The Maryland 400 at the Battle of Long Island (1776)
On August 27, 1776, soldiers of the 1st Maryland Regiment made a series of desperate, courageous charges against overwhelming British forces during the Battle of Long Island. Their sacrifice bought crucial time for General George Washington and the bulk of the Continental Army to escape encirclement, cementing their legacy as the 'Maryland 400' and earning Maryland the nickname 'The Old Line State.'
Formation of the Regiment
The 1st Maryland Regiment traces its origins to January 14, 1776, when the Maryland Convention authorized the formation of a Maryland Battalion of State Troops as revolutionary fervor swept the American colonies. Organized that spring in the port cities of Baltimore and Annapolis, the unit was placed under the command of Colonel William Smallwood, an experienced officer and prominent Maryland planter. The regiment was structured with eight standard companies plus one specialized light infantry company, drawing recruits primarily from the northern and western counties of Maryland. These men came largely from among the colony's more affluent families, giving the regiment a reputation for being well-equipped and disciplined compared to many other early Continental units. Training continued through the spring and summer months as tensions with Britain escalated toward open warfare. By the time the regiment marched north to join Washington's forces defending New York, they had developed into one of the more cohesive fighting units in the fledgling Continental Army. Their commander, Smallwood, instilled a sense of discipline and esprit de corps that would prove essential in the trials to come. Little did these citizen-soldiers know that within months of their formation, they would face one of the most consequential moments of the entire Revolutionary War, one that would test their mettle against the finest army in the world.
Did You Know?
Many of the fallen Maryland soldiers were buried in a mass grave near the Vechte-Cortelyou House, and the exact location remained lost for over two centuries. In 2021, archaeologists using ground-penetrating radar identified a probable burial site in what is now a Brooklyn residential neighborhood, sparking renewed efforts to properly honor these forgotten heroes of the Revolution.
The Battle of Long Island
By late August 1776, General Washington's Continental Army found itself in a precarious position defending Long Island against a massive British invasion force under General William Howe. On August 27, the British executed a brilliant flanking maneuver through the Jamaica Pass, catching American forces by surprise and threatening to trap thousands of Continental soldiers against Gowanus Creek and the marshes beyond. As the battle turned into a rout, American units began falling back in disarray, creating a critical vulnerability that could have resulted in the capture or destruction of Washington's entire army. It was at this desperate moment that roughly 400 men from the 1st Maryland Regiment, under the command of Major Mordecai Gist, positioned themselves near the Vechte-Cortelyou House to cover the retreat. Facing British and Hessian forces that vastly outnumbered them, these Maryland soldiers launched not one but six separate assaults against the enemy lines. Each charge into withering musket and cannon fire cost them dearly, yet they reformed and attacked again, buying precious minutes for their fellow soldiers to escape across the creek. Washington reportedly watched from a nearby hill, exclaiming in anguish at the sight of his brave Marylanders being cut down. When the fighting finally ended, only a small fraction of the original 400 remained able to continue fighting, with most killed, wounded, or captured.
Legacy and Lasting Impact
The sacrifice of the Maryland 400 proved decisive in preserving the Continental Army during its darkest hour. While exact casualty figures remain debated by historians, estimates suggest that upwards of 256 of the roughly 400 Maryland soldiers who made the charges were killed, wounded, or captured that day. Their delaying action allowed Washington to successfully evacuate the majority of his forces across the East River to Manhattan in the following days, preserving the army that would continue fighting for American independence for seven more years. General Washington himself is said to have remarked on witnessing their valor, and the survivors' reputation for discipline under fire earned Maryland troops lasting distinction throughout the war. This engagement contributed to Maryland's enduring nickname as 'The Old Line State,' a tribute to the steadfastness of its soldiers in the line of battle. Today, the site of their stand is preserved as part of Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, where a monument honors their sacrifice. The Maryland State House flies a flag commemorating the regiment, and modern Maryland National Guard units trace their lineage directly to this Revolutionary War formation. The story of the Maryland 400 remains one of the most poignant examples of tactical sacrifice in American military history, illustrating how a relatively small group of determined soldiers can alter the course of a much larger conflict through sheer courage and discipline.