The Battle of Fort Slongo (also spelled Salonga) was fought on October 3, 1781 between American Continental Army forces, under the command of Benjamin Tallmadge and Lemuel Trescott, and the British defenders of Fort Salonga, in the American Revolutionary War. The fort was located near the border of present-day Huntington Township and Smithtown, New York, overlooking Long Island Sound. In the fall of 1781, the Continental Army was eager to strike a blow against British-occupied Long Island. Major Benjamin Tallmadge chose 50 men from Cpt. Richards’ company and 50 dismounted dragoons commanded by Cpt. Edgar to make an attack on the lightly garrisoned Fort Slongo. Major Trescott volunteered to lead the attack. The fort’s commander, Major Vanalstine, had gone to New York City and was not present at the battle. Each force had a different mission. Edgar’s men would assault the garrison, while Richards’ men would surround it and make sure no one escaped. A picked group of ten dragoons led the attack, followed by Major Trescott and Cpt. Edgar and the remaining dragoons. The assault began at 3am and was over quickly. The Patriots captured 21 men and one brass cannon, while only sustaining one casualty. On the evening of October 1, an American reconnaissance force commanded by Sgt. Elijah Churchill was sent ahead to plan the attack on the fort. Many of the British officers in command of the fort were at a party the night before the battle. They beached the boats at Crab Meadow, west of the fort, and made their way to the nearby Nathaniel Skidmore farm. From there Nathaniel Skidmore led the group to the fort to scout out their plan of attack. On the night of October 2, 100 men under the command of Benjamin Tallmadge and led by Major Lemuel Trescott departed Norwalk, Connecticut in whaleboats across the Long Island Sound. At 3:00 am on October 3, Lieutenant Rogers of the 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons commenced the attack on the fort with his men, with Major Trescott and Captain Edgar's forces in tow. The British sentry on duty fired his gun to alert the defenders of the American attack and retreated inside the fort, forgetting to shut the gate behind him. The Americans burned the buildings and stored materials of the fort, rendering it unusable for the remainder of the war.