History lovers convened for a reenactment of the Battle of Brooklyn on its 250th anniversary on Saturday.
It was the first major battle following the signing of the Declaration of Independence and took place atop what is now Prospect Park.
Re-enactors assembled at the park sporting historically accurate colonial uniforms, which were made with 18th-century sewing techniques and authentic fabrics.
“You’re always reminded that there’s a lot of stories happening simultaneously to your life, so it’s nice to be reminded that that also stretches back over the decades and the centuries,” said spectator Rachael Hicks-Wetter.
The event began with a reenacted conflict between American, British and German troops, surrounded by fife and drum and the firing of muskets.
After the reenactment, actors marched to the Old Stone House, where they commemorated the Maryland 400 — the soldiers who fought for American troops during the battle. Actors then spoke with onlookers about their lives in battle and during the 18th century.
It’s been 50 years since Prospect Park last hosted a reenactment of the Battle of Brooklyn this large.
“This is right here in our own backyards and New York City so we build over everything but between Green-Wood Cemetery, Fort Greene Park, and the beautiful Prospect Park these are the actual places where this stuff happened and the soil is not tilled,” said Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Martin Maher. “So to find out history and the amazing liberties that we have, it happened right here.”
The battle was the largest in the American Revolution. The British ultimately won, but it proved to be crucial to allow George Washington and his army to escape and continue fighting.
“We mostly hear about Boston and Philadelphia, and we don’t always hear so much about New York, so it’s nice to see that this was part of it too,” said Sarah Montgomery, who came to the reenactment with her children.
The Brooklyn Public Library and the Old Stone House are also holding special events this weekend related to the battle.