Green-Wood Cemetery commemorates Battle of Brooklyn

August 27, 2012 Editorial Staff

BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by SB News

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Andrew Poppe worms the cannon barrel after firing to prepare it for the next round.

Two hundred and thirty six years ago, the Battle of Brooklyn was fought on the land that is now a part of the Green-wood Cemetery.

As a way to celebrate the anniversary, the Green-Wood Historic Fund marked the battle on Sunday, August 26, at Green-Wood Cemetery, located at Fifth Avenue and 25^th Street, with Revolutionary War re-enactors demonstrating riflery techniques and firing cannons, a parade and a commemorative ceremony at the top of Battle Hill in the shadow of the historic statue of Minerva.

Muskets were fired at the reenactment of the Battle of Brooklyn at Green-Wood Cemetery.

The day began with a “trolley tour of historically significant sites,” that started at 10 a.m., and which was led by Green-Wood historian, Jeff Richman, and also by Barnet Schecter, author of the widely-praised book The Battle for New York: The City at the Heart of the American Revolution.

The parade that began at noon featured The Regimental Band of the United States Merchant Marine Academy and The Battle of Brooklyn Memorial Society presented an 18th-century cooking demonstration of Colonial-era dishes, prepared by Carolina Capehart.

Michael Slifka explains the gun he uses to the audience.

Music from the Revolutionary War period was provided by Sampawams Creek.

Green-Wood President, Richard Moylan, said that the cemetery was, “proud to work with The Battle of Brooklyn Memorial Society and offer an entire day’s worth of events that bring together generations of families to learn about Green-Wood’s rich history.”

He believes that it is important to “stop and reflect on the sacrifices [that] these brave soldiers made in America’s campaign for independence.”

Ben Franklin, played by Jack Sherry, with his kite.

The event, according to a report by the Green-wood Historic Fund “boasted the largest group of Revolutionary War re-enactors assembled in New York in more than 10 years.”

The Battle of Brooklyn began on August 27, 1776. A scant 2,000 colonists faced 6,000 British troops and held them back in the largest battle (in terms of the number of soldiers engaged) of the Revolution.