For the Greater Good
When:?August 1776
Where: Long Island, New York
Scenario:?General Washington’s Army on the brink
Some have stated that without divine intervention, this country would never have been founded, nor existed as the most free, benevolent, and welcoming nation in the history of the world.?They point to instances where individuals overcame impossible odds or insurmountable hurdles that threatened the existence or very founding of the nation. "It must be a divine hand reaching down to alter the course of history" they will say.???A case could certainly be made on behalf of divine intervention. The case could also be made that supreme courage and sacrifice from a few men and women at the precise moment in time it was needed was a result of looking within and finding the selflessness to sacrifice oneself for the greater good.?With the constant bombardment via social media of selfishness, ?self promotion, and entitlement, it is sometimes difficult to remember the truly selfless acts that changed the course of human history.?
After capturing Boston from the British in March of 1776, General Washington correctly predicted that the British would move against New York City and began relocating his troops to New York while erecting defensive positions.?By August Washington had roughly 10,000 men defending the City while British General Howe had landed 20,000 of his soldiers on Long Island, supported by 73 war ships just off the coast.?On the night of 26 August, 10,000 British soldiers quietly moved through a lightly defended pass and flanked the American positions.?As the battle unfolded on the 27th, the fighting was fierce and the Americans held their own, but being flanked by the British made the outcome inevitable.?The only question was if the entire American army would be destroyed, or if they would escape to fight another day.?
Fortunately for the American cause Lord Stirling's tough and well equipped First Maryland Regiment along with Colonel Haslet's First Delaware Regiment were in the fight.??Serving with the Marylanders was Bennett Thompson, a native of the western part of the state, eager to further the cause of Independence. Among the Delawareans was 16 year old William Legg, also answering the call for freedom and liberty.?If not for their actions on 27 August of 1776, General Washington’s army may not have survived. Additionally, Bennett's 5th great grand-daughter may never have met William's 5th great grandson and married 221 years later!
As the morning progressed, the enemy began to encircle the Americans. The only possible escape route was to cross under heavy fire, a marshy area about eighty yards wide called Gowanus Creek. On the other side was the stronger American position of Brooklyn Heights. Lord Stirling ordered most of his men towards the Gowanus Creek, and about half the First Maryland Regiment and most of the First Delaware Regiment was able to retreat, including Stone’s first company. Stirling stayed with about 400 battle-weary Maryland and Delaware survivors to serve as a rear guard.?Two thousand British infantrymen and Hessians surrounded the Marylanders and Delawareans. Many of the British fired from the windows of a building known locally as the “Old Stone House.” In the smoke and confusion of battle the house must have looked like a fortress. Then Lord Stirling and the “Maryland 400” did the unexpected. They charged towards the Old Stone House with their muskets and bayonets.
According to survivor accounts, the British “infantry poured volleys of musket balls in almost solid sheets of lead” at the Marylanders and Delawareans. Forced to retreat, they regrouped over their dead and wounded friends and colleagues and charged a second time with their fixed bayonets. Then they did it a third time.
When the fighting was ended, 256 Marylanders and Delawareans lay dead on the ground in the vicinity of the Old Stone House, over 60% of the attacking force and one of the largest fatality percentage rates for any battle in American history. Over 100 were captured, but many of those Marylanders and Delawareans died as prisoners of war. Only a few dozen of the “Maryland 400” escaped alive back to American lines.
The significance of the "Maryland 400" cannot be understated. The intense fighting near the Old Stone House lasted almost an hour, which allowed many Americans to escape with their lives. More importantly, it halted the British offensive for the day, which otherwise may have led to the capture of General Washington and his army. The sacrifice of the "Maryland 400," although a more apt term should be the "Maryland and Delaware 400," quite possibly saved the Revolutionary War. (source nps.gov)
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We Americans owe a huge debt of gratitude to these 400 men who chose to sacrifice their lives allowing the bulk of General Washington's Army to escape and survive, and ultimately go on to stun the Hessians at Trenton on Christmas night of that year.?
We never know when or where we will be placed in a position that can literally affect the survival of a country.?Most of us will not, but daily we are challenged to make decisions that affect our families, neighbors and communities.?Engineers are charged to practice their profession while holding paramount the safety and well being of the public, and equally important, to conduct themselves in an ethical manner.?Every decision an engineer makes has the potential to affect the daily lives of the local citizenry.?That is a very large responsibility, one that should not be taken lightly.??The "Maryland and Delaware 400" put their lives on the line for the greater good, Engineers are charged to practice their profession for the greater good.
To read more about the Battle of Long Island: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/brooklyn
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Ron Reichert attended Drexel University where he earned a BS in Civil Engineering. He has been heavily involved with ASCE committees and events at the local, state and national level, and is the VP Technical of the Texas Section. Ron has over 20 years of experience in specification and selection of infrastructure materials.
Director of Technical and Market Development at Anderson Paving, Inc.
3 个月A wonderful read! As always, I appreciate your insight & ability to relate that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
Licensed Realtor at Kurtz Properties
2 年What a great article Ron!