Podcast Summary:

All Of It with Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Episode: The Revolutionary War's Battle for Brooklyn
Date: February 6, 2026
Guest: Dominique Jean Louis, Chief Historian, Center for Brooklyn History

Overview

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, host Alison Stewart explores the pivotal yet underrecognized Battle of Brooklyn—America’s first major and largest battle of the Revolutionary War. Highlighting the new exhibit “The Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered” at the Center for Brooklyn History, Stewart and guest Dominique Jean Louis discuss why the battle matters, how it has been remembered (or forgotten), and the layered complexities of New York’s cultural and military legacy. Listener questions add personal and contemporary resonances throughout the episode.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Why Brooklyn? The Strategic Geography

• The British chose Brooklyn, specifically Long Island, as the main point of attack because it circumvented the more fortified Manhattan. The decision surprised the Continental Army, leaving them unprepared (01:25).
• The crucial ridge system in Brooklyn shaped the battle; Americans failed to defend all key passes, providing the British with a major tactical edge (05:19).
  • “Those would be the decisive places where a victory would be declared.” – Dominique Jean Louis (05:23)

2. Stakes and Outcome

• The outcome of the battle was “everything” for the revolutionaries: survival of the idea of independence, the continuation of the war, and the possible fate of the nation (01:44).
• Despite the defeat, the Continental Army’s retreat—enabled by a foggy night crossing of the East River—preserved the revolution’s leadership (15:04).
• Notably, George Washington learned crucial lessons on preparation, perseverance, and the sobering realities of a drawn-out war (04:36).

3. Public Memory and Shame

• For many years after, Brooklynites “felt ashamed” that their home was the site of a significant defeat, which led to under-discussion of the battle compared to Lexington or Yorktown (02:44).
  • “This story is waiting to be embraced.” – Dominique Jean Louis (02:48)
• The shift towards commemorating the battle grew after Brooklyn’s consolidation into New York City and especially after World War I, reflecting a new sense of patriotism and a determination to “honor what it says about our military prowess” (15:34).

4. The Marylanders’ Heroism

• Several segments, including a caller’s contribution, highlight the crucial sacrifice of the Maryland soldiers defending the Old Stone House—now commemorated with monuments and plaques (04:06).
• The stand at the Old Stone House enabled much of Washington’s army to escape (06:16, 06:50).

5. Overlooked Participants: Slavery, Civilians, and Women

• Enslaved people were integral—building fortifications, witnessing the conflict, and influencing outcomes. The exhibit discusses Washington’s enslaved valet, William Lee, who aided Washington’s battlefield decisions (07:43).
• The story of Elizabeth Burgin, who helped American prisoners escape from British prison ships, is highlighted as a testament to civilian and women’s roles (19:43).
  • “She has lovely penmanship. We have an image of one of her letters … ‘I might not have been a soldier, but I did help the cause.’” – Dominique Jean Louis (19:55)

6. Names, Narratives, and Myths

• Historically, the battle has been called both the Battle of Brooklyn and the Battle of Long Island owing to shifting regional identities (11:09).
  • “At the time of the Battle of Brooklyn, there wasn’t really a ‘Brooklyn.’ … So we kind of use both throughout the exhibition.” – Dominique Jean Louis (11:13)
• Myths and legends persist, especially regarding burial sites and relics. While found remains have been interred beneath monuments, stories abound about other unclaimed or forgotten graves (17:37).

7. The “Floating Dungeons”: British Prison Ships

• The British prison ships, or “floating dungeons,” anchored in the East River were notorious for horrific conditions—disease, neglect, and mass death—which left a lasting trauma (18:31).
  • “Some of the most horrific things you can read. There was pestilence and disease … man’s inhumanity to man.” – Dominique Jean Louis (18:42)

8. Experience of the Exhibit

• Visitors are greeted by a series of historic maps, including a 1556 depiction of Brooklyn’s indigenous life—a rare and grounding artifact (08:32, 20:38).
• The exhibit ends with playful and poignant artifacts from the 1976 Bicentennial, reflecting on continuity and change in Brooklyn’s collective memory (20:38).
  • “I just think that’s a perfect endpoint to everything that Brooklyn has been and is today … we are nothing more than the stories we tell each other.” – Dominique Jean Louis (21:02)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the gravity of the battle:
  “Everything was at stake... Is this thing going to continue? Is it going to end in humiliation? Is this country going to get its entire independence?” – Dominique Jean Louis (01:44)

• On memorialization:
  “Brooklynites felt ashamed that their location was the site of a pretty major defeat and didn’t want to talk about it at length. And I think that’s starting to change now.” (02:54)

• On the Marylanders' legacy:
  “There’s really a commitment to celebrating the story of the sacrifice of those soldiers.” (04:16)

• On landscape’s impact:
  “Everything about the way that Brooklyn is situated on Long Island, how its geography is organized, really defined the way the battle played out.” (05:44)

• On violence and the bayonet:
  “The procedure for a bayonet is stab, twist, pull, and to do kind of maximum damage.” (12:05)

• On broader involvement:
  “We honor and remember the bravery of the soldiers... but those are not the only people who made sacrifices and contributed to the American cause.” (20:06)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 – Introduction; setting the historical stage
• 01:25 – Why Brooklyn was the British attack site
• 02:44 – Why the battle isn’t widely remembered
• 04:06 – Marylanders’ role and memorials
• 04:36 – Lessons learned by Washington
• 05:19 – Brooklyn’s geography and passes
• 07:43 – Slavery’s role in the battle
• 08:32 – What greets visitors entering the exhibit
• 11:09 – “Battle of Long Island” vs. “Battle of Brooklyn”
• 12:05 – The violence of bayonet warfare
• 15:34 – Shifting attitudes to remembering the battle
• 18:31 – Prison ships (“floating dungeons”)
• 19:43 – Story of Elizabeth Burgin
• 20:38 – Exhibit highlights (maps, bicentennial yearbooks)

Tone and Style

The episode balances scholarly rigor with accessibility, inviting the audience and emphasizing personal and communal ties to history. Dominique Jean Louis brings passionate engagement, often drawing connections between past and present, myth and lived experience. Alison Stewart’s questions highlight local memory and community involvement, encouraging listeners to see themselves as part of an ongoing historical narrative.

For further engagement:
Visit the “Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered” exhibit at the Center for Brooklyn History, Brooklyn Public Library.