Discover Revolutionary history on both sides of the river at Fort Mifflin and Red Bank Battlefield Park

The ground assault of 1,200 Hessian troops approached Fort Mercer on October 22 of that year. Their commanding officer, Colonel Carl von Donop, purportedly said “Either that will be Fort Donop or I shall be dead.” Prophetic words.

Donop’s attack was part of the British strategy to gain control of the Delaware River. The waterway was vitally needed to bring supplies to the British forces occupying Philadelphia after its capture by General Sir William Howe on September 26, 1777.

The birth of Pennsylvania’s Revolutionary navy

Foreseeing the need to defend the Delaware River from British incursion, the Pennsylvania Assembly created a Committee of Safety headed by Benjamin Franklin on June 30, 1775. One of its first actions was the creation of the Pennsylvania State Navy.

Construction commenced immediately on 13 row galleys: 50-foot-long, flat-bottomed shallow-draft boats that could be rowed or powered by sails. Each was armed with a single bow cannon ranging in size from 18-pounder up to 32-pounder. The first one was completed just 13 days after the navy was established.

The fleet continued to expand, adding fire vessels, craft packed with flammable materials meant to be brought alongside an enemy ship to set it ablaze as well as floating batteries crewed by Pennsylvania State Marines. An additional 21 smaller “armed boats” or “guard boats” armed with two-pounder, three-pounder, or four-pounder cannons in the bow were also ordered.

Identifying flags consisting of an ensign and pennants were designed. The Pennsylvania State Navy ensign was a blue flag with 13 horizontal alternating red and white stripes in the canton (upper left-hand corner). Multiple Philadelphia area seamstresses were hired to fabricate the flags, including Betsy Ross.

The fleet engaged enemy forces for the first time on May 6, 1776, taking on British ships Roebuck and Liverpool. In a victory for the American forces, the enemy ships were forced to withdraw.

After the Redcoats’ capture of Philadelphia, they had to keep control of the Delaware River to resupply their troops via ship. But the Pennsylvania State Navy defended the river’s main channel, including the use of chevaux de frise, large, weighted boxes placed on the river bottom, holding long wooden poles tipped with iron points lying just below the water line meant to pierce the hulls of British ships. Additional land-based defense was provided by Fort Mifflin on the Pennsylvania side of the river at Mud Island and Fort Mercer on the New Jersey side.

The Battle of Red Bank

The British attack of October 1777 began when nine warships located to the south were dispatched up the Delaware River. To the north, Donop’s ground forces were ferried across the river and landed near Camden, New Jersey on October 21. Moving south, they approached Fort Mercer two days later, on October 22.

Outnumbering the defenders three to one, an overly confidant Donop pressed the attack instead of waiting for the fleet to arrive to provide fire support. Thus began the Battle of Red Bank.

Fort Mercer was garrisoned by 400 men of the First Rhode Island Regiment. They laid down a withering fire as the advancing Hessians were slowed by obstacles left in an abandoned section of the fort. Falling back, the Hessians found themselves pinned down as the guns of the Pennsylvania State Navy joined the fray.

Meanwhile, two of the British ships sent to support the Hessian attack had successfully maneuvered their way through the chevaux de frise, only to run aground on sandbars. Stranded, the 64-gun ship of the line HMS Augusta came under fire from the Pennsylvania State Navy and both forts’ cannons. By October 23, the ship was ablaze. When flames reached the powder magazine, the ensuing explosion was heard 30 miles away and broke glass windows in Philadelphia. The trapped sloop Merlin also met a fiery demise. Despite being hit by the American artillery, it is believed Merlin’s crew set her on fire to avoid capture.

Overall, the Battle of Red Bank was a devastating loss for the British. In addition to losing the two ships, the Hessians suffered 266 wounded and 151 killed. Colonel Donop, true to his word, died after being shot 13 times. American losses stood at 21 wounded and 14 killed.

The British revenge

The British exacted their revenge, setting their sights on Fort Mifflin. Starting at daybreak on November 10, 1777, they pummeled the fort for the next five days in the largest bombardment of the American Revolution. Each night, the 400 beleaguered defenders would repair the day’s damage.

By November 15, British ships were positioned on both sides of the island and their incessant fire had reduced much of the wood and stone fort to rubble. The British had more than 200 cannons at their disposal while the American defenders had only 10. It was claimed that during a one-hour period, 1,000 cannon balls had been fired at the fort by the British.

With their position untenable, the American commander ordered the remaining cannons spiked and the fort set on fire. Leaving the fort’s distinctive red, white, and blue-striped flag flying, the garrison escaped under the cover of darkness across the river to Fort Mercer, rowing with muffled oars. Fort Mercer was abandoned within days of Fort Mifflin falling, as British reinforcements arrived.

With the British Navy firmly in control of the Delaware River, the Pennsylvania State Navy was compelled to withdraw the fleet upriver past Philadelphia. Numerous smaller vessels were scuttled and several of the larger ships were set ablaze to prevent possible capture by the British. The remaining ships became obsolete when the British withdrew from Philadelphia in June 1778.

Fort Mifflin and Fort Mercer today

By February 1783, with peace on the horizon, most of the Pennsylvania State Navy’s ships had been sold and the sailors dismissed from service. The Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council ordered any remaining armed vessels liquidated on April 10, 1783.

View of a small collection of 18^th-century buildings and brick walls set into the landscape, with bright green grass in the sun.

Two hundred and forty-two years later, Fort Mifflin is open for visitation, offering periodic public events and reenactments, group tours, and programs such as ghost tours and paranormal investigations.

While Fort Mercer no longer exists, visitors can view historical monuments memorializing the events that occurred there while exploring the trails and recreations areas of Red Bank Battlefield Park. Group tours and monthly History Family Days are offered at the historic Whitall House and its gardens.

The Battle of Red Bank is commemorated annually in October with an 18th Century Field Day. The celebration features reenactors, vendors, food trucks, crafts for the kids, and tours of the Whitall House. This year’s event will take place on October 19.

Visiting these two sites, rich in the region’s Revolutionary history, is a great way to begin celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

At top: An entrance to Fort Mifflin, which is open for visitors today. (Photo by Bart Stump.)