“The war now put on a very serious aspect, as independence had been declared, and it seemed no longer doubtful that the contest on which we had entered must be decided by the sword.”

– Col. Benjamin Tallmadge, from his memoir

The Battle of Long Island was the first battle in the American Revolution after America declared its independence – and nearly the last.

Vastly outnumbered and out-skilled, Washington’s troops were defeated in a matter of hours in August, 1776. They retreated to trenches in Brooklyn Heights, huddling for two days in the pouring rain – waiting to die. The British army surrounded them on land; the British navy waited at the mouth of the East River to attack from the other side.

George Washington refused to give up. Despite the great pressure, he cooly created and began to execute a plan to evacuate his men across the East River to Manhattan on ten flat-bottomed boats. He prayed the British wouldn’t notice – and nature responded with a thick fog to shield his activities. It remained all night and well into dawn, until all 10,000 troops were safe in Manhattan.

We all know about what happened when Washington crossed the Delaware, but it was his passage over the East River which saved his troops from capture and probable death, and made it possible to fight another day.

BY THE SWORD tells the story of Washington’s miraculous retreat, for which he never received the credit he deserved.

We would not be a country if not for George Washington’s quick wit...and some fortuitous fog.

“In the history of warfare I do not recollect a more fortunate retreat.”

– Benjamin Tallmadge