At the Battle of Long Island, on the hill to the north of this site, 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 Flatbush 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.
