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New York Today: When War Came to Brooklyn | New York Today: When War Came to Brooklyn |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Updated, 8:00 a.m. | |
Good morning on this wonderful Wednesday. | Good morning on this wonderful Wednesday. |
It’s the 240th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn. | It’s the 240th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn. |
In 1776, New York was teeming with British sympathizers. And by August, 32,000 British troops had arrived in Brooklyn. | In 1776, New York was teeming with British sympathizers. And by August, 32,000 British troops had arrived in Brooklyn. |
Fierce fighting between the British and Continental armies soon broke out, engulfing an area that encompassed what is today Park Slope, Gravesend Bay, Prospect Heights and a section along the Gowanus Canal. | Fierce fighting between the British and Continental armies soon broke out, engulfing an area that encompassed what is today Park Slope, Gravesend Bay, Prospect Heights and a section along the Gowanus Canal. |
“It was the single most consequential military event in the whole war,” said Joseph J. Ellis, the author of “Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence.” | “It was the single most consequential military event in the whole war,” said Joseph J. Ellis, the author of “Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence.” |
(Even though it was a victory for the British.) | (Even though it was a victory for the British.) |
Facing defeat, Gen. George Washington decided to shift his troops to Manhattan from Brooklyn. | Facing defeat, Gen. George Washington decided to shift his troops to Manhattan from Brooklyn. |
“A perfect storm had to happen for the evacuation to work,” Mr. Ellis said. | “A perfect storm had to happen for the evacuation to work,” Mr. Ellis said. |
It did. | It did. |
On the night of Aug. 29, 1776, rain poured down. Then a fog bank rolled in. | On the night of Aug. 29, 1776, rain poured down. Then a fog bank rolled in. |
Hidden from view, the Continental Army’s troops, horses and cannons floated across the East River, near where the Brooklyn Bridge stands today. | Hidden from view, the Continental Army’s troops, horses and cannons floated across the East River, near where the Brooklyn Bridge stands today. |
“In this case the big victory is retreat,” said Mr. Ellis, as General Washington and his troops were able to fight another day. | “In this case the big victory is retreat,” said Mr. Ellis, as General Washington and his troops were able to fight another day. |
All told, about 3,000 Americans lost their lives during the battle. | |
And a saying emerged: “The Declaration of Independence that was signed in ink in Philadelphia was signed in blood in South Brooklyn.” | And a saying emerged: “The Declaration of Independence that was signed in ink in Philadelphia was signed in blood in South Brooklyn.” |
To relive the Battle of Brooklyn, you can take a tour at Brooklyn Bridge Park tonight, join a re-enactment at Green-Wood Cemetery on Sunday or conduct a self-guided tour. | To relive the Battle of Brooklyn, you can take a tour at Brooklyn Bridge Park tonight, join a re-enactment at Green-Wood Cemetery on Sunday or conduct a self-guided tour. |
You can also visit a new exhibition about the battle, opening on Friday at the Old Stone House. | You can also visit a new exhibition about the battle, opening on Friday at the Old Stone House. |
Here’s what else is happening: | Here’s what else is happening: |
This weather means anything but war; it’ll be so peaceful today that you might just want to fall asleep on a park bench. | This weather means anything but war; it’ll be so peaceful today that you might just want to fall asleep on a park bench. |
We’ll have a high near 85 and a sky so perfectly blue it could be a screen saver. | We’ll have a high near 85 and a sky so perfectly blue it could be a screen saver. |
Might as well be walkin’ on the sun. | Might as well be walkin’ on the sun. |
• Drug problems on Staten Island, which has been described as “Heroin Island,” have made the borough a target for poaching patients. [New York Times] | • Drug problems on Staten Island, which has been described as “Heroin Island,” have made the borough a target for poaching patients. [New York Times] |
• The New York police broke intelligence-gathering rules while targeting Muslims for surveillance after 9/11, according to a report. [New York Times] | • The New York police broke intelligence-gathering rules while targeting Muslims for surveillance after 9/11, according to a report. [New York Times] |
• New Yorkers speak out about how they cope with the burden of rent. [New York Times] | • New Yorkers speak out about how they cope with the burden of rent. [New York Times] |
• The story behind the people found with a cache of weapons and ammunition in their car at the Holland Tunnel. [New York Times] | • The story behind the people found with a cache of weapons and ammunition in their car at the Holland Tunnel. [New York Times] |
• As Rudolph W. Giuliani defends Donald J. Trump, is this the same Giuliani that New York City remembers? [WNYC] | • As Rudolph W. Giuliani defends Donald J. Trump, is this the same Giuliani that New York City remembers? [WNYC] |
• A group of artists is trying to raise money to save Langston Hughes’s Harlem brownstone. [DNAInfo] | • A group of artists is trying to raise money to save Langston Hughes’s Harlem brownstone. [DNAInfo] |
