Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 12.djvu/497

LONG ISLAND. 439 LONG ISLAND SOUND. With the e.oei)tion of the sandy plains above mentioned the soil is for the most part fertile, in some sections particularly rieli. ilucli of it is in a high state of cultivation. The climate, on account of the influence of the sea, is milder and more equable than at the same latitude in the interior, the mercury seldom falling below zero or rising above 90°. the average temperature being about 51°. Summer bathing and fishing resorts stud the shores, and there are numerous elegant residences and estates, more especially on the bolil, hilly, and picturesque northern coast overlooking Long Island Sound. On the south shore the principal places are JIanhattan Beach (Coney Island), Rockaway Beach, Far Kock- away, Long Beach, Fire Island, and Montauk Point: on the north shore, College Point, Sea- clil)', Ulen Cove, Oyster Bay, Coldspring liarlior, Nortliport, Port .Jeft'erson, and (Jrccnport. Finely macadamized roads, the favorite' touring grounds of automobilists and cyclists, traverse the island in all directions: the principal railroad is the Long Island, which extends from Long Island City at the western e.tremit.y to Grcenport and Jlontauk at the two eastern extremities. At the time of its discovery by Hudson in 1609, Long Island was occupied by thirteen tribes of the Lenni-Lenape division of Algonquin Indians, who are now represented by a few individuals of mixed blood dwelling near Shinnecock Xeck, Forge, and Montauk Point, where at the period of the first European settlement Wyandance, the chief of the thirteen tribes, resided. Antiquarian discoveries have demonstrated the existence of a preliistoric race of ditl'erent origin. The various Indian names of the island were Sewanhacky, Panmancke, Matouwacks, and Wamponomon. The Dutch named it Lange Eylandt — whence Long Island : a subsequent change by the Colo- nial Legislature to the Island of Nassau never became popular. Included in the land between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, embraced by latitudes 40° to 48° Xorth, granted by James I. to the Plymouth Company in 1620, it became the property of the Earl of Stirling, and at his death in 1640 of the Duke of York. The earliest settle- ments b^' the Dutch vere begun in 1632; the first recorded purchase of land in Soutli Brook- lyn is in 1636. The Dutch exercised jurisdiction in the western part of the island down to 1664, in which year they were dispossessed of New Xethcrland. Many of the agricultural holdings toward the east remain unchanged in the pos- session of descendants of the original settlers: Oardiner's Island has belonged to the family of tliat name since 1640. The military operations during the Revolutionary period and the battle of Long Island (n.v. ) are the cliief incidents of the subsequent history of the island. Consult : Thompson. The History of Long Isl- ond (New York, 1843) ; Prime, Historii of Long Island (New York, 1845) : Furman, Antiquities of Lonq Island, with Bihlioriraphxi (New York, 1875) ;' Flint, Early Long Island (New York, IsnO) : and the Annual Reports of the Long Island Historical Hocietg (Brooklyn). LONG ISLAND, Battle op. A l)attle fought on Brooklyn Heights. Long Island. N. Y.. .iigust 27. 1776. during the Revolutionary War, between a British force of more than 15.000 under Oeneral Howe and an American force of aliout SOOO under the immediate command of General Israel Put- nam. The British, landing at a point of Long Island a short distance below the •Narrows.' marched by three routes against the American position, which had been strongly fortified in anticipation of an attack, Brooklyn Heights being necessary to the British if they were to succeed in their plans for the capture of New York. The most important road, the Jamaica Road, leading to the American position, seems to liave been left al- most wholly unguarded, and it was by this that the British advanced in greatest" force. Parts of the American army under (;en. William Alexander (Lord Stirling) and General Sulli- van, stationed in advance of the principal Ameri- can fortification, were defeated after some stub- born fighting, both Alexander and Sullivan being Ciiptured; and llowe then proceeded to invest the works. In the evening of the 27th Washington crossed over to Long Island, and on the follow- ing day brought over reinforcements. General Howe showing no disposition to storm, however, Washington decided to abandon the works and transfer his forces to Manhattan Island, and during the night of August 29-30 this was suc- cessfully eft'ected, the British not suspecting the movement until the Americans had crossed in safety. The British loss in killed, wounded, and missing in the battle of Long Island was about 400, while the American loss was about 1000. Consult: Field, Battle of Long Island (Brooklyn, 1869) ; Carrington, Battles of the American licro- lution (New York. 1876): Dawson. Battles of the United States (New York, 1858) ; Johnston, Campaign of 17TG Around .Ycip York and Brook- lyn (Brookl}'!!, 1878); and the critical article by Adams, "'The Battle of Long Island." in American Historical Review (New York, 1896). LONG ISLAND CITY. Formerly a city in Queens County, N, Y. (in the district bordering East River and north of Newtown Creek), now included in the Borough of Queens. New York City (Map: Greater New York, E 6). Long Island City was formed in 1870 by uniting the villages of Blissville. Hunter's Point, .storia, Ravenswood, Dutch Kills, Steinway, and Mitldle- town under one municipal charter. The first set- tlement within its limits was made by the Dutch as earlv as 1640. Consult Kelsev. History of Long Island City (Long Island City. 1806). " LONG ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. An association in Brooklyn. N. Y., organized in 1863 for the purpose of furthering a knowledge of American history, primarily as connected with the history of Long Island. On June 11. 1804, a committee on the natural history of Long Island was appointed, and from its work has grown a fine museum of the flora, fauna, min- erals, antiquities, and historical relics of the i-sland. The society has published a number of valuable works, among them two volumes on the Battle of Long Island, and one containing the hitherto unpublished letters of CJeorge Washing- ton on agricultural and personal topics. Its library comprises 45,000 volumes and as many pamphlets. LONG ISLAND SOUND. A narrow arm of the .tlantic Ocean, separating Long Island from the mainland of New York and Connecticut (Jlap: New York, G 4). It is 110 miles long, and from 20 to 25 miles wide, narrowing at the west into the strait knowni as East River, sepa- rating Manhattan from Brooklyn and Queens boroughs. New York City, and opening into New