Red Bank Battlefield Park | Red Bank

Red Bank Battlefield Park, located in National Park, Gloucester County, New Jersey, is one of the most historically significant Revolutionary War sites in the state. It commemorates the Battle of Red Bank, fought on October 22, 1777, and preserves the site of Fort Mercer, a key American stronghold along the Delaware River. The park spans over 40 acres and serves as both a heritage site and a public recreation area.

1. Historical Background: The Battle of Red Bank

The Battle of Red Bank was a crucial engagement during the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War. American forces, mostly Rhode Island Continentals and local militia under Colonel Christopher Greene, defended Fort Mercer from an attack by over 1,200 Hessian soldiers-German auxiliaries fighting for the British-led by Colonel Carl von Donop.

American defenders numbered fewer than 400, but the fort’s earthen walls and strategic position allowed them to repel the attack.

The Hessian forces suffered devastating losses: over 80 killed, 200+ wounded, and 60 captured.

The Americans lost only 14 men.

Colonel von Donop was mortally wounded in the assault and later died at nearby Timber Creek.

This victory helped stall British efforts to control the Delaware River, critical for supplying their troops in occupied Philadelphia.

2. Fort Mercer and Site Layout

Fort Mercer was named after Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Princeton. Though most of the original fort’s structures are no longer visible above ground, the earthwork outlines, trenches, and ditches have been preserved and stabilized.

Key elements of the preserved site include:

Trench lines and embankments: These are visible today and offer a sense of the original fort’s dimensions and defensive layout.

Historical signage and interpretive panels: These describe troop movements, strategies, and events of the 1777 battle.

Cannon installations and artillery displays: Replica and recovered cannons from the time period are arranged around the site.

3. James and Ann Whitall House

This red brick Georgian-style home, built in 1748, belonged to James and Ann Cooper Whitall, a Quaker couple whose property bordered Fort Mercer.

During the battle, the home was used as a field hospital for both American and Hessian wounded.

Despite the battle raging outside, Ann Whitall famously refused to flee, staying inside and caring for the injured.

Her actions earned her the nickname the “Heroine of Red Bank.”

The house has been preserved with much of its original architecture and furnishings, and it displays battle scars, including cannonball damage.

The house is open seasonally for tours, led by costumed interpreters. It contains exhibits on colonial life, medical care during the war, and the Whitall family's Quaker beliefs.

4. Monuments and Memorials

A 75-foot stone obelisk, erected in 1906, serves as the primary memorial to the battle and the soldiers who fought there.

Smaller markers honor Hessian troops, including Colonel von Donop, and recognize the diverse makeup of American defenders, including African American and Native American soldiers.

A newer memorial acknowledges the mass grave of Hessian soldiers uncovered during recent archaeological digs.

5. Archaeological Discoveries

In recent years, extensive archaeological work has yielded significant finds:

2022 excavations uncovered a mass grave containing the remains of at least 13 Hessian soldiers. The discovery confirmed battlefield locations with surprising precision.

Artifacts recovered include:

Musket balls and bayonets

Uniform buttons and insignia

A rare gold guinea coin bearing the image of King George III

Personal items such as pipes, belt buckles, and leather goods

These discoveries have added depth to the interpretation of the site and are displayed during special exhibitions and educational events.

6. Park Features and Amenities

Red Bank Battlefield Park is not only a historic site-it is also a well-maintained public park offering:

Walking trails through the battlefield and along the Delaware River

Scenic river views of Philadelphia and surrounding marshlands

Picnic pavilions and open green lawns

Playground area for children

Public restrooms and parking facilities

Interpretive signage for self-guided tours

Birdwatching areas and native gardens, particularly near the bluff overlooking the river

7. Programs and Events

The park hosts a variety of public programming and educational events throughout the year, including:

Annual Battle Reenactment in October, featuring costumed reenactors, musket and cannon fire, and encampments

Guided battlefield tours led by historians and docents

Public archaeology days, where visitors can observe or participate in active digs

Colonial craft demonstrations, period music, and Quaker heritage talks

School field trips and interactive children’s programs

Living history weekends, where visitors interact with interpreters portraying 18th-century trades and lifestyles

The Whitall House and interpretive programs are typically open Thursdays through Sundays from April through October, though the park grounds are open daily, year-round, from dawn to dusk.

8. Natural Environment and Conservation

The park's setting along the Delaware River includes a mix of open meadow, woodland, and riverside bluff. It supports:

Migratory birds, including ospreys, herons, and bald eagles

Native pollinator gardens and 18th-century herb gardens

Conservation zones to protect archaeological features from erosion or overuse

Efforts have been made to balance preservation with accessibility, ensuring the site remains a living landscape as well as a historical memorial.

9. Educational and Civic Impact

Red Bank Battlefield Park functions as:

A site of memory, honoring both American and Hessian lives lost

A learning center, offering hands-on history for students and educators

A community space, used for leisure, reflection, and public gathering

A symbol of resistance, showcasing how a small, well-defended force shaped the outcome of a broader war

Its integration of military history, personal stories, natural beauty, and public engagement makes it one of the most immersive and meaningful Revolutionary War sites in New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic.

Red Bank Battlefield Park is more than a preserved battlefield-it is a living tribute to resilience, sacrifice, and history, a place where nature, memory, and education converge on the banks of the Delaware River.