Delaware Continentals

In 1888, David Schenck, searching for battlefield artifacts, found the upturned bones of three unidentified soldiers on a farm north of the park. From buttons found in the grave, supposedly marked “USA,” Schenck concluded that the deceased were American Continentals killed in action. The location of the soldiers’ remains suggests that they were part of Kirkwood’s Delaware company, on the right flank of the first line. In contrast to the first line’s militia, the Delaware troops were seasoned professionals of equal caliber to the British regulars. The remains were reburied here under this grave marker commemorating their valor.