America is celebrating its 250th anniversary as a nation, and so this month, we are looking at the hand of God in the founding of our country.  Today we look at the Battle of Brooklyn Heights. New York was a primary target of the British. So the British assembled the largest invasion force in world history to that date—32,000 troops on over 400 ships. It is said that the wooden ship masts in New York Harbor looked like a forest of trees. However, Washington’s troops were encouraged when messengers from Philadelphia brought a copy of the recently passed Declaration of Independence, a document that acknowledged God four times.

Washington expected the British to attack from the sea as they did at Bunker Hill. Instead, 10,000 British troops landed a distance from New York and marched all night to make a surprise attack on the Continental Army from behind. Three thousand Americans were killed or wounded compared to only 392 British casualties. The Battle of Brooklyn Heights was the first major battle after America had declared its independence and was the largest battle of the entire war.

The British trapped the American troops on Brooklyn Heights with their backs against the sea. That night, Washington made the desperate decision to evacuate his entire army by ferrying it across the East River to Manhattan Island. The sea was boisterous where the British ships were, but providentially calm in the East River allowing Washington’s boats to move troops, horses, and cannons. The next morning, the sun rose, and half the Continental Army was still stranded. At this critical moment, a thick fog miraculously rolled in from the river, reducing visibility to just a few yards. As Major Ben Tallmadge reported, “You could scarcely discern a man at six yards distance.” The fog remained until noon, giving Washington’s boats the chance to escape. Washington himself chose to be on the last boat that left Brooklyn Heights. When the heavy fog lifted, the British charged up the hill, but when they got there, the Americans were gone. The British never again had such an opportunity to capture the entire American army at one time. Had the Americans not been able to evacuate, they would have been captured, and Washington would have been hanged. America would have become just another colony in Britain’s expanding global empire. But God’s hand was with the colonial freedom fighters.

More about the providence of God in our country’s founding in the next Messenger article.