6. The Miracle Evacuation: The Marbleheaders at the Battle of Long Island Author: Patrick O'Donnell Book Title: The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington across the Delaware After the de
Update: 2025-10-06
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6. The Miracle Evacuation: The Marbleheaders at the Battle of Long Island
Author: Patrick O'Donnell
Book Title: The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington across the Delaware
After the defeat at the Battle of Long Island in August 1776, Washington's 9,000-man army was trapped at Brooklyn Heights, facing destruction by Lord Howe's forces. Washington decided upon a harrowing retreat across the swirling, mile-long East River—an evacuation described as one of the most difficult military maneuvers. Had the British succeeded in destroying the army here, the Revolution likely would have ended. The Marblehead Regiment was tasked with rowing the army across in small, inadequate boats. The success relied entirely on the unique skill set of the Marbleheaders, honed by fishing the deadly Grand Banks. Despite the wind and currents initially frustrating the operation, two timely atmospheric events aided them: the wind failed to shift in a way that would allow the British Navy to sail up the East River to intercept, and as dawn broke, a dense fog rolled in, screening the movements of the escaping army. Washington personally supervised the evacuation, enforcing order and being one of the last men to leave the shore.
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