252 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

tons marked “42” (42d Highlanders) were found on its site. In 1812, this fortification was restored and called “Fort Lawrence.”

6. On the land of Johannes Debevoise and Rutgert Van Brunt, half way between the Jamaica road and Brower’s mill-pond, probably between Atlantic and Pacific, Nevins and Bond streets, a redoubt was erected, mounting five guns, and called Fort Greene.

7. About at the junction of Clinton and Atlantic streets, on a very steep conical hill, called Ponkiesbergh, and otherwise known as “Cobble Hill,” was a fort of three guns. Its trenches ascended spirally to the top, where a platform was laid for the cannon; from which circumstance it derived the nickname of “Corkscrew Fort.” It commanded Fort Stirling, on the Heights, and on that account was made lower by the British during their subsequent occupation, for fear that it might fall into the hands of the Continentals, in which case Fort Stirling would have been untenable.1

1 The precise location of this fort cannot now be ascertained. Lowing (Field Book of Rev., ii. 806) and Dawson (Battles of America, i. 144) describe it as being “at the head of the tunnel of the Long Island R. Road, in the vicinity of Boerum. and Atlantic streets,” which is manifestly incorrect. Gen. J. 0. Swift, under whose superintendence the lines weft reconstructed, and Cobble Hill Fort rebuilt during the war of 1812, in a letter to the author, designates the spot as marked (1860) by a little willow-tree on the south side of Atlantic street, near Clinton. The Savings Bank, on the corner of these streets, is also pointed out as the site; and Furman, MS. Notes (Oct., 1835), says that “about 40 years ago, it was currently reported about Kings County, that the spot of ground about 100 feet northeasterly from the corner of Atlantic and Court streets, then in the old Red Hook lane, and near the foot of a fortification then known as Cobble Hill Fort, and afterwards, in the war of 1812, as Fort Swift, was haunted by the spirit of a murdered man.” As nearly as we can describe it, Cobble Hill rose from old Red Hook Lane, now swallowed up by Court street, on the block now bounded by that street, Atlantic, Pacific, and Clinton streets, and was nearer to the Court street end of the block. As before stated, this fort was strengthened in 1814, and called Fort Swift. Fort Putnam was also strengthened and called Fort Greene.

In describing the sites of these fortifications we differ, as will be seen, from Mr. Lossing; but we do so with the respect which is due him as having been the first to attempt their precise location. In addition to a better opportunity for extended examination, and with that more intimate acquaintance with the topographical peculiarities of the region, which a local historian may be presumed to have, we have also enjoyed the advice and assistance of Mr. Silas Ludlam, the well-known City Surveyor, whose father, Stephen Ludlam, surveyed the old lines when they were comparatively plain, the fieldnotes of which survey am still in his son's possession. From Mr. Ludlam's extensive collection of farm maps, etc., as well as from his long acquaintance with, and recollection of, Brooklyn as it was before brick and mortar had. completely changed Its features, we have gleaned many facts of great use to us, both in this and other portions of our work.

All Long bland and Brooklyn historians, previous to Mr. Loosing, have been contented with rehearsing the statements of Gen. Jeremiah Johnson, who has preserved