Inniskillings at Battle of Brooklyn, New York

The portrait of George Washington that hangs in the East Wing of the White House was rescued by First Lady Dolley Madison prior to the burning of the White House by the British on 24 August 1814.

Following the outbreak of the War of American Independence in the American Colonies, the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot sailed from Cork on 26 September 1775 to join the British Army of North America. The Commander in Chief was General William Howe and his military campaign of 1776 would attempt to seize control of New York and isolate New England's colonies and provinces from the others to the south.

Arriving in Boston by the end of October, the Inniskillings then moved to Halifax after General Howe ordered the sea evacuation of a besieged Boston on 17 March 1776. Following the American Colonies' Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776, Howe's force, which included the Inniskillings, moved to assemble on Staten Island.

General George Washington had placed one-third of his force, some 20,000 trained soldiers of his American Continental Army, in fortifications on the Long Island side of the East River to protect his left flank. A Continental Army division under Major General Nathanial Greene occupied the line of fortifications on Long Island’s Brooklyn Heights, across the East River from New York City.

Howe's campaign opened on 22 August with a landing on Long Island. The Battle of Long Island, 27-29 August 1776, was also known as the Battle of Brooklyn Heights. In the action near Brooklyn, the 27th was on the right wing of the army in General Clinton’s Division. After midnight on 27 August, Howe’s left and central columns moved and were met by American units moving to engage his advance. Meanwhile, Howe's main attack swung right and attacked the American rear. This surprise manoeuvre forced the American units to withdraw hastily to the main defensive line, covered by desperately fought rearguard actions that the British overwhelmed.

Following this success, Howe paused for two days in order to prepare for the final decisive assault. A storm forced the Royal Navy downriver and General Washington abandoned Long Island during the night of 29 August, when most of his Army escaped crossed the East River to Manhattan. This was a successful British action against the American Continental Army and the first major battle of the war following the Declaration of Independence.

The 27th Regiment's actions in America, until moved to the West Indies on 3 November 1778, included:

• Battle of White Plains New York, 28 October 1776,
• Capture of Forts Lee and Washington, 16-18 November 1776
• The Danbury Raid, 25 April 1777
• Battle of Ridgefield, 27 April 1777
• Battle of Brandywine, 11 September 1777
• Battle of Germantown, 4 October 1777