An “Eternal Flame” Relit Over Brooklyn [RevWar Prison Ships' Martyr's Monument]

Brroklyn Heights Blog ^ | Nov 17, 2008 | Anon

[Pharmboy]

Yesterday evening, despite heavy rain during the day and still threatening skies, 200 or so people gathered in Fort Greene Park to attend the rededication of the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, which honors the approximately 11,500 Revolutionary War combatants captured by the British who died aboard old warships anchored in Wallabout Bay (adjacent to the present Brooklyn Navy Yard site) and used to house prisoners of war.

Conditions aboard these ships were so horrendous that almost one third of those imprisoned did not survive.

The monument, a Doric column designed by the eminent architect Stanford White, was dedicated exactly 100 years before, also on a rainy day, in a ceremony at which then President-Elect William Howard Taft was the guest of honor.

Over the years, however, the monument was neglected and fell into disrepair. The “eternal flame” at its top went out in 1921 and was never relit. About ten years ago, the Fort Greene Park Conservancy, spurred by former Chair Ruth Goldstein, formed a Centennial Committee to raise funds for, plan and implement the restoration and rededication of the Monument.

Among the speakers at the rededication, along with Ms. Goldstein, historian Edwin G. Burroughs (co-author of Gotham), Borough President Marty Markowitz and other political figures, was Harrison Davis, President of The New England Society in the City of Brooklyn and a resident of Concord Village. The New England Society was prominently involved in rasing funds for the original construction of the Monument.

At the close of the ceremony, after wreaths were laid at the foot of the column, the “eternal flame”, now consisting of electric lights reflected from a mirror, was relit, and will be lit daily during the hours of darkness. It should be easily visible from eastward facing windows or roofs on taller buildings in or near the Heights, as well as from other parts of Brooklyn and other boroughs.

[Pharmboy]

Markowitz was the guy who agreed to removing the portraits of the "dead white guys" 8 or so years ago from the Brooklyn Muny Building. Glad to see he has changed his ways.

[Pharmboy]

The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list...

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[NonValueAdded]

Thanks much for the ping.

[DonaldC]

Amazing the sacrifices that some have made.

[Congressman Billybob]

What is not mentioned in this article is that MORE Americans died on these prison ships than in the actual fighting of the Revolutionary War. Up through the Civil War, deaths from disease were more common than from battle.

Congressman Billybob

Latest article, "The Barack Obama - King George Connection"

The Declaration, the Constitution, parts of the Federalist, and America's Owner's Manual, here.

[ETL]

A WALKING TOUR OF THE BATTLEFIELD IN OUR MIDST

From

THE BATTLE FOR NEW YORK:

The City at the Heart of the American Revolution

by Barnet Schecter

The Battle For New York Walking Tour:
http://www.thebattlefornewyork.com/walking_tour.php

______________________________________________________________

The Battle For New York Home page:
http://www.thebattlefornewyork.com/home.php

[Pharmboy]

For those who may not know, the 11,500 Patriots estimated to have died on these prison ships anchored off the East River in Brooklyn's Wallabout Bay were more than the 6,250 Patriots estimated to have died on the battlefields throughout the RevWar.

The Brits did not play nicely.

[Pharmboy]

Indeed. You just beat me to the post of that fact. Thanks.

[SunkenCiv]

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[aculeus]

Thanks from one ex-NooYawker who never knew of this monument’s existence.

[VanDeKoik]

Only 200 people showed up?

There will be more people in line at K-Mart the day after Thanksgiving.

[wagglebee]

Great post!

I’ve long thought that the main reason the prison ships have never been that well publicized is that doing so could create animosity toward the British.

[Pharmboy]

Well, before WWI there indeed was plenty of animosity towards the Brits. Americans did not forget the inhumanity delivered by them during the war and the treatment given to Patriot civilians. It was only during and after our alliance for The Great War that Evacuation Day ceased to be celebrated and they were embraced as friends and allies.

[silverleaf]

bttt

[wagglebee]

Good points and that might indicate why there was such fanfare when this monument was dedicated a century ago and then all but abandoned thirteen years later.

[Pharmboy]

I had never made that connection, but I bet you’re correct in that our alliance might have something to do with our lost interest. Nice going...

[AnalogReigns]

I had a great-great-....uncle who died on one of those horrible ships.

I never knew there was a memorial to these men; I’m glad to see it’s grandeur, and, that people still remember.

[ntnychik]

My great-great-great-great grandfather was taken prisoner from the “Washington”, one of Washington’s Cruisers, not too competently commanded by Sion Martindale. He spent the Rev. War in England, returned in 1783, and eventually was granted a pension. His four-year-old son died in a prison ship off Brooklyn during the war. I have been unable to find lists of civilian casualties of the prison ships. Any info you could provide, I’d be most appreciative.

[foreshadowed at waco]

A conservative lives in Brooklyn Heights!...I’m another one in Fort Greene. Go figure. I live about 4 blocks from the column on Vanderbilt and Myrtle just down the block from the Navy Yard. I didn’t make the ceremony due to the weather but I am very happy to see that you posted this notice. Brooklyn was definitely one of the hubs of colonial activity. I usually take my students to see the rock on the promenade that marks where George Washington stood with his troops overlooking Manhattan.

[Red Boots]

An ancestor of mine fought in the battle of Long Island, New York troops.