HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 247

Lee. The fortifications in progress of erection on Long Island were under the supervision of Col. Ward, in command of 519 men, and the inhabitants of Kings County were ordered by Congress to assist him, by Òturning out for service at least one-half their male population (negroes included) every day, with spades, hoes, and pickaxes;" and by furnishing brush for fascines, wood for pickets, and other necessary timber. Col. Ward was also ordered to detail two parties of thirty men each, with three days' provisions, for the especial purpose of interrupting the communication of persons on shore with the British ship of war Phoenix, by scuttling all boats on the beach below the Narrows, and by seizing pilots—specially one Frank Jones—who decoyed vessels into the hands of the enemy. Six of the Kings County horsemen were detailed as a corps of observation, on some high point at the west end of Long Island, to give information of the entrance of the enemy into Sandy Hook, or their appearance on the coast.1 Capt. Waldron's troop of light-horse, belonging to Brooklyn,2 were employed as videttes along the southern coast of the county until April 10th, when they were relieved by Col. Hand's regiment of riflemen, who were stationed at New Utrecht. Upon Brooklyn Heights a battery of eight guns had been erected (as early as March 24), on land then belonging to Jacob Hicks and others. This work, open in the rear, was nearly opposite Fly Market, at Coenties slip, and was named Fort Stirling.3 It was proposed to erect a citadel in its rear covering about five acres, and to be called The Congress, which, however, was not done.

On the night of the 10th, a body of one thousand Continental

1 Onderdonk, Kings Co., see. 777, 778, 779.

2 Capt. Waldron's company consisted of the following individuals:

Adolph Waldron, Captain; William Boerum, 1st Lieut.; Thom Everitt, 2d Lieut.; Jacob Sebring, jr., Cornet; Issac Sebring, Q.M. Samuel Etherington, John Reade, Rob. Galbraithe, Rem A. Remsen, David Titus, Jos. Smith, Jacob Kemper, John Guest, Nich. Van Dam, Goo. Powers, William Everitt, John Hicks, Wm. Chardavoyne, Thos. Hazard. This Capt. Waldron was an innkeeper at Brooklyn ferry (ante, pp. 217, 219), and resided, during the war, at Preakness, N. J.—Onderdonk, Kings Co., see. 773, 779.

3 We are inclined to believe, from the beat evidence we can obtain, that this was the same “half-moon fort” upon the edge of the Heights (on the line of present Columbia, between Orange and Clark streets) which was subsequently garrisoned by Hessian troops, during the British occupation of the town.

May 22d, this fort was garrisoned by Lt. Randell and twelve men, with four a pounders and two 18’s.—Force, Am. Archives, v. 480.