In 1777, a teenage boy by the name of Jonas Cattell was working in Haddonfield, New Jersey as a blacksmith. On his way hime, he was captured by the Hessians. During the night, Jonas overheard members of the Hessian army make plans to attack Fort Mercer at Red Bank Battlefield near his hometown of Woodbury, New Jersey.

The next morning the Hessians had no use for Jonas so they released him. What the Hessians did not know was that Jonas was a long distance runner. Jonas sprinted ahead of the hessians through the woods and marshes of South Jersey. When he reached the fort, he informed Colonel Greene about the impending attack on his fort. Colonel Greene ordered all of the soldiers to move the cannons for a land attack. When Col. Von Donop and the Hessians arrived, they were easily defeated thanks to the warning provided by Jonas Cattell.

In honor of the 230th anniversary of the warning that saved Fort Mercer, the 2007/08 New Jersey state project is to raise money to design, make and install permanent road signs to place along the 10 mile commemorative route from Haddonfield to National Park, New Jersey. In addition, our state society will contact every high school cross country coach in the 10 mile area to help find a Jonas Cattell impersonator for the commemorative run on October 14, 2007.


Last Updated: March 3, 2008
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