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The E-Sylum: Volume 25, Number 52, December 25, 2022, Article 22

GOLD GUINEA FOUND AT BATTLE OF RED BANK

Tom Kays passed along this article from August; if we've discussed it before I've been unable to locate it in our archives. Nice find. -Editor

King George III gold guinea found at Battle of Red Bank Researchers believe they have uncovered in a mass grave in New Jersey the remains of as many as 12 Hessian soldiers who fought during the Revolutionary War, officials announced Tuesday.

The remains, found at the site of Fort Mercer and the 1777 Battle of Red Bank, rested for 245 years until a human femur was found in June during an archaeologicall dig of a trench system that surrounded the fort, scientists said. Additional excavation yielded more skeletal remains and items including pewter and brass buttons and a King George III gold guinea, which would have been a soldier's pay for a month.

A team of scientists from Rowan University and officials from Gloucester County presented their preliminary findings during a news conference at Red Bank Battlefield Park, just south of Philadelphia.

Officials believe the remains are part of a mass grave of Hessian soldiers—German troops hired by the British—who were part of about 377 troops killed by Colonial forces during the Battle of Red Bank. Americans lost 14, historians said.

The victory allowed Americans at the fort to delay the British from moving supplies up the Delaware River.

The remains have been turned over to forensic anthropologists at the New Jersey State Police forensic unit to extract DNA from the bones and teeth to identify their origin. Additional studies are being conducted to examine life history, health and disease.

Officials said the remains were excavated with "extraordinary attention" to preserving the dignity of war dead.

When the study is complete, they will be interred at another site, and the trench will be refilled. The land will be incorporated into the park on a bluff overlooking the river.

"Archaeology is helping us better understand what happened on the battlefield," Janofsky said.

For numismatic bibliophiles I'll note that Frank Stewart, author of The History of the First United States Mint also wrote about the History of the Battle of Red Bank. -Editor

Tom adds:

"Here are Hessian soldiers in review (on parade) at Mount Vernon in a photo I took back in 2016 at the grand Revolutionary War Weekend reenactment. They strive for period correct dress and accoutrements."

  Hessian soldiers at Mount Vernon reenactment

To read the complete article, see:
Hessian remains unearthed at Revolutionary War battle site (https://phys.org/news/2022-08-hessian-unearthed-revolutionary-war-site.html)

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Wayne Homren, Editor

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