The celebrations honoring America’s 250th anniversary culminated in the re-enactment of the historic Battle of Brooklyn on Aug. 22, when more than more than 300 reenactors dressed in period costumes and armed with reproduction firearms retraced the first and largest battle of the American War for Independence when the British Crown Forces, Hessian troops, and Loyalist forces attacked General George Washington’s Continental Army on the fields of what later would become Prospect Park on Aug. 27, 1776.

Presented by the Prospect Park Alliance, the Old Stone House of Brooklyn and the Brigade of the American Revolution, Saturday’s large-scale tactical reenactment of the battle drew thousands of onlookers who watched the skirmishes between the British Army and the American troops. The Americans eventually retreated to the Old Stone House after realizing they had been outmaneuvered, leading to the collapse of the American line.

Morgan Monaco, president of the Prospect Park Alliance, noted that thousands of park visitors pass through Battle Pass every day without realizing the history that unfolded on the land 250 years ago.

“Prospect Park holds so many layers of Brooklyn history, and this landscape was itself part of the battlefield. On August 27, 1776, the Battle of Brooklyn became the largest battle of the Revolutionary War and a pivotal moment in the struggle for American independence,” Monaco said. “This momentous 250th anniversary gives us plenty to commemorate, while also inviting us to reflect on the challenges the American experiment has faced — and continues to face — as we strive to live up to those monumental words in the Declaration of Independence: All men are created equal.”

After the immersive history lesson in Prospect Park, the reenactors, led by the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, followed the path of Washington’s Army and marched down 3rd Street to the Old Stone House in Park Slope. At that site, the 1st Maryland Regiment — better known as the Maryland 400 —  made their last stand helping General George Washington’s army escape across the East River even as hundreds of soldiers were killed.

Thousands of reenactors and spectators flocked to the park for the event. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

Reenactors dressed in period clothing and used replica weapons. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

 

 

American ‘troops’ faced off against British and Loyalist fighters. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

British fighters eventually overwhelmed the American forces. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann Outmaneuvered, the Americans fled toward the Old Stone House. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

Revolutionary War reenactors William Heese, presenting as a captain in the Fifth Connecticut Regiment and, for the event, portraying a member of the Maryland 400; and Jack Gatlin, presenting as a non-commissioned officer in the Hessian Regiment, have been dressing up in period attire since 2021 and 2022, respectively. Both enjoyed teaching about American history.

 “You get to dress up in cool clothes that nobody wears anymore, and then you meet a bunch of really cool people, and then you get to teach about the American Revolution and broader history. It doesn’t get much better than that,” Heese explained.

For Gatlin, the reenactments were an opportunity to showcase the soldiers who aren’t mentioned in history books.

Reenactors marched through Park Slope to the Old Stone House, where the famous Maryland 400 made their last stand. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann Brooklynites stepped back in time for the reenactment of the Battle of Brooklyn in Prospect Park 250 years ago. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

“I love history. It’s an opportunity to present history as it really happened; tell the stories of the men on the ground, the men and women who really made this happen, who really saw it and put it into action. You know, who suffered and fought and died for what they believed was the rightful governance of these 13 little colonies,” Gatlin said.

War reenactments are a family affair for 17-year-old Nate Webb and his dad. Nate’s dad has been a reenactor for 35 years, and Nate has been one since he was 5. Both were dressed as Hessians, who fought alongside British troops against American forces.

 “It’s cool to dress up like this and be able to teach people about their history and where America comes from. It’s a really good opportunity to educate and inform,” Nate said.

 Following the reenactment, the Old Stone House hosted a commemoration of the Maryland troops, which included the Massing of the Colors presented by the 175th Infantry Regiment Color Guard of the Sons of the American Revolution, a roll call of honor and a wreath-laying ceremony which commenced with a cannon and gun salute and taps. The afternoon concluded with programs in which families could engage with the reenactors to learn about battle strategies and the daily life of Revolutionary War soldiers.

The commemoration of the Maryland troops at the Old Stone House commenced with a cannon salute. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

Spectators learned about battle strategies and the daily life of Revolutionary War soldiers and women. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

Kim Maier, executive director of the Old Stone House, who received a Maryland 250 Welcome Proclamation, expressed her gratitude to state Sen. Andrew Gournades and Assembly Members Jo Anne Simon and Robert Carroll, who secured $350,000 in state funding for the event to highlight Brooklyn’s historic and important role in the American Revolution. As a public history organization, it was particularly exciting to see people’s shared interest in the history of the United States, especially at a time of great division, Maier noted.

“We definitely want to give props to the elected officials; they really worked hard to make sure this happened, and it was a great day for the people to have this experience. Visitors were delighted to spend the day sharing their love of history and finding common ground,” Maier said.

Park Slope resident Tom Rinaldi attended the event to pay tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives 250 years ago fighting for independence, and credited Maier and local programs for teaching Brooklynites and beyond about the significance of the Battle of Brooklyn.

“I really started to understand what had happened here; right here where I live was the battlefield, and it’s like, ‘Holy cow!” I am just understanding the ramifications of that. Mostly young men were slaughtered here, where we run around and get our coffees and our lattes,” Rinaldi said, encouraging his fellow neighbors to keep the historic events in mind when they roam about the neighborhood.

Rinaldi said he ‘really started to understand’ the neighborhood’s history. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

Mortimer Sellers, president of the Society of the Cincinnati of the State of Maryland, the nation’s oldest patriotic organization, highlighted the importance of the Maryland 400, noting that the battle at the Old Stone House marked the day “the United States failed to be wiped out.”

“Had the stand not taken place here at the Old Stone House, the entire army would have been destroyed, and that would have been the end of the American Revolution. So it’s an enormously significant day. It’s the most significant battle in the revolution, except for the victory in Yorktown,” Sellers said.

Dylan Yeats, the Old Stone House’s scholar-in-residence and Prospect Park Alliance Director of Museum Programs at Lefferts Historic House helped narrate and organize the reenactment. He noted that the year-long planning of the monumental immersive history lesson was a great success.

“It showed thousands of Brooklynites something new and visceral about their own history, and it gave these living history reenactors an opportunity to connect with something they’re really interested in at the place that it actually happened,” Yeats said.

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