Battle of Chestnut Neck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Chestnut Neck |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Great Britain |
||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Casmir Pulaski | Patrick Ferguson Henry Collins |
||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 50 | 400 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 wounded | |||||||
The Battle of Chestnut Neck was a fight during the American Revolutionary War. It happened on October 6, 1778, in southern New Jersey. The battle took place at Chestnut Neck, a small town on the Little Egg Harbor River. This area is now near Port Republic, New Jersey.
Chestnut Neck was important because American privateers used it as a base. Privateers were like legal pirates. They were private ships allowed by the government to attack enemy ships. During the battle, the British took some supplies and destroyed others. They also burned homes and other buildings.
The British left quickly the next day. They heard that Count Casimir Pulaski and his soldiers were coming. A week later, Pulaski's forces met the British. The British caused many losses for Pulaski's men.
Why the Battle Happened
Before the war, Chestnut Neck was a busy trading place. It was on the Little Egg Harbor River near the New Jersey coast. Ships from Chestnut Neck traveled to New York and other places. They carried mail and traded goods.
When the war started, American privateers began using the harbor. They would attack and capture British ships. They brought these captured ships and their goods to Chestnut Neck. The captured items were sold. Sometimes, the captured ships were even turned into new privateer vessels.
Chestnut Neck was also a secret way to get supplies to the American army. General George Washington and his soldiers were at Valley Forge. They needed supplies badly. British ships often carried goods for Sir Henry Clinton in New York. American privateers would capture these ships. The supplies then went to Washington's army through Chestnut Neck.
General Clinton was very angry about losing his ships. He decided to "clean out that nest of Rebel Pirates." So, on September 30, 1778, a British fleet sailed from New York. It had nine ships and about 400 soldiers. Captain Henry Collins led the ships. Captain Patrick Ferguson led the soldiers.
The governor of New Jersey, William Livingston, found out about the British plan. He sent riders to warn the people. General Washington also sent Count Kazimierz Pułaski and his special group of soldiers, called the Legion. They were sent to help the Americans. However, Pulaski's group arrived the day after the battle.
The Fight at Chestnut Neck
Bad weather delayed the British fleet. They finally arrived near Little Egg Harbor late on October 5, 1778. But they couldn't cross a sandbar to get into the harbor. The British knew the Americans had been warned. They also knew Count Pułaski was on his way. So, they hurried to get up the river to Chestnut Neck.
The British soldiers got into smaller boats. They left at daybreak on October 6, 1778. They were delayed when two boats got stuck. They finally reached Chestnut Neck at four o'clock in the afternoon. There was a heavy fog. The British fought against the American defenders. They managed to take some supplies.
The British destroyed any supplies they couldn't take. They also learned that Count Pułaski was very close. So, they quickly left at noon on October 7, 1778. On their way out, they stopped at the mouth of the Bass River. There, they destroyed salt works and mills belonging to Eli Mathis. They also burned his house and barns before rejoining their main ships.
What Happened Next
As soon as Pulaski arrived at Chestnut Neck, he crossed the river. He marched to Tuckerton, getting there on October 8, 1778. Pulaski had about 50 soldiers. The Loyalists, led by Ferguson, had about 200. They watched each other until October 15, 1778.
On that day, 250 Loyalists under Ferguson's command surprised an American outpost. This outpost was made up of Pulaski's men. The Loyalists attacked, causing many casualties among the sleeping soldiers. The Loyalists then left and sailed back to New York. American reports called this event the "Little Egg Harbor massacre." A monument now marks this site.
Even though Ferguson's men took some supplies and destroyed others at Chestnut Neck, they didn't capture any American privateers. They also didn't get back any of the captured British ships. After the battle, Chestnut Neck never became a big trade center again. Three landowners rebuilt their homes there. But most others built new homes in what is now Port Republic, New Jersey.
Legacy
In the early 1900s, a group called the General Lafayette Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution built a monument. It is 50 feet tall. It marks the site of the Battle of Chestnut Neck. It also honors the soldiers who fought there. The statue of a Minute Man on top faces the river. It looks like he is "guarding the shore" from enemies. The monument was officially opened on October 6, 1911.
