Brooklyn hunt for spirit of 1776 soldiers

NY Post ^ | March 11, 2012 | GARY BUISO

[Pharmboy]

Brooklyn civic groups are leading a charge to discover the exact burial place of over 200 Revolutionary War soldiers killed at the dawn of the United States and dumped near the Gowanus Canal.

“These are the men who allowed America to come into existence — it’s a question that needs to be resolved,” said Marlene Donnelly, a member of the Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus,... “The Battle of Gettysburg has an entire field put aside to remember it — and this one, we just don’t remember,”...

The grave concern is that development in and around the putrid canal, a Superfund site in the midst of a federal $500 million decade-long clean-up, could steamroll history that has already been buried too long. “We want them to tread with caution,” urged Eymund Diegel, a member of Proteus Gowanus, another activist group...

snip...

The rebels lost the battle, but the Marylanders, a regiment of 400, fended off the British long enough to enable General George Washington and his troops to retreat — and fight another day.

Two hundred fifty six men didn’t make it out of the bloody battle alive, and to this day, their exact burial site remains a mystery.

“We have to do a thorough search of British military records.”

Since the Americans lost the battle, the British buried the bodies, and probably didn’t take much care with the enemy dead.

“If we found the Maryland 400 it would be truly astounding,” said Lynn Rakos, of the Professional Archeologists of New York City. “The area would become a national historic landmark.”

Experts say the waterway itself — long rumored to be a Mafia burial ground — is probably not the final resting place for the Marylanders. Back in the 18th century, the man-made canal was just a modest creek.

[Pharmboy]

You are quite welcome...and those lads were heroes indeed. Even the Brits and Hessians were amazed at their steadfastness.

[Pharmboy]

A friend of mine whom I sent this link to said that the Maryland 400 were our Spartan 300. Insightful and true.

[RedMDer]

"The Origin of the “the Old Line State”
Ryan Polk, Research Archivist, Maryland State Archives 2005

According to popular tradition, Washington bestowed his high esteem upon the Maryland Line after viewing their heroic stand at the Battle of Long Island. Given the order to defend the American withdrawal from Long Island, the Maryland Line saved the Continental Army from annihilation in the first major battle of the war. “Good God, what brave fellows I must this day lose,” Washington remarked to Israel Putnam as he witnessed the Marylanders repeatedly charge Cortelyou House, effectively holding back the British advance. Later, Washington described their efforts as an "hour more precious to American liberty than any other."

[SunkenCiv]

GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe
Thanks Pharmboy and RedMDer. Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. The rebels lost the battle, but the Marylanders, a regiment of 400, fended off the British long enough to enable General George Washington and his troops to retreat -- and fight another day. Two hundred fifty six men didn't make it out of the bloody battle alive, and to this day, their exact burial site remains a mystery. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

[aculeus]

Thanks for another fascinating post.