The neighborhood of Park Slope derives its name from its proximity to Prospect Park and the gradual topographical incline from the Gowanus Canal to the park. First inhabited by the Canarsee Indians, the neighborhood now known as Park Slope was colonized by Dutch farmers in the 1660s. During the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), the area became the site of a brief, explosive moment, in what is known as the Battle of Brooklyn, or the Battle of Long Island. On August 27, 1776, an outnumbered American regiment faced approximately 4,000 British soldiers at Battle Pass, a point now contained within Prospect Park.