“Incredibly, yet again, circumstances – fate, luck, Providence, the hand of God, as would be said so often – intervened.” – Historian David McCullough from his book 1776
Most Americans are not aware of how precarious the situation was at times for the American Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. I wrote about one such time during the Battle of Trenton. In August 1776, four months before the Battle of Trenton, the Continental and British armies met in the Battle of Brooklyn, or what is also called the Battle of Long Island or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, in one of the largest battles of the Revolutionary War. The future of our planet was changed forever by what transpired.
After the British abandoned Boston in March 1776, their next campaign was in New York. They planned to isolate New York and New England from the rest of the colonies. A large British force of approximately 32,000 soldiers opposed about 19,000 soldiers of the Continental Army. After the British force landed on Stanton Island, General George Washington moved much of his army across the East River from Lower Manhattan to defend Brooklyn.
A map of the battle
On August 27, 1776, the British attacked Brooklyn on three fronts. They attacked American forces directly on two fronts and sent a third force of about 10,000 men through a little-used pass to successfully outflank the Americans. With Washington’s army caught off guard and outnumbered, only a series of fortunate events saved the American Revolution.
First, a small group of 400 soldiers from Maryland were able to fight and save the army from a complete rout. This allowed a larger group of Americans to retreat to Brooklyn Heights and avoid capture. Rather than press their advantage, British General William Howe ordered his men to stop the attack and dig trenches around the Continental Army. He expected the Americans to surrender. He also expected British ships to sail around and cut off the Americans from their only line of retreat across the river to Manhattan. But the ships never came. Why? Because there was not enough wind to get them there.
This gave George Washington the night to secretly get 9,000 men to safety and keep his army intact. He ordered every available boat to be taken and used to get his army across the East River. Working through rain and darkness, the oarsmen in the boats crossed the river multiple times to deliver soldiers across to the other side. The only problem was that a large part of the Continental Army remained in Brooklyn as the sun rose. These men likely would have been killed or captured if they did not cross the river, losses the Americans could not afford.
However, a final fortune smiled down on the Americans from Above. A heavy fog settled over the area and the rest of the Continental Army was able to conceal their movements from the British. As the fog lifted, the British were left bewildered as they realized the Continental Army was gone.
The British captured New York on September 15, 1776, but they did so without destroying the Continental Army. The Revolutionary War continued, and with it came the ultimate American victory.
Without a few hundred tenacious soldiers, a lack of wind, and some heavy fog, there may have never been a United States of America.
That is crazy to think about that the United states might of not been here just because of some fog, but i’m glad it was there.
I wish more Americans knew our history. Perhaps then they would show more love of country. I am studying the American Revolution because I care. I am watching “The Revolutionary War – narrated by Charles Kuralt (Full Documentary). The whole revolution itself and our victory was beyond miraculous … going against the strongest power in the world … mostly alone. But I think we had the Hand of God in tbis endeavor.
There are a several books you will enjoy- “The Light and the Glory” by Peter Marshall and David Manuel, “The American Covenant” by Marshall Foster, and a book that every America, especially those in school, should read- Barry Goldwater’s “Conscience of a Conservative”. Thank you for your comment- you’re right… btw- I have traced my ancestry (Blackshear) all the way back to Scotland. M
first ancestor born in the colonies was born in 1708 in what is now Delaware. His son served with Washington in the Continental Army during our revolution
Wow, I couldn’t agree with you more. I love America too and I truly believe God loves America because the purpose of America was to worship Christ without persecution. The only thing this article didn’t point out was the George Washington prayed before crossing the Delaware. I do believe God’s hand has been on us since our creation
This wasn’t crossing the Delaware, it was the East River.
Wrong battle.
Great read. Thank you.
So many perilous, and most would say, miraculous incidences and endeavors occurred during the American Revolution that I am compelled to think some otherworldly will joined and aided Washington in all his efforts and set itself against the British. Like the story above or many others such as Colonel Knox and his expedition to move heavy artillery from Fort Ticonderoga in New York all the way to Boston (over 200 miles distance) in the dead of winter using oxen, sleds, and men. And then, setting the cannons up on the heights in a night, forcing the surprised British to vacate Boston!
Wasn’t John page being essentially prophetic in his letter to Thomas Jefferson, dated July 20th of 1776? Page wrote, “We know the Race is not to the swift nor the Battle to the Strong. Do you not think an Angel rides in the Whirlwind and directs this Storm?”
I love this, and I wish this (and histories like it), were taught in all our schools, as it reveals the Divine Hand, of mercy on us, and all who enjoyed America’s Liberties, while they lasted. Patriotism requires an appreciation of our past, our foundations, in order to defend it. Academic elements, that brought us the 1619 Project, and CRT, have caused multitudes to despise rather than defend America, and our fought for, yet Divinely afforded blessings and rights.
Thanks for this, and the above comments.
Hello Dean, hope all is well with you. I am an actor, writer, and substitute teacher working on a major project (my own concept) which addresses your concerns.
Washington ordered every available boat to help ferry the troops to safety. Is there any record of those patriots who helped supply their boats?
According to historian David McCullough, Colonel Hugh Hughes, a New York schoolteacher, was tasked with rounding up every available boat or sloop. Hughes was ordered to confiscate any boat he could find. It’s likely that Patriots willingly gave over their boats, but British Loyalists had a strong presence in New York so direct confiscation would have been necessary in many cases. A record would be fascinating, but I don’t believe one exists because there was such a small amount of time to accomplish this task.
We worry about the future of the United States here in 2023 but, cheer up it may get worse before it gets better. These United States of America does have God’s eyes and protection on Her from her beginning. There are 3 books I would highly recommend: Michael Medved books, The American Miracle & God’s Hand on American. David Gelernter, Americanism [ the fourth great western religion.] American has had times of undulating periods in her history but this time is very different than in the pass. Our enemies are form within and it hard to distinguish who are the bad guys and the good guys. Let us pray God will give us discernment to know the difference.
This story of Divine Intervention rivals Moses’ parting of the Red Sea.
Patrick O’Donnells “The Indespensables” tells in detail the story of the heroics of Col. Glover and his Marblehead Men who rowed the Army across the East River in a thick fog. They were also the same ones who rowed Washington and his army across the Delaware River.