On this day 250 years ago on Long Island (present-day Brooklyn), New York, Col. Edward Hand’s riflemen drove back a Hessian patrol and captured and burned three houses near Flatbush that Hessians were using as an outpost. The Americans retreated when Hessian reinforcements arrived. The Hessians lost one man killed and at least two wounded and a British captain was also wounded. No Americans were killed, but several were wounded, one seriously who was not expected to live.

A British diarist reported that the Americans (or “Rebels” to use his term) “made more Conflagrations to-day of the poor Farmers’ Stacks of Corn and other Property. We could see Columns of Smoke arise to a great Extent” and “the Country seemed covered with Smoke.” The diarist did admit that the Americans were not solely responsible for the losses of the “poor Farmers” of Long Island and recorded that some of the British sailors “got on Shore & plundered.”

Sources: “Major General John Sullivan to George Washington, 23 August 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-06-02-0105. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 6, 13 August 1776 – 20 October 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase and Frank E. Grizzard, Jr. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1994, pp. 115–116.]; Serle at 74-75 accessed at https://archive.org/details/americanjournalo0000ambr/page/74/mode/2up; Jabez Fitch Diary accessed at https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/e82a5ca0-2c29-0134-4323-00505686a51c?canvasIndex=18; Schecter at 129-30

On this same day 250 years ago, from his headquarters on Manhattan, General Washington ordered three regiments of Continental soldiers and a regiment of Connecticut militia to reinforce Maj. Gen. Sullivan on Long Island. Washington also issued General Orders to the Continental Army:

The Enemy have now landed on Long Island, and the hour is fast approaching, on which the Honor and Success of this army, and the safety of our bleeding Country depend. Remember officers and Soldiers, that you are Freemen, fighting for the blessings of Liberty—that slavery will be your portion, and that of your posterity, if you do not acquit yourselves like men: Remember how your Courage and Spirit have been dispised, and traduced by your cruel invaders; though they have found by dear experience at Boston, Charlestown and other places, what a few brave men contending in their own land, and in the best of causes can do, against base hirelings and mercenaries—Be cool, but determined; do not fire at a distance, but wait for orders from your officers—It is the General’s express orders that if any man attempt to skulk, lay down, or retreat without Orders he be instantly shot down as an example, he hopes no such Scoundrel will be found in this army; but on the contrary, every one for himself resolving to conquer, or die, and trusting to the smiles of heaven upon so just a cause, will behave with Bravery and Resolution: Those who are distinguished for their Gallantry, and good Conduct, may depend upon being honorably noticed, and suitably rewarded: And if this Army will but emulate, and imitate their brave Countrymen, in other parts of America, he has no doubt they will, by a glorious Victory, save their Country, and acquire to themselves immortal Honor.

Sources: “General Orders, 23 August 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-06-02-0100. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 6, 13 August 1776 – 20 October 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase and Frank E. Grizzard, Jr. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1994, pp. 109–111.]; https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%2223%20August%201776%22&s=1111311111&sa=&r=5&sr=