Retreat from Long Island, 1776 Postcard

The Battle of Long Island, fought on August 27, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, was a pivotal early engagement in the conflict and the largest battle of the war up to that point. British forces under the command of General William Howe, with the assistance of Hessian mercenaries, launched a well-coordinated and successful amphibious assault on American positions on Long Island, New York. Under the command of General George Washington, the American Continental Army was decisively defeated, suffering heavy casualties and losing much-needed ground in the struggle for independence. This defeat forced the Americans to evacuate Long Island and retreat to Manhattan, setting the stage for subsequent British campaigns and demonstrating the formidable strength and capabilities of the British military.