This plaque in John Paul Jones Park (named for the Revolutionary War Navy hero) marks the spot where the 'first resistance to British arms was made in New York State August, 1776.' The resistance was a failure. The British attacked and occupied New York for seven long years.

Driven out of Boston, the British were determined to keep New York. General Howe arrived from Halifax with 130 ships on June 25, 1776. General Howe's brother, Admiral Howe, arrived on July 12 with 150 ships. When the British armada arrived off Sandy Hook, the Americans were only half-ready.

A single battery of 9-pound cannons fired on the British ships as they passed the Narrows. A British sailor was killed and nine were wounded. It was the only time that defensive guns at the Narrows were fired in battle. (Later defenses were improved so that no enemy ship tried to approach the gateway to the New York harbor.)

The British first landed on the Staten Island side in the vicinity of what is now Fort Wadsworth. Ashore, they planned their attack on New York. On Aug. 22, 1776 the British prepared to move across the Narrows. Six ships fired cannons as flatboats, longboats and bateaux carried 15,000 British soldiers to the Brooklyn shore near what is now the site of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. The 200 Pennsylvania riflemen withdrew. This stone commemorates that event.