Site of the Dongan Oak

SITE OF THE DONGAN OAK

AT THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND,
ON THE HILL TO THE NORTH OF THIS
SPOT, THE AMERICANS HAD A REDOUBT
WITH TWO GUNS, TO GUARD THE OLD
VALLEY GROVE ROAD, CALLED BY THE
EARLY SETTLERS THE "PORTE", MEANING
GATE-WAY THROUGH THE HILLS, AND WHICH
RAN IN FRONT OF THIS MONUMENT. BY
THAT ROAD STOOD A WHITE-OAK, MENTIONED
IN THE PATENT OF GOVERNOR DONGAN, 
NOVEMBER 12, 1685, AS A MARKER BETWEEN
FLATBUST AND BROOKLYN. THIS TREE WAS
CUT DOWN AND THROWN ACROSS THE 
ROAD, WITH THE DENSE WOODS ON THE
SOUTH AND SWAMPS ON THE NORTH, IT
MADE AN IMPORTANT OBSTRUCTION.
AMERICANS, COMMANDED BY GENERAL
SULLIVAN, VALIANTLY DEFENDED THIS POSITION
AGAINST THE HESSIAN GENERAL DE HEISTER,
UNTIL ATTACKED FROM THE REAR BY BRITISH
TROOPS, UNDER GENERAL CLINTON, THEN
THEY RETIRED IN GOOD ORDER, BRINGING
OFF THEIR ARTILLERY. 

Submitted by @CatesbyHolmes