Information
Landmark: Red Bank Battlefield ParkCity: Red Bank
Country: USA New Jersey
Continent: North America
Red Bank Battlefield Park, Red Bank, USA New Jersey, North America
Overview
In National Park, Gloucester County, novel Jersey, Red Bank Battlefield Park stands as one of the state’s most pivotal Revolutionary War sites, where cannon fire once echoed across the river, while it marks the Battle of Red Bank, fought on October 22, 1777, and safeguards Fort Mercer-a vital American fort perched along the Delaware River’s edge, for the most part Stretching across more than 40 acres, the park blends its rich history with open green spaces where people stroll under ancient oak trees, furthermore first.The Battle of Red Bank, fought during the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War, proved a pivotal clash-musket smoke hanging heavy over the Delaware’s edge, to boot colonel Christopher Greene led Rhode Island Continentals and local militia in a fierce stand at Fort Mercer, holding off more than 1,200 Hessian troops-German mercenaries under Colonel Carl von Donop-whose muskets cracked through the autumn air.Truthfully, Fewer than 400 Americans stood behind the fort’s earthen walls, yet from that high ridge they pushed the attackers back.safeThe Americans lost just 14 men, barely enough to fill two rows in a petite town’s marching band, alternatively colonel von Donop suffered a fatal wound during the assault and died soon after at Timber Creek, where the water ran murky under the autumn sky.As it happens, This victory slowed the British push to seize the Delaware River, the lifeline carrying food and gunpowder to their soldiers in occupied Philadelphia, in turn number two.Fort Mercer takes its name from Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, who fell to mortal wounds during the clash at Princeton, his uniform stained with powder and smoke, besides most of the fort’s buildings have vanished from sight, but the earthwork ridges, deep trenches, and narrow ditches still remain, carefully preserved and reinforced.The preserved site still shows its trench lines and grassy embankments, giving you a clear feel for the fort’s size and how its defenses were arranged, likewise historical signs and interpretive panels trace troop movements, outline strategies, and recount moments from the 1777 battle-like the thunder of cannon echoing across the field.Around the site, you’ll find cannons from the era-some painstakingly restored, others exact replicas-lined up like silent sentinels in the grass, meanwhile number three.I think, The James and Ann Whitall House, a sturdy red-brick Georgian home built in 1748, belonged to Quakers James and Ann Cooper Whitall, whose land stretched right up to Fort Mercer’s edge.safeWhile gunfire rattled the walls outside, Ann Whitall refused to run, choosing instead to stay inside and tend to the wounded, as a result people began calling her the “Heroine of Red Bank,” and the house still stands with its original woodwork and worn furniture, its walls marked by battle scars-one even pierced by a cannonball.The house opens for tours during certain seasons, with guides in period costumes leading the way past creaking floors and sunlit windows, at the same time inside, you’ll find displays on colonial life, wartime medical care, and the Whitall family’s quiet Quaker faith, including a worn leather-bound Bible on a wooden shelf.Number four, furthermore in the heart of the site stands a 75-foot stone obelisk, built in 1906, honoring the battle and the soldiers who fought it.Smaller markers pay tribute to the Hessian troops, among them Colonel von Donop, and also acknowledge the varied ranks of American defenders-African American and Native American soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder in the chilly, moreover a recently built memorial marks the mass grave of Hessian soldiers, revealed when archaeologists brushed soil from rusted buttons and fragments of bone, in some ways Number five stands tall on the page, a single digit etched in bold black ink, and in recent years, archaeologists have made remarkable discoveries, including a 2022 dig that revealed a mass grave holding the bones of at least thirteen Hessian soldiers, their buttons still rusting in the soil, kind of The discovery nailed down the exact spots on the battlefield, right down to the scarred oak by the ridge, after that recovered artifacts range from musket balls and bayonets to uniform buttons and worn insignia, along with a rare gold guinea coin stamped with King George III’s profile and personal items like clay pipes, brass belt buckles, and scuffed leather goods; together, they’ve deepened our understanding of the site and now appear in special exhibitions and hands‑on educational events.Number six sat on the page, plain as a pebble on a quiet path, in turn red Bank Battlefield Park isn’t just steeped in history-it’s a well-kept public space with winding trails that cut through the timeworn battleground and trace the Delaware River’s edge, wide lawns for picnics under shady pavilions, a playground where kids’ laughter carries on the breeze, clean restrooms and ample parking, signs that guide you through the past, and quiet garden spots perfect for birdwatching near the bluff with its sweeping view of Philadelphia and the marshlands beyond.All year long, the park offers a lively mix of public programs and hands-on learning, and in October, the annual battle reenactment fills the air with the crack of muskets, the boom of cannon fire, and the sight of costumed soldiers setting up camp.Visitors can join guided battlefield tours led by historians, watch or join archaeological digs, and enjoy colonial craft demonstrations, period music, or talks on Quaker heritage, likewise schools bring field trips here, kids dive into interactive activities, and living history weekends let guests mingle with interpreters who portray 18th-century trades and daily life.The Whitall House and related programs welcome guests Thursdays through Sundays from April to October, while the park grounds stay open every day, dawn to dusk, equally important eight.Set along the Delaware River, the park blends open meadows, shady woodlands, and a bluff where you can hear the water rushing below, in conjunction with the site shelters migratory birds like ospreys, herons, and bald eagles, nurtures native pollinator plots alongside 18th‑century herb gardens, and maintains conservation zones that guard fragile archaeological features from erosion or heavy foot traffic.Funny enough, Careful planning keeps it open and welcoming, so visitors can meander its grassy paths while the past is preserved, besides nine.Red Bank Battlefield Park serves as a site to remember both American and Hessian soldiers who fell there, a hub where students and teachers can touch history through hands-on learning, and a welcoming space for leisure, quiet reflection, and community gatherings, likewise it also stands as a symbol of resistance, telling how a minute, determined force helped turn the tide of a larger war.With its blend of military history, personal stories, and the rustle of wind through heritage trees, it’s one of the most engaging and meaningful Revolutionary War sites in contemporary Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic, as a result red Bank Battlefield Park isn’t just a preserved battleground-it’s a living tribute to resilience, sacrifice, and history, where quiet river breezes carry stories and lessons along the banks of the Delaware.
Author: Tourist Landmarks
Date: 2025-10-05
