HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 261

and Flatbush turnpike with the Coney Island Plankroad, and now within the limits of Prospect Park. The defences of this pass were, first, a sort of crescent-shaped intrenchment, just within the village of Flatbush, and lying diagonally across the main street, a little south of Judge Martense’s house, with a ditch of considerable depth on its northerly side;1 and, secondly, a small redoubt, mounting a few small pieces of artillery, at the “Valley Grove,” to guard the passage through the “Port. Road,”2 and by the direct route to Brooklyn. Near this redoubt stood an immense white-oak tree, mentioned in Governor Dongan’s Patent as one of the boundary marks between Brooklyn and Flatbush.3 This, in obedience to the stern exigencies of war, was felled across the road, where, in consequence of the then dense woods on the south and the swamp on the north, it formed a very considerable obstacle to an enemy’s advance.

3. The Bedford Pass, at the intersection of the old “Clove Road” with the Flatbush and Brooklyn boundary-line, half a mile south of the hamlet of Bedford.

4. And three miles east of Bedford, on the old Jamaica turnpike, and just at the present entrance to the “Cemetery of the Evergreens,” was a road through the hills, known as the Jamaica Pass.

The natural line of defence afforded by this range of heavily wooded hills could not, of course, with the small force at the disposal of the American generals, be properly occupied by any continuous line of troops. All that could be done, under the circumstances, was to post strong picket-guards (for they could scarcely be called more than that) at its most defensible points; nor was it expected by Washington that the attenuated line of troops (scarcely twenty-five hundred in all) which held the ridge for a distance of over five miles, would do more than a picket-guard's duty, in discovering the approach of the British and harassing them on their march. The extreme right of the American line, which was com-

1 Strong’s Hist. Flatbush.

2 The “Port Road” was a lane diverging from the Flatbush turnpike, near the pres. ent city line, and extending to the East River, across Freecke’s mill-dam. It followed the general line of the present First street, and remains of it are still to be seen near Fifth avenue. (Ante, 159, note.)

3 This tree was in the present Prospect Park, nearly in the centre of the Flatbush road, and about opposite the west end of the old toll-gate house. It is hoped that its position will be carefully indicated, in some permanent manner, by the Park Commissioners.