- Washington's flawless evacuation of Brooklyn is one of the greatest moments in warfare, and only three straglers were captured and four men wounded.
- Washington used ten flag boats to cross the east river at the ferry, first escorting the horses, artillery, gunpowder, and food, then escorting the army.
- Washington made the order sound like they were sending for reinforcements and to return the wounded so the British would not make a rush to the ferry.
- marriners were prepared to escort the boats at seven p.m. and lasted to seven a.m.
- tide changes impeded then helped transportation between 8 and 11 p.m.
- 1000 en under General Mifflin stayed back to man the camps and hold the rear.
- at break of dawn fog appeared which helped cover the escape of Mifflin's men.
- the ferry still exists today as the Fulton Ferry Landing.
"Brooklyn Bridge and Fulton Ferry." Photograph. First Last. Web. 6 Oct
2011.
<http://fultonferrylandingassociation.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/763px-loc_brooklyn_bridge_and_east_river_7.png>.
I still find it impressive how George Washington managed to retreat his inexperienced men across the East River without getting discovered by the British, especially because there was no Bridge to cross the East River with at that time. It is usually hard to attribute retreats with success, but had Washington stayed an extra day, the revolutionary war could have ended very differently.
ReplyDeleteThis story enthralled me, and seeing the long expanse Washington had to furtively traverse only added to the tale. To think that NY was a turning point in the revolutionary war is amazing, and the fact that we were at the very spot where the tide turned is equally as amazing.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that George Washington could get all his men across the river at this spot at night without making a sound! That must have been extremely difficult, and completely confounded the Brits. I can't imagine something like that happening in this day and age, especially in New York City- the city is always so noisy, even up where I live by the GWB (with helicopters, etc.). It's weird to think of the city as quiet, even then: despite the fact that they didn't have helicopters or anything like that, there were bustling marketplaces and busy streets and shops.
ReplyDeleteI find it amazing that only a few people out of thousands were captured, and how this was a major turning point in the war. It was really cool to think that you were standing where George Washington led an army.
ReplyDeleteThis was amazing that Washington was able to pull this military feat off. To have so few casualties and captures as he did is truly incredible. With the limited technologies that he had and to be able to get all his men across the river successfully shows how great of a military man George Washington was.
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