THE BATTLE OF CHESTNUT NECK
THE BATTLE OF CHESTNUT NECK
On Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, the Color Guard of the New Jersey Society Sons of the American Revolution will help the commemoration of the 248th anniversary of the Battle of Chestnut Neck fought in 1778. This is a National SAR Color Guard event.
Join the South Jersey Chapter Color Guard and Chapter members celebrate this event. Chestnut Neck was a settlement on the Little Egg Harbor River (now known as the Mullica River) near the present-day city of Port Republic. The village was a base for privateers. When captured ships were brought in, the goods went overland to George Washington at Valley Forge and the ships joined the privateering fleet. British General Henry Clinton decided to launch an expedition to “clean out that nest of Rebel Pirates.” An attack on Oct. 6, led by British Capt. Patrick Ferguson, burned homes, destroyed 10 captured ships and destroyed whatever confiscated goods they could not carry off. Despite the loss in patriot ships and materials, the port was back in business as soon as the British withdrew. Several weeks later, 400 British soldiers attacked the outpost again, killing 50 men before withdrawing. The memorial service is hosted by the Colonel Richard Somers Chapter SAR.
Pictured in the photo from the event from 2022 are Republic Mayor Nikki Giberson, Chapter President Mike Mangum, NJSSAR Color Guard Adjutant Richard Serfass, Lieutenant James Howard, Carl Hausman, Clark McCullough, Charlie Morgan, Ken McGill and Larry Nelson.
