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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC02437.01755 |
| From Archive Folder | The Henry Knox Papers [0049] December 1782 |
| Title | Caleb Brewster describes a sea battle on Long Island Sound to Henry Knox |
| Date | 21 December 1782 |
| Author | Brewster, Caleb (1747-1827) |
| Recipient | Knox, Henry |
| Document Type | Correspondence; Military document |
| Content Description | Written by Captain Brewster to Major General Knox. Claims Knox is the "Commanding Officer of the Corps to which I have the honor of being annexed." Sends along the account of a sea battle he had with Captain Hoit in Long Island Sound. While in Stamford with Major Tallmadge, he said he heard that Hoit was in the Sound with 3 ships and he went to attack him with 6 ships. Split his boats up -- sending 3 to the "North Side" of the island and 3 to the "South Side," to prevent their escape. After a short time he saw Hoit across the Sound from Huntington and immediately chased them. He eventually caught them and relates the story of the battle in gory detail, including hand-to-hand fighting. |
| Subjects | Battle of Long Island (Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights) Revolutionary War Revolutionary War General Military History Continental Army Spying Maritime Navy Loyalist Battle Military History Whaling |
| People | Brewster, Caleb (1747-1827) Knox, Henry (1750-1806) |
| Place written | Fairfield, Connecticut |
| Theme | The American Revolution; Naval & Maritime |
| Sub-collection | The Henry Knox Papers |
| Additional Information | Brewster was a member of Tallmadge's Culper Spy ring. He was cited for gallantry for his actions during this encounter. When the Revolutionary War broke out, Brewster immediately enlisted in the local militia in Connecticut. After the Battle of Long Island he joined the Continental Army with the rank of a lieutenant of artillery. He returned to Setauket in August of 1777 as part of the attacking force from Connecticut that fought in the "Battle of Setauket." In November 1780 he was one of the officers under Major Benjamin Tallmadge who captured Fort St. George at Mastic. They returned to Connecticut with the entire complement of the fort captured. In spite of his service designation, his task throughout the war was to command a fleet of whale boats operating from the Connecticut shore against British and Tory shipping on Long Island Sound, known as the "Devil's Belt." This, together with his knowledge of the Long Island shoreline, and his boyhood association with Benjamin Tallmadge, made him an ideal choice to carry intelligence back and forth across the Sound. Brewster made numerous trips with his Whaleboat Navy; into Long Island Sound to attack British shipping; and across to Setauket to bring messages back for Major Benjamin Tallmadge to deliver to General Washington. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |
| Transcript | Show/hide Download PDF |