BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — On Saturday, take a stroll back through history and head to Prospect Park for a reenactment of the Battle of Brooklyn, the first military engagement following the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776.<\/p>\n
During the battle, around 400 Maryland soldiers led by American General William Alexander, Lord Sterling, conducted a countercharge against overwhelming British forces to buy time for the Continental Army to escape.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Discover more local reporting on our homepage\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Over 250 Maryland soldiers died.<\/p>\n Although the Battle of Brooklyn was a victory for Britain, the British army failed to capture General George Washington and his forces, who escaped across the East River in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n The re-enactment and commemoration celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn. The re-enactment will run from Long Meadow in Prospect Park down 3rd Street to the Old Stone House.<\/p>\n The event is free to attend and runs from 10 a.m. to noon.<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> for more information and for directions.<\/p>\n Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n