The Battle of Red Bank - National Park, NJ
Posted by: 
ODragon
N 39° 52.143 W 075° 11.375
18S E 483786 N 4413240
A battle site during the American Revolution.
Waymark Code: WM5VRG
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 02/17/2009
Views: 9
From A Guide to New Jersey's Revolutionary War Trail for Families and History Buffs By Mark Di Ionno:
The Battle of Red Bank occurred on October 22, 1777, when a force of twelve hundred Hessians under Col. Kurt von Donop attacked about four hundred men under Col. Christopher Greene.
Von Donop marched down from Burlington County and spent the night in Haddonfield. He arrived at Fort Mercer at noon, showing his superior force, and sent an emissary to the fort with surrender terms. When the terms were denied, von Donop arranged an attack. What the Hessian leader did not know was that the fort had been refortified and that an existing exterior embankment was now a dummy wall. As his men made their way to the real wall, Greene was waiting. When the Hessians got within musket range, Greene ordered his men to fire. What happened next was carnage unparalleled in other New Jersey battles. About four hundred Hessians were killed in the forty-minute battle, including von Bonop, who had a musket ball rip though his leg. Another one hundred were wounded and captured. The American deaths numbered fourteen, with another twenty-three wounded.
The American win at Red Bank, coupled with the British surrender at Saratoga five days earlier, helped persuade the French to enter the war. Clearly, the French saw that the cause was not lost.
Name of Battle:
The Battle of Redbank
Name of War: Revolutionary War
Date(s) of Battle (Beginning): 10/22/1777
Date of Battle (End): 10/22/1777
Entrance Fee: Not Listed
Parking: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:
Post a photo of you in front of a sign or marker posted at the site of the battle (or some other way to indicate you have personally visited the site.
In addition it is encouraged to take a few photos of the surrounding area and interesting features at the site.