The following is an installment of “On This Day,” a series celebrating America’s 250th anniversary by following the actions of Gen. George Washington, the Continental Congress, and the men and women whose bravery and sacrifice led up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The night before, on June 14, multiple boats brazenly passed Governor’s Island despite sentinels firing dozens of muskets directly at them as they taunted those keeping guard.
How defiant were they? They kept going despite the warning shots. And once out of firing range, they shouted “huzzah!”
Gen. William Heath writes in his guard report for this date of the incident:
“Colo. Prescott, (By his Adjutant) reports this morning that a Number of Boats Passed Governors Island the last night, and altho frequently Fired at by the Sentinels (who Discharged at different Times more than Thirty muskets) stood on, their Crews answering Fire and be Damn’d and when out of Shot Huzzaing.”
