Old Stone House (Brooklyn, New York)
The Battle of Long Island was the largest fight of the Revolution, and it all came down to one farmhouse.
Maryland soldiers faced an impossible task: attack 2,000 British troops with less than 400 men. They did it anyway, charging again and again while their fellow soldiers escaped across Gowanus Creek.
Here’s how this historic landmark in Brooklyn became a symbol of American courage under fire.
Dutch Farmers Built a Stone Fortress
The Vechte family left the Netherlands for New Amsterdam in 1660 to start a new life. Hendrick Claessen Vechte built the stone house in 1699.
He served as Justice of the Peace for Brooklyn and constructed a sturdy two-story building with thick walls. The family grew crops on land near Gowanus Creek and caught oysters from its waters.
They shipped their goods to Manhattan by boat. Nicholas Vechte, grandson of Claes, lived in the house during the Revolutionary War.
Washington Moved His Army to New York
After pushing the British out of Boston in March 1776, General Washington knew they would attack New York City next. By mid-April, he brought 19,000 soldiers to defend Manhattan.
His men built forts at Brooklyn Heights and placed troops along Gowanus Heights as protection. In early July, 400 British ships carrying 32,000 troops under General William Howe anchored near Staten Island.
Washington’s men, mostly untrained farmers and workers, prepared to face Britain’s professional army.
The British Landed at Gravesend Bay
British forces came ashore at Gravesend Bay in Brooklyn on August 21, 1776. General Howe split his army.
While some troops attacked American positions head-on, his main force sneaked through the unguarded Jamaica Pass to circle behind the Americans. This eastern path had been left without guards.
During the night of August 26, 10,000 British troops marched through this gap. American commanders had no idea the British were about to trap them between two enemy forces.
The First Major Battle After Independence Began
Fighting spread across Brooklyn on the morning of August 27, 1776, just weeks after America declared independence. General William Alexander, called Lord Stirling, led American troops on the western front.
His men initially held against British General Grant’s soldiers. The battle changed when British troops suddenly appeared behind American lines after their night march.
American soldiers found themselves attacked from both front and rear. What started as a defensive stand quickly turned into a fight for survival.
The Maryland Regiment Arrived Just in Time
The First Maryland Regiment reached New York in early August 1776, bringing fresh troops to Washington’s army. Major Mordecai Gist led these men during the battle.
The Marylanders were better equipped than most American soldiers, with many carrying bayonets for close fighting. They took position on the American right flank near today’s Green-Wood Cemetery.
These well-trained troops would soon play a crucial role in saving Washington’s army from complete disaster.
British Forces Surrounded the Americans
By late morning, Lord Stirling’s troops were overwhelmed by British soldiers attacking in greater numbers. Most Americans ran toward Gowanus Creek as British forces broke through their lines.
General Cornwallis moved his troops to block their escape route near the Vechte-Cortelyou House. American soldiers faced capture, drowning in the marsh, or fighting through overwhelming odds.
Stirling saw that most of his men would be caught unless someone held the British back. He needed a group willing to sacrifice themselves so others could escape.
The Maryland 400 Made Their Stand
Stirling ordered Major Gist and about 260 Maryland troops to fight a rear-guard action while the rest of his forces retreated. The Marylanders faced terrible odds—over 2,000 British troops with cannons had taken positions around the stone farmhouse.
British soldiers fired from windows and doorways, using the house as a fortress. Stirling stayed to fight alongside his men.
These young soldiers, mostly in their twenties, prepared to charge directly into British lines knowing many would not survive.
The Marylanders Charged Again and Again
The Maryland troops launched repeated attacks against the British positions at the Old Stone House. They charged directly at the stone building where British forces had set up their command.
After each bloody repulse, survivors regrouped and attacked again. Six times they stormed forward against heavy musket fire.
They knew they couldn’t win but fought to buy time for their comrades crossing the creek behind them. Each attack left more dead and wounded, but they kept fighting.
Washington Watched His Men Sacrifice Themselves
From a hill on Cobble Hill, General Washington watched the Maryland troops repeatedly charge the British lines. Seeing his soldiers cut down in growing numbers, Washington reportedly said, “Good God, what brave fellows I must this day lose.”
This rare show of emotion revealed how deeply their sacrifice moved him. Their stand allowed hundreds of American troops to escape to Brooklyn Heights.
Without this action, Washington might have lost most of his army that day. Maryland later earned the nickname “The Old Line State” from this brave stand.
Few Marylanders Survived the Battle
Of the 260-270 Maryland troops who fought at the Old Stone House, more than 256 were killed or captured. Fewer than a dozen made it back to American lines.
Many bodies were never found, likely buried in unmarked graves somewhere in Brooklyn. Lord Stirling was captured after refusing to surrender to the British.
Instead, he broke through their lines and surrendered to Hessian troops. The Maryland stand worked—the British stopped their advance for the day, giving Washington time to regroup his forces.
The Battle Changed the Course of the War
Though a defeat, the stand at the Old Stone House helped save the Revolutionary War. Washington used the time bought by the Maryland troops to plan.
On August 29-30, he moved all his remaining troops from Brooklyn to Manhattan at night, escaping the British trap. The Maryland troops’ sacrifice became legendary in the Continental Army.
Their bravery showed that American citizen-soldiers could fight with courage against professional troops. Without their stand at the Old Stone House, American independence might have ended in its first major battle.
Visiting Old Stone House of Brooklyn
You’ll find the Old Stone House at 336 3rd Street in Brooklyn, between 4th and 5th Avenues in Washington Park. The museum opens Wednesday through Sunday.
Admission is free, though donations are appreciated. The Battle of Brooklyn exhibit on the first floor shows how the Maryland troops fought here to save Washington’s army.
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