Greenwood Heights in Brooklyn in Kings County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Altar to Liberty

1776 – 1919

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008

1. Altar to Liberty Marker

Inscription.

Altar to Liberty. 1776 – 1919. On this Battle Hill, facing the Statue of Liberty, this altar is erected to commemorate the Battle of Long Island. The first engagement of which was fought on this site, August 27, 1776, between General Lord Stirling with 2,000 Americans and General Grant with 6,000 British. This was the first battle of the nation and the first stroke for our great American charter of rights and liberties, the Declaration of Independence. Erected 1919., Left of Altar: Stirling’s Vow “Here and along the slopes of Greenwoods Hills, our patriots for the first time faced their foe in open field, and well we stood this test. ‘Men!’ cried Lord Stirling, as we formed our line, ‘this Grant who comes against us once declared in England’s House of Commons – I sat there and heard – that given him five thousand men he’d cross our continent from end to end! He has his number now! I doubt not; We a fourth as many, yet I promise you he’ll march no farther through our continent than Brower’s Mill ponds yonder.’ ”, Rear of Altar: “The place whereon thou standest is holy ground” Glory to the memory of out first national heroes who fought and fell on this battle ground to win our liberty and independence!, Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, glory and patriotism, here salutes the goddess of liberty and enwreaths this altar in tribute to the heroes of American liberty and to the wisdom of American institutions., Right of Altar: Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776 The wisest document ever written, of human rights and liberties, basic ethics, civic religion and democratic government. All these are expressed in this one essential paragraph “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Equality – Liberty – Human Rights. . This historical marker was erected in 1919. It is in Greenwood Heights in Brooklyn in Kings County New York

On this Battle Hill, facing the Statue of Liberty, this altar is erected to commemorate the Battle of Long Island. The first engagement of which was fought on this site, August 27, 1776, between General Lord Stirling with 2,000 Americans and General Grant with 6,000 British. This was the first battle of the nation and the first stroke for our great American charter of rights and liberties, the Declaration of Independence. Erected 1919.

Left of Altar:
Stirling’s Vow
“Here and along the slopes of Greenwoods Hills, our patriots for the first time faced their foe in open field, and well we stood this test. ‘Men!’ cried Lord Stirling, as we formed our line, ‘this Grant who comes against us once declared in England’s House of Commons – I sat there and heard – that given him five thousand men he’d cross our continent from end to end! He has his number now! I doubt not; We a fourth as many, yet I promise you he’ll march no farther through our continent than Brower’s Mill ponds yonder.’ ”

Rear of Altar:
“The place whereon thou standest is holy ground”
Glory to the memory

Left Side of Altar image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008

2. Left Side of Altar

Click or scan to see
this page online

of out first national heroes who fought and fell
on this battle ground to win our liberty and independence!

Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, glory and patriotism, here salutes the goddess of liberty and enwreaths this altar in tribute to the heroes of American liberty and to the wisdom of American institutions.

Right of Altar:
Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776
The wisest document ever written, of human rights and liberties, basic ethics, civic religion and democratic government. All these are expressed in this one essential paragraph “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
Equality – Liberty – Human Rights

Erected 1919.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Notable Places • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1849.

Location. 40° 39.435′ N, 73°

Back of Altar image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008

3. Back of Altar

59.362′ W. Marker is in Brooklyn, New York, in Kings County. It is in Greenwood Heights. Marker can be reached from Battle Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Marker is in Green-Wood Cemetery on Battle Path off Battle Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Brooklyn NY 11232, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Battle Hill (a few steps from this marker); Huntington’s Regiment (a few steps from this marker); Triumph on Battle Hill (a few steps from this marker); Civil War Soldiers’ Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); The Battle of Brooklyn (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Battle of Brooklyn (within shouting distance of this marker); McDonald (within shouting distance of this marker); Van Ness-Parsons Family Tomb (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brooklyn.

Also see . . .
1. Americans Fought From Treetops in Last Stand On Battle Hill. New York Freedom Trail website. (Submitted on November 2, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

2. Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776. (Submitted on November 2, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
3. The Battle of Long Island 1776. A British perspective of the battle from BritishBattles.com. (Submitted on November 2, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Right Side of Altar image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008

4. Right Side of Altar

Closeup of Minerva image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008

5. Closeup of Minerva

Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, glory and patriotism, holds up her hand in a salute to the Statue of Liberty which is visible from the Altar of Liberty.

Altar to Liberty (and markers) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008

6. Altar to Liberty (and markers)

This monument, erected in 1919 on the highest point in Brooklyn, was for many years the only monument to the Battle of Long Island. The first extended fighting of the August 27, 1776 battle occurred on this hill.

Minerva and the Statue of Liberty image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, October 20, 2013

7. Minerva and the Statue of Liberty

The statue of Minerva looks directly at the Statue of Liberty, visible in the harbor.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,869 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 2, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 7. submitted on October 21, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.