The 1829 Memorial

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This monument was erected on October 2, 1829, bearing the inscription:
"To transmit perpetually a grateful remembrance of the patriotism and gallantry of Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Greene, who, with 400 men, defeated the Hessian army of 2,000 troops then in the British service at Red Bank on the 22nd of October, 1777."

In the 19th century, the monument became a target of local outrage. New Jersey residents, angered by the original inscription reading "New Jersey AND Pennsylvania," defaced the stone by scratching out "Pennsylvania." In retaliation, Pennsylvania residents chiseled away "New Jersey," escalating the vandalism.

Images in the tour showcase commanders from both sides of the battle—highlighting the British and Hessian forces attacking Fort Mercer and the Patriots valiantly defending it. Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Greene, prominently featured in the monument, is memorialized throughout the site, including on the towering 1906 monolith that now dominates the park’s skyline.

Colonel Carl von Donop, Greene's adversarial counterpart, believed he could easily overwhelm the smaller American garrison at Fort Mercer. His Hessian troops charged at double-quick pace, passed over the abandoned outer lines with a cheer, and immediately fell into chaos—hampered by concealed pitfalls and a deep defensive ditch. Meanwhile, three American galleys, stationed on the river, maintained a relentless flanking fire on the Hessian right.

Maps from the 19th century indicate the original placement of the 1829 monument, which has been relocated several times over the years. Today, it sits enclosed behind a wrought-iron fence, a reminder of the turbulent 19th-century disputes between New Jersey and Pennsylvania residents. The map also highlights significant geographical features: the routes taken by British and Hessian forces, the grave of Count von Donop, and the nearby direction to Fort Mifflin—another key battlefield during the Pennsylvania campaign.

Colonel von Donop, gravely wounded, became one of the many casualties in the brutal close-quarters combat. The fighting was so intense that, according to eyewitness accounts,
"the wads were blown entirely through their bodies... they were mowed down like grass, and fell in heaps... death rode in every volley."

More than a century later a New York Times article highlights the 120th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Mercer at Red Bank, New Jersey. As a pivotal clash in the War for Independence, this historic site has been celebrated, contested, and meticulously preserved for posterity.