This is a commemorative historical paper presented in 1900 that recounts the engagement at Fort Mercer (Red Bank, New Jersey) during the American Revolutionary War, focusing on the October 22, 1777 assault by Hessian forces.
The paper describes the defense of Fort Mercer by approximately 400 Continental troops under Colonel Christopher Greene against an attacking force of roughly 2,000 Hessians commanded by Count Carl von Donop. It frames the engagement as a highly unequal confrontation in which the American defenders successfully repelled a larger, professionally trained German auxiliary force serving in British pay.
A central emphasis is placed on the tactical circumstances of the battle. The Hessian assault is presented as a coordinated frontal attack against prepared defensive works along the Delaware River line, while the American position benefited from fortifications, terrain advantage, and supporting artillery. The account highlights the intensity of the fighting and the eventual withdrawal of the attacking force after sustaining significant losses, including the mortal wounding of Count von Donop.
The paper also reflects the interpretive style common to early 20th-century American local history writing, in which Revolutionary War engagements are often framed as episodes of patriotic resistance. The Hessian troops are portrayed through the lens of their role as British auxiliaries, consistent with American usage of the term during and after the war, while the defenders are emphasized as citizen-soldiers.
Beyond the narrative of the battle itself, the presentation situates the event within the broader context of the Philadelphia campaign of 1777, when British and allied forces attempted to secure control of the Delaware River and supply routes to occupied Philadelphia. The failed assault on Fort Mercer is treated as part of a larger pattern of contested river operations involving both British regulars and German auxiliary units from Hesse-Kassel.
The result is a localized but detailed account of one of the better-known engagements involving Hessian forces in North America, combining military description with commemorative interpretation rooted in regional historical memory.
