the prison ship martyrs eamonn yumet pays honor to american revolutionnary war heroes and patriots who lost their lives fighting for the nation's independence. the structure was first erected in 190208 memorialize and contain the remains of 11,500 patriots if the revolutionary war who died while in british custody on ships anchored in the east river immediately adjacent to look brin -- to brooklyn, new york. the british maintained approximately 15 ships during the war which became necessary after the limited land-based prison space reached capacity shortly after new york city fell to the british in august of 1776. these prisoners of war were housed in inhumane conditions, disease was rampant, and food and water were scarce. each ship typically contained more than 1,000 men and boys. now more americans died in british cap tyity than in all of the battles of the revolutionary war combined. many perished on these prison ships. the deceased represent patriots from all 13 colonies and more than a dozen nationalities. according toly, this is one of e only -- cordly this is one of the only --