and Gen. Washington directed most of the rest of the war effort from the Hudson Valley.