Search for unmarked grave that holds bloody secrets of 1776 Battle of Brooklyn: Author calls for memorial to bravery of hundreds of Washington's men who were slain trying to protect New York
Bodies of hundreds slain in the Battle of Brooklyn have never been found
The battle was one of the bloodies to take place during Revolutionary War
There are growing calls to find the mass grave where the men were buried
This is so a monument in the New York borough can be erected in their honor
By Jennifer Newton for MailOnline
Published: 01:23 EST, 15 February 2016 | Updated: 06:40 EST, 15 February 2016
A campaign is growing to find the scores of bodies of Maryland soldiers who died in a bloody battle during the Revolutionary War so a monument can be erected in their honor.
It is believed that hundreds of bodies of men killed during the Battle of Brooklyn are buried in what is now the borough's Park Slope neighbourhood.
They died, along with hundreds of others during the battle in August 1776, in what is also know as the Battle of Long Island.
An American Legion Post in Brooklyn, where it is believed that 250 Maryland soldiers are buried after their death during the Battle of Brooklyn during the Revolutionary War in 1776
An American Legion Post in Brooklyn, where it is believed that 250 Maryland soldiers are buried after their death during the Battle of Brooklyn during the Revolutionary War in 1776
According to some accounts, more than 250 out of what became known as the 'Maryland 400' died in the fight at a farmhouse, although the exact number killed remains murky. Their burial place has never been found.
And now military author, Patrick K. O'Donnell, believes their final resting place needs to be uncovered so they can have a fitting tribute built in their honor.
His book 'Washington's Immortals' portrays the Maryland troops as some of General George Washington's most dependable fighters during the eight-year war.
He said: 'My goal is to make people aware of the story, and hopefully someone will put the resources together to find out where they're buried.
Hundreds of Maryland soldiers made several assaults against a larger British force centered around a stone farmhouse
The British took control of New York the next month, but Washington's forces escaped to continue the fight for independence
The British took control of New York the next month, but Washington's forces escaped to continue the fight for independence
According to some accounts, more than 250 out of what became known as the 'Maryland 400' died in the fight at a farmhouse, although the exact number killed remains murky
According to some accounts, more than 250 out of what became known as the 'Maryland 400' died in the fight at a farmhouse, although the exact number killed remains murky
The ferocious bayonet charges prevented two wings of the advancing redcoats from attacking the 10,000 Americans — outnumbered about two to one — who had retreated to Brooklyn Heights.
The British commander decided to put off resuming the attack until the next day. The delay gave Washington time to ferry his entire army across the East River to Manhattan in the dead of night.
The British took control of New York the next month, but Washington's forces escaped to continue the fight for independence.
Mr O'Donnell added: 'They saved the army there, but they saved the army several times, especially in the South. They're Washington's shock troops.'
Some historians believe they were buried in unmarked trenches next to the farmhouse, while others say the more likely burial spot is nearby, under what is now a vacant private lot.
The last official archaeological excavations, conducted in the 1950s, failed to turn up any evidence of military burials from the battle.
The Old Stone House, a museum reconstructed in Brooklyn in 1933 from material from the original battlefield structure that was torn down nearly 120 years ago
The Old Stone House, a museum reconstructed in Brooklyn in 1933 from material from the original battlefield structure that was torn down nearly 120 years ago
The burial location remains 'one of the great questions of the battle, one of great mysteries of history in Brooklyn,' said Kim Maier, executive director of the Old Stone House, a museum reconstructed nearby in 1933 from material from the original battlefield structure that was torn down nearly 120 years ago.
'Washington's Immortals' is a bit of a departure for Mr O'Donnell, author of nine previous books, most of them about World War II spies and elite American units such as the U.S. Army Rangers.
He said he became obsessed with the Marylanders' story after touring the Brooklyn battle's sites in 2010.
Mr O'Donnell, who lives outside Washington, D.C., spent the next five years researching the Marylanders' exploits, visiting every battlefield where they fought from New York to South Carolina and combing through archives in the U.S. and Britain.
What he learned prompted him to dub those patriots America's original band of brothers, men who continued the fight despite overwhelming odds and constant lack of food, clothing and equipment.
'These volunteers marched — often barefoot, starving and unpaid — thousands of miles and battled the one of the finest armies in the world at the time,' he said.
THE BATTLE OF BROOKLYN: A CRUSHING AMERICAN DEFEAT
A painting showing the retreat of George Washington's men after their defeat in the Battle of Brooklyn
A painting showing the retreat of George Washington's men after their defeat in the Battle of Brooklyn
The Battle of Brooklyn was the first battle to be fought in the Revolutionary War after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
It came after the British were defeated in the city of Boston and next set their sights on capturing New York City.
Anticipating this, General George Washington shifted his army from Boston to New York to prepare for the attack.
Soon after a large British fleet arrived in New York and by August 22, started landing troops on Long Island, now present day Brooklyn.
On August 27, British forces began their attack and surrounded the Americans from the east.
This saw 400 men, known as the Maryland 400 die in the bloody battle.
Two days later Washington made a desperate attempt to save his army and they retreated across the East River to Manhattan and the British Army left.
The Battle of Brooklyn is considered a decisive victory for the British and they remained in control of New York City for the rest of the Revolutionary War.
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