404 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

calling on his sons to follow his example, descended into the ditch, where he continued to labor with great zeal during the day. Two of his sons continued at labor until night,—the other two, having thoroughly fatigued themselves, gave up their labor at an earlier hour. The old gentleman dryly observed that the latter, for their want of courage, should be court-martialled, while the former, who had bravely persevered to the end, should be promoted.Ó

Thursday, August 18th. The people of Flatbush were employed on the works.

Friday, August 19th. The people of Flatlands took their turn upon the fortifications. Also about five hundred carpenters from New York repaired to Fort Greene, with their tools, and there laid seven gun-platforms, “in different angles of that extensive work, on one of which a salute was fired in the afternoon, it being only the tenth working day since the repair of the fort was commenced.”

Saturday, August 20th. The people of Gravesend contributed their quota of labor; A party of about seventy volunteers from Paterson, New Jersey, commanded by Colonel Abraham Godwin (a Revolutionary officer, who had been on the same grounds in 1776), arrived at the Brooklyn Ferry, about six or seven o’clock A.M. en route for Fort Greene.

This day, also, some 1,200 patriotic Irishmen volunteered their labors on Fort Greene, and were “distinguished by uncommon and well-directed industry.”1 On the evening of the same day, several uniformed companies of militia from the interior of the State, arrived at Brooklyn to go into camp. As they landed, they met and were enthusiastically received by the Irishmen, who had returned from their day’s labor, and, with banners, flags, and two bands of music, were awaiting the arrival of the ferry boat, in a line which extended from the wharf to the end of Ferry street. “On coming ashore, the patriotic cavalcade opened their lines, faced them inwards, and saluted the troops with flourishes of their music and colors, and a continued roar of applause from two thousand cheering voices, till

1 The Peculiar nature of their labor appears from the following advertisement in the papers of the day: “THE PATRIOTIC SONS OF ERIN are requested by the Committee of Defence, to lend their assistance, particularly in SODDING; and the Ward Commanders we desired to make known this invitation an far as the time will permit. By order,” etc