• The “Final Five” — the gold medal-winning U.S. women’s gymnastics team — took New York by storm. [NBC] | • The “Final Five” — the gold medal-winning U.S. women’s gymnastics team — took New York by storm. [NBC] |
• Is the city’s economic boom sustainable? [Crain’s] | • Is the city’s economic boom sustainable? [Crain’s] |
• Hundreds of thousands of dead fish were found floating in New Jersey waters. [NBC] | • Hundreds of thousands of dead fish were found floating in New Jersey waters. [NBC] |
• ... And three fishmongers were arrested after stealing $1 million in eels. [CBS] | • ... And three fishmongers were arrested after stealing $1 million in eels. [CBS] |
• Scoreboard: Yankees sink Mariners, 5-1. Mets rule Cardinals, 7-4. | • Scoreboard: Yankees sink Mariners, 5-1. Mets rule Cardinals, 7-4. |
• For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Wednesday Briefing. | • For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Wednesday Briefing. |
• Watch the U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament matches during Queens Day at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens. 11 a.m. [Free] | • Watch the U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament matches during Queens Day at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens. 11 a.m. [Free] |
• Sample treats and performances from the stars of “Wicked,” “School of Rock” and “Kinky Boots” at Grand Central’s Summer Sendoff. 11:30 a.m. [Free entrance] | • Sample treats and performances from the stars of “Wicked,” “School of Rock” and “Kinky Boots” at Grand Central’s Summer Sendoff. 11:30 a.m. [Free entrance] |
• The drag-queen contestants from the coming season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars” hand out ice cream in Union Square. Noon to 6 p.m. [Free] | • The drag-queen contestants from the coming season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars” hand out ice cream in Union Square. Noon to 6 p.m. [Free] |
• A lecture with the author of “Building the Skyline: The Birth and Growth of Manhattan’s Skyscrapers,” at the New York Public Library in Midtown Manhattan. 6:30 p.m. [Free] | • A lecture with the author of “Building the Skyline: The Birth and Growth of Manhattan’s Skyscrapers,” at the New York Public Library in Midtown Manhattan. 6:30 p.m. [Free] |
• A Zumba class at the Willis Avenue Community Garden in the Bronx. 6:30 p.m. [Free] | • A Zumba class at the Willis Avenue Community Garden in the Bronx. 6:30 p.m. [Free] |
• For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide. | • For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide. |
• Subway and PATH | • Subway and PATH |
• Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak | • Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak |
• Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s. | • Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s. |
• Alternate-side parking: in effect until Labor Day. | • Alternate-side parking: in effect until Labor Day. |
• Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry | • Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry |
• Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark | • Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark |
Sure, New York has a bloody history. | Sure, New York has a bloody history. |
But let’s not forget that generations of artists have sought out our streets for inspiration and beauty. | But let’s not forget that generations of artists have sought out our streets for inspiration and beauty. |
Among the many who stayed (or remained) to set up studios: | Among the many who stayed (or remained) to set up studios: |
The painter Frank Stella worked and lived at an old auction house on 13th Street in the East Village (now occupied by the Peridance Capezio Center). | The painter Frank Stella worked and lived at an old auction house on 13th Street in the East Village (now occupied by the Peridance Capezio Center). |
The Greenwich Village studio of the sculpture artist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, the founder of the Whitney Museum of Art, is open for tours. | The Greenwich Village studio of the sculpture artist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, the founder of the Whitney Museum of Art, is open for tours. |
The painter Georgia O’Keeffe and the photographer Alfred Stieglitz lived at what is now the New York Marriott East Side. | The painter Georgia O’Keeffe and the photographer Alfred Stieglitz lived at what is now the New York Marriott East Side. |
The house of the photographer Alice Austen is now a museum on Staten Island, offering exhibitions and photography workshops. | The house of the photographer Alice Austen is now a museum on Staten Island, offering exhibitions and photography workshops. |
Vaulted ceilings? No way: Here’s what artist studios look like today. | Vaulted ceilings? No way: Here’s what artist studios look like today. |
New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email. | New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email. |
For updates throughout the day, like us on Facebook. | For updates throughout the day, like us on Facebook. |
What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday. | What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday. |
Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter. | Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter. |
You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com. | You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com. |