New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-07

-, 20 +l,a,, ara we'll known and others that
little known are marked. but many OF them remain
~i+hout any token that would convey to future
generations an idea of the historic happenings win
,hicb they should be associated. Almost every
freouenter of Prospect Park is familiar with baIde
Pass which strategic point IN the famous
hattie of Long Island. August 2, l776 II is marked
nv huge bowlder in which is set bronze taoiet-
Some distance outside the limits OF the park, in
.,, ,s,r.o,ion of the Gowanus Canal. toward which
+ba routed Continental soldiers were driven al 'le
and of the battle of Long Island are TWO srilal
,naroorials to the gallant Maryland soldiers VINO
sacrificed their lives in protecting the retreat OF
tha remainder of the army. One is bronze tablet
81 sd-s and 5th-ave. It marks the site OF the oio
Cor+elyou house where the Maryland troops made
their brave stand. It bears this inscription:
,. mere, on eo6ieIs under command of Lord Stirling
were killed in combat with the British troops under
Lord CORVALLIS.
The other is stone tablet, feet long and ~
feet wide, standing the east side of Sd-ave' be-
tween 7th and sth SITS The inscription reads;
Fell Ia Ye Combat at Ye Corteiyou house IN 1e
Battle OF Long Island. on Ye 9th Day OF Au-
gust. 1Ts.
MARYLAND it Will be remembered. one of
the first States TO come to the defence of New
York when il was threatened by the British The
people OF New-York. for whom we have a great
affection, can have more than our ALL, was the
message sent with four thousand armed and
equipped men Smallwoods Battalion. Of about six
hundred and eighty men. included the flower OF
these troops, being composed Of young men from
the best families in Maryland When toward the
end OF the battle of Long Island Lord Stirling or
the American army. saw that unless the attention
Of the enemy could be diverted for time the en-
tire body of troops would be killed captured. be
halted the Srnallwood Battalion. To his request
for volunteers 10 face almost certain death III
making a stand against the British until the re-
rnainder of the army could escape every member
Of the battalion responded.
The English were in strong semi-circular posi-
.ion about the Cortelyou house. supported by bat
terfes on either flank. But they surprised
nv the sudden stand of the small body of American
troops that they began to waver. In few min
utes however they were directing q murderous
fire upon the Maryland heroes. who for three hours
vsithstood It. with no better protection than low
stone wall At the end Of that time two hundred
and fifty of the four hundred had been killed and
= number Of the others captured. But their pur-
nose had been accomplished and the fragments OF
The American army saved from destruction
Some unpleasant incidents nlarred the erection
,f the tablets by a committee OF citizens In 1885.
The owner of the house at 3d-st. and 5th-ave.
fused 10 ailow the tablet TO be placed there, If 1t
contained the name of a certain member of the
committee with whom he had had some personal
differences There was much discussion as TO what
should be done. The against whom objections
hss4 been made offered TO have has name omitted,
Ll,f his colleagues would not permit IL Then II was
Suggested that the tablet be placed IN Prospect
Park but this did not meet with favor. So nnally
the memorial was put up the site first selected
without any mention OF the citizens commlttes'