In the American Revolutionary War, which 1776 battle was the conflict’s largest by troop deployment and combat?

The Battle of Long Island was the largest battle of the American Revolutionary War by troop deployment and combat. It was fought on August 27, 1776, near present-day Brooklyn, New York.

The battle was the first major engagement after the United States declared independence on July 4, 1776. British commander William Howe led a large force against George Washington’s Continental Army, which was defending New York City and Long Island.

The British won by outflanking American positions on the Guan Heights. Washington’s army withdrew to Brooklyn Heights and then escaped across the East River during the night of August 29–30. The retreat preserved the Continental Army even though the battle itself was a serious American defeat.

The battle is also called the Battle of Brooklyn or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights. It is sometimes confused with the later battles of Saratoga and Yorktown, which were important American victories but involved fewer troops and occurred in different years.