ABSTRACT
Twentieth-century insurgency warfare and the involvement of the United States in Vietnam have made historians more aware of the political dimension of the War for American Independence. This chapter explores the relationship that developed between the British army and Queens County civilians. It examines the aftermath of the Battle of Long Island; the army's abuse of private property and its demands on residents for supplies; the insolent and abusive behavior of British officers; the imposition of martial law and the governance of Queens between 1776 and 1780. The chapter also examines the debate among British officials after 1777 about martial law; the arbitrary rule by the Court of Police on Long Island commencing in 1780; and, finally, the consequences of Britain's occupation of Queens County. While the British debated, Queens County suffered. At the beginning of James Robertson's tenure as governor, residents honestly, if perhaps naively, believed that he would fulfill his initial pledge and restore civil authority.
