During the Battle of Brooklyn (also known as the Battle of Long Island), Fort Defiance was constructed on the hoek.
 It is shown on a map called "a Map of the Environs of Brooklyn" drawn in 1780 by loyalist engineer George S. Sproule.
 The Sproule map shows that Fort Defiance complex consisted of three redoubts on a small island connected by trenches, with an earthwork on the island's south side to defend against a landing.
 The entire earthwork was about 1,600 feet (490 m) long and covered the entire island.
 The three redoubts covered an area about 400 feet (120 m) by 800 feet (240 m).
 The two principal earthworks were about 150 feet (46 m) by 175 feet (53 m), and the tertiary one was about 75 feet (23 m) by 100 feet (30 m).
 Maps from Sproule and Bernard Ratzer show that Red Hook was a low-lying area full of tidal mill ponds created by the Dutch.

General Israel Putnam came to New York on April 4, 1776, to assess the state of its defenses and strengthen them.
 Among the works initiated were forts on Governor's Island and Red Hook, facing the bay.
 On April 10, one thousand Continentals took possession of both points and began constructing Fort Defiance which mounted one three pounder cannon and four eighteen pounders.
The cannons were to be fired over the tops of the fort's walls.
In May, George Washington described it as "small but exceedingly strong".
On July 5, General Nathanael Greene called it "a post of vast importance" and, three days later, Col.
Varnum's regiment joined its garrison.
On July 12, the British frigates Rose and Phoenix and the schooner Tyrol ran the gauntlet past Defiance and the stronger Governor's Island works without firing a shot, and got all the way to Tappan Zee, the widest part of the Hudson River.
They stayed there for over a month, beating off harassing attacks, and finally returned to Staten Island on August 18.
 It appeared that gunfire from Fort Defiance did damage to the British ships.

Samuel Shaw wrote to his parents on July 15:
General Howe has arrived with the army from Halifax, which is encamped on Staten Island.
On Friday, two ships and three tenders, taking advantage of a brisk gale and strong current, ran by our batteries, up the North River where they at present remain.
By deserters we learn that they sustained considerable damage, being hulled in many places, and very much hurt in their rigging.
So great was their hurry, that they would not stay to return our salute, though it was given with much cordiality and warmth; which they seemed very sensible of, notwithstanding their distance, which was nearly two miles.

Almost the entire New York metropolitan area was under British military occupation from the end of 1776 until November 23, 1783, when they evacuated the city.
During the Battle of Brooklyn (also known as the Battle of Long Island), Fort Defiance was constructed on the hoek.  It is shown on a map called "a Map of the Environs of Brooklyn" drawn in 1780 by loyalist engineer George S. Sproule.  The Sproule map shows that Fort Defiance complex consisted of three redoubts on a small island connected by trenches, with an earthwork on the island's south side to defend against a landing.  The entire earthwork was about 1,600 feet (490 m) long and covered the entire island.  The three redoubts covered an area about 400 feet (120 m) by 800 feet (240 m).  The two principal earthworks were about 150 feet (46 m) by 175 feet (53 m), and the tertiary one was about 75 feet (23 m) by 100 feet (30 m).  Maps from Sproule and Bernard Ratzer show that Red Hook was a low-lying area full of tidal mill ponds created by the Dutch.
General Israel Putnam came to New York on April 4, 1776, to assess the state of its defenses and strengthen them.  Among the works initiated were forts on Governor's Island and Red Hook, facing the bay.  On April 10, one thousand Continentals took possession of both points and began constructing Fort Defiance which mounted one three pounder cannon and four eighteen pounders. The cannons were to be fired over the tops of the fort's walls. In May, George Washington described it as "small but exceedingly strong". On July 5, General Nathanael Greene called it "a post of vast importance" and, three days later, Col. Varnum's regiment joined its garrison. On July 12, the British frigates Rose and Phoenix and the schooner Tyrol ran the gauntlet past Defiance and the stronger Governor's Island works without firing a shot, and got all the way to Tappan Zee, the widest part of the Hudson River. They stayed there for over a month, beating off harassing attacks, and finally returned to Staten Island on August 18.  It appeared that gunfire from Fort Defiance did damage to the British ships.
Samuel Shaw wrote to his parents on July 15:
General Howe has arrived with the army from Halifax, which is encamped on Staten Island. On Friday, two ships and three tenders, taking advantage of a brisk gale and strong current, ran by our batteries, up the North River where they at present remain. By deserters we learn that they sustained considerable damage, being hulled in many places, and very much hurt in their rigging. So great was their hurry, that they would not stay to return our salute, though it was given with much cordiality and warmth; which they seemed very sensible of, notwithstanding their distance, which was nearly two miles.
Almost the entire New York metropolitan area was under British military occupation from the end of 1776 until November 23, 1783, when they evacuated the city.
Red Hook, Brooklyn