402 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

hands from the Wire Factory at Greenwich, and forty hands from the Eagle Foundry.

Saturday, August 13th. The intrenchments were manned by a party of citizens raised by Mr. A. Stagg, a number of volunteers from Division street and vicinity, and the journeymen Cabinet-Makers of New York.

The appearance of these latter gave rise to the following impromptu lines:

“Their hearts with the love of their country inlaid,
They fling by the chisel to handle the spade;
Leave mahogany shavings the rough earth to shave,
And prepare for invaders a coffin and grave.”

Monday, August 15tb. The infantry companies, under command of Captains Skillman, Schenck, and Dean, together with the artillery company of Captain Brouwer,(1) broke ground on the old Revolutionary works at Cobble-Hill, on which occasion a salute was fired, and the fort named “Fort Swift,”(2) in honor of Brigadier General Joseph G. Swift.

Tuesday, August 16th. The workmen this day were military companies, under command of Captains Stryker, Cowenhoven, and Herbert, the Exempts of Bedford and the Wallabout, and the Fire Company No. 2, of Brooklyn.

Wednesday, August 17th. The people of the Town of Bushwick, under the lead of their pastor, Rev. Mr. Bassett, repaired to Fort Swift, to labor on that fortification. “Their operations were commenced by a prayer from that venerable patriot, and an exhortation to zeal and unanimity in their country’s cause, in defence of which, they were then to be employed on the works, which he had in person, nearly forty years ago, assisted in erecting. He continued encouraging them, and distributing refreshments through the day; and at evening, returned home with his flock, satisfied with having set an example, impressive, admirable, and commanding the

1 The Artillery corps, under Captain Laurence Brouwer, belonged to Brooklyn, but did duty in New York, at Castle Garden, where they were attached to the Thirteenth Regiment of Artillery, Lieutenant-Colonel Boerum.

2 See page 252, note. We learn from the next paper, that this was originally called Fort Pitt.