Red Lion Inn (Brooklyn)
Encyclopedia
The Red Lion Inn was a tavern in Colonial New York located on Long Island
in what is today the New York City borough of Brooklyn
. The inn named in honor of King Henry V for the tavern he rested in after the Battle of Agincourt
, was at the junction of three country roads: the Narrows Road which led north from Denyse's Ferry; Martense Lane which passed through the Heights of Guan
to Flatbush, and the Gowanus Road which led to Brooklyn Heights: this colonial era juncture is the modern day location of Fourth Ave and 35th Street.
In the early morning hours of August 27, 1776, the first shots of the Battle of Brooklyn were fired here when British troops under General James Grant encountered American pickets stationed at the Red Lion. According to some accounts the British troops were foraging in a watermelon
patch. After an initial exchange of musket
fire, the Americans retreated in a panic up the Gowanus Road toward the Vechte house. Major Edward Burd
who had been in command was captured along with a lieutenant and 15 privates.
Colonel Samuel Holden Parsons
a lawyer from Connecticut who had recently secured a commission in the Continental Army
, and Colonel Samuel Atlee of Pennsylvania, a veteran of the French and Indian War
were stationed further north on the Gowanus Road. The two colonels roused from their sleep from the sound of musket fire managed to intercept the troops fleeing from the British at the Red Lion and form them into a skirmish line. At daybreak the Americans would be reinforced with 400 of the troops being sent by General Sullivan
stationed at the Flatbush Pass. The reinforcements brought the total American strength up to 2,100 troops under the command of Lord Stirling, the British troops under Grant also being reinforced would reach over 7,000 troops.
The fighting at the Old Stone House, in which 400 troops of the Maryland Brigade
under Colonel William Smallwood
, would engage over 2,000 British and Hessian
troops while covering the American retreat across the Gowanus creek
, would began later in the day. During the subsequent fighting, Colonel Atlee himself would be captured by the British.
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
in what is today the New York City borough of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. The inn named in honor of King Henry V for the tavern he rested in after the Battle of Agincourt
Battle of Agincourt
The Battle of Agincourt was a major English victory against a numerically superior French army in the Hundred Years' War. The battle occurred on Friday, 25 October 1415 , near modern-day Azincourt, in northern France...
, was at the junction of three country roads: the Narrows Road which led north from Denyse's Ferry; Martense Lane which passed through the Heights of Guan
Heights of Guan
The Heights of Guan was the New York colonial era name given to a series of hills which extend in a ridge along the northernportion of Long Island...
to Flatbush, and the Gowanus Road which led to Brooklyn Heights: this colonial era juncture is the modern day location of Fourth Ave and 35th Street.
In the early morning hours of August 27, 1776, the first shots of the Battle of Brooklyn were fired here when British troops under General James Grant encountered American pickets stationed at the Red Lion. According to some accounts the British troops were foraging in a watermelon
Watermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
patch. After an initial exchange of musket
Musket
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....
fire, the Americans retreated in a panic up the Gowanus Road toward the Vechte house. Major Edward Burd
Edward Burd
Edward Burd was a Revolutionary War officer in Pennsylvania and later a Prothonotary of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.-Life:...
who had been in command was captured along with a lieutenant and 15 privates.
Colonel Samuel Holden Parsons
Samuel Holden Parsons
Samuel Holden Parsons was an American lawyer, jurist, and military leader.Parsons was born in Lyme, Connecticut, the son of Jonathan Parsons and Phoebe Parsons...
a lawyer from Connecticut who had recently secured a commission in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
, and Colonel Samuel Atlee of Pennsylvania, a veteran of the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
were stationed further north on the Gowanus Road. The two colonels roused from their sleep from the sound of musket fire managed to intercept the troops fleeing from the British at the Red Lion and form them into a skirmish line. At daybreak the Americans would be reinforced with 400 of the troops being sent by General Sullivan
John Sullivan
John Sullivan was the third son of Irish immigrants, a United States general in the Revolutionary War, a delegate in the Continental Congress and a United States federal judge....
stationed at the Flatbush Pass. The reinforcements brought the total American strength up to 2,100 troops under the command of Lord Stirling, the British troops under Grant also being reinforced would reach over 7,000 troops.
The fighting at the Old Stone House, in which 400 troops of the Maryland Brigade
1st Maryland Regiment
The 1st Maryland Regiment originated with the authorization of a Maryland Battalion of the Maryland State Troops on 14 January 1776...
under Colonel William Smallwood
William Smallwood
William Smallwood was an American planter, soldier and politician from Charles County, Maryland. He served in the American Revolutionary War, rising to the rank of major general...
, would engage over 2,000 British and Hessian
Hessian
The Hessians were 18-century German regiments hired through their rulers by the British Empire. Despite their name, they were not all from Hesse. They were not mercenaries, although their German rulers profited from their use. Though used in several conflicts including in Ireland, they are most...
troops while covering the American retreat across the Gowanus creek
Gowanus Canal
The Gowanus Canal, also known as the Gowanus Creek Canal, is a canal in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, geographically on the westernmost portion of Long Island...
, would began later in the day. During the subsequent fighting, Colonel Atlee himself would be captured by the British.