Fort Slongo

Mar 11

Here’s a detailed history of the Battle of Fort Slongo (also Fort Salonga), fought during the American Revolutionary War:

Fort Slongo was an earthen redoubt built by the British around 1778–1779 near the border of present-day Huntington and Smithtown, Long Island. Its purpose was to help oversee and guard Long Island Sound, supporting nearby Fort Franklin in Lloyd Harbor. The fort was named after George Slongo, a contractor from Philadelphia who supervised its construction. [en.wikipedia.org ], [finditlongisland.com ]

On the night of October 1, a reconnaissance mission led by Sgt. Elijah Churchill scouted the fort. Some British officers were away at a party, leaving the fort less defended. The scouting party landed at Crab Meadow and proceeded via Nathaniel Skidmore’s farm. [en.wikipedia.org ], [history-maps.com ], [aubreyresearch.com ]
The fort's commanding officer, Major Valanstine, was absent in New York City, further reducing its defensive readiness. [en.wikipedia.org ], [aubreyresearch.com ]

On October 2, 100 Continental troops departed from Norwalk, Connecticut, in whaleboats under the leadership of Major Benjamin Tallmadge and Major Lemuel Trescott. [en.wikipedia.org ], [history-maps.com ], [aubreyresearch.com ]
The force divided into two groups:
- 50 men from Captain Richards’s Connecticut Line
- 50 dismounted dragoons under Captain Edgar, led in the attack by Major Trescott. [en.wikipedia.org ], [history-maps.com ], [aubreyresearch.com ]

The operation commenced at approximately 3:00 a.m. on October 3. A lieutenant signaled the start, and a sentry fired a warning shot before retreating—accidentally leaving the fort’s gate open. [history-maps.com ], [aubreyresearch.com ]
Edgar’s dragoons launched the initial surprise attack, while Richards’s infantry surrounded the fort to prevent any British escape. [en.wikipedia.org ], [history-maps.com ], [aubreyresearch.com ]

American Victory:
- British casualties included 4 killed, 2 wounded, and 21 captured, alongside two small cannons (two four-pounders destroyed and two one‑pounders captured). [history-maps.com ], [aubreyresearch.com ], [revwartalk.com ]
- The Americans also seized military stores, destroyed the fort’s structures, ensuring it could no longer be used. [history-maps.com ], [finditlongisland.com ]
American losses were minimal: only Sgt. Elijah Churchill was wounded. [history-maps.com ], [aubreyresearch.com ]
For his bravery, George Washington personally awarded Sgt. Churchill the Badge of Military Merit, the first ever issued and a precursor to the Purple Heart. [history-maps.com ], [michaelkleen.com ], [en.wikipedia.org ], [finditlongisland.com ]

The fort’s ruins are now on private residential land, just northeast of a historical marker placed along NY‑25A near Fort Salonga Road and Bread & Cheese Hollow Road. The marker reads:
“Battle of Fort Slongo took place near this site on Oct. 3, 1781. American forces defeated British forces holding Fort Slongo.” [hmdb.org ], [bing.com ], [historygps.com ], [finditlongisland.com ]
In 1982, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places under the name "Fort Salonga." [en.wikipedia.org ], [finditlongisland.com ]

The raid on Fort Slongo was part of a broader strategy to attack British positions on Long Island, disrupting supply and communication lines along Long Island Sound. Despite its relatively small size, the successful raid helped boost American morale and demonstrated Continental forces’ capability for swift and effective amphibious operations. [finditlongisland.com ], [aubreyresearch.com ]