Before George Washington became a legend, he took more than a few hard knocks. Perhaps the biggest body slam came from British general, William Howe, who all but crushed the fledgling Continental Army at the Battle of Brooklyn. Indeed, had not a fog set in at night to cover Washington's escape, that might have been the end of him - and any United States.
From this spot, Washington reportedly watched the rout ensue. 'Good God, what brave fellows I must lose,' he declared before sending 400 Marylanders against a tide of British soldiers to hold open the escape route.
The spanking might also explain how much our Founding Fathers drank at George Washington's farewell party after victory and why Washington enjoyed this cocktail so much.
Now one of the most densely developed areas of the country, the ground is now covered by several Brooklyn neighborhoods, from Park Slope to Brooklyn Heights, where Washington made his escape.
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