The American Revolution on Long Island

by Joanne S. Grasso

A history of the Revolutionary War and British occupation in this part of New York, from the Culper spy ring to the prison ships where thousands died.



The American Revolution sharply divided families and towns on New York's Long Island. Washington's defeat at the Battle of Long Island in August 1776 started seven years of British occupation--and Patriot sympathizers were subject to loyalty oaths, theft of property, and the quartering of soldiers in their homes.

Those who crossed the British were jailed on prison ships in Wallabout Bay in Brooklyn, where an estimated eleven thousand people died of disease and starvation. Some fought back with acts of sabotage and espionage--and Washington's famed Culper spy ring in Oyster Bay, Setauket, and other areas successfully tracked British movements. In this book, historian Joanne S. Grasso explores the story of an island at war.

Genres: History, American Revolution, American History, Nonfiction

198 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2017

Reviews

[Robert Wilson]

Nice review

Some material was repeated in the same chapters, and through the book. More information could have been presented and different areas explored

[Mark]

Decent information but poorly written. For such a slim volume it is amazing how much repetition there is throughout. The book appears to have not had an editor. Still, I appreciate the author's research and her attempt to illuminate this little-reported part of the American Revolutionary War. For anyone interested in Long Island history it is useful if underwhelming.

[Thomas Cavanagh]

This is an interesting read. There were a lot of facts about the Revolutionary war pertaining to Long Island that never knew. I certainly felt there was room for a little more information and elaboration on topics the author briefly discussed. Definitely worth the effort to read whether you are a Long Islander or not.

[Jim]

A decent overview of the American Revolution on Long Island.

[Virginia Greene]

Revolution

This telling of Long Island’s part in the American Revolution would benefit from a good glossary and an intro to wartime overview.

[Justin Britton]

Nerded out a bit but could have been more in depth in a lot of parts. A few grammar errors and not a huge flow, kind of just jumps around a lot. But learned a lot of things I didn’t know before. Would recommend.