The morning times., 1897-01-03
BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND,
Two Tablets to Commemorate 1t in
Brooklyn.
New, York; EtentnG Sur

Newe Iork'E Erentng Sun.
Historic interest in two local points is soon
to take permanent form by the placing OF
bronze tablets to commemorate the death
and burial of $50 Marylandcrs of the CO.
lonial army, who fell in the battle of Long
Island. The tablets have been in prepara-
ton for some time and word W as received
in Brooklyn yesterday that they would soon
he ready for shipment from the works at
Stamford, Conn. 1t will be renemberedthat
when the Maryland patriotic societies pre-
sented the monument TO Prospect Park in
Brooklyn, in honor OF the Maryland bat
talon that fought there IN the Revolution,
the unveilng took place on August 27,
1895, i'll the presence of large Company
of veterans and many other MaryIanders,
who came as guests OF the city. Thousands
of persons turned out to see the procession.
andsthe day was celebrated with music Of
bands and booming OF cannon. OF the funds
raised at that time for the entertainment
of the visitors surplus remained, which
was left i'll charge OF a committee, to be put
TO some appropriate use.
Col. Loomis L.-Langdon spoke in detail
Of the placing OF the tablets.
The sites chosen for commemoratipn, :"
he, ARE the corner OF Fifth avenue and
Third street. near the old Nicholas Veghte
house, erruneouSly called the Cortelyou
house, where $50 Marylanders fell. and
that portion OF Third avenue between
Seventh and Eighth streets, where the bat
talon buried its dead after retreating from
the fight. The tablets may be delivered
some time this week The only place to
wa. .rl- b,1 q iY.t lsn
walk along Third avenue and the tablet
Will merely recite the events OF the battle
No names of the dead are possible, since n
the course OF the struggle they fell at
various points, all the way from Prospect
Heights down 10 Fort Hamilton. That whole
district was covered by the right wing OF
the Continental army.
AT the Veghte house there is to be
wall tablet OF more elaborate design. The
old house VIII be shown as ii was IN the
battle, filled with two companies Of British
soldiers, whom the Americans tried in
vain to drive out. Tie attack was led by
Ma jor Gen. William Alexander, a lso called
Lord Stirling. who commanded the Mary
land battalion of 400 men. Wien he finally
secured tie retreat Of the rlghI wing his
losses numbered $50 dead and many wound
ed. That slaughter and the subsequent
burial are what the Maryland patriots re-
membered in their gift Of the shaft to
Prospect Park, and what our committee is
to mark with the two bronze tablets. In
designing the scene OF the fight I had To
send 10 West Point FOR drawings Of tile
cannon OF the period, and it took no little
search TO decide what flag must have been
used in that time, before the adoption OF
the stars and stripes. - s.
The old house, though once a Courtly
mansion, is now somewhat tumbledOwn n
and is completely Hidden from the street
by ne wer buildings that surround what was
formerly Washington Park baseball field.
The tablet is therefore to be set in the
wall of the brick building on the corner OF
Fifth avenue and Third street, owned by
Edward 81. Litchfieid. From the rear
windows OF the tailor shop in that build
ing OF of the plumbers shop next door.
can be seen the old house standing low
in the open lot behind l do not doubt hat
the memorial tablet will sustain lively
interest on the part Of the public in this
one of the many historic spots with which
Brooklyn and New York abound