REVOLUTIONARY WAR SITES IN SANDY HOOK, NEW JERSEY

Lighthouse
Hartshorne Dr.
Map / Directions to all Sandy Hook Revolutionary War Sites

Open weekends year-round from noon to 4:30 p.m.
From April through October, also open on weekdays from 1 - 5 p.m.
For more information, call the Sandy Hook Visitor Center at (732) 872-5970.

According to the Sandy Hook lighthouse website::
"Early in the Revolutionary War, the New York Congress resolved that the lighthouse should be destroyed or the lighting apparatus dismantled lest it fall into enemy hands. Major William Malcolm received orders in a letter dated March 6, 1776 to “take the glass out of the lantern, and save it if possible; but if you find this impracticable you will break the glass. You will also endeavor to pump the oil out of the cisterns into casks, or not being able to procure casks, you will pump it out onto the ground. In short, you will use your best discretion to render the lighthouse entirely useless.” Major Malcolm’s mission must have been partly successful as a letter to Colonel George Meade dated March 12 states: 'Received from Wm. Malcolm eight copper lamps, two tackle falls and blocks, and three casks, and a part of a cask of oil, being articles from the lighthouse on Sandy Hook.'
Less than three months later, the British had the lighthouse repaired and back in operation. Next, a daring attack was led by Benjamin Tupper to destroy the lighthouse with cannon fire, but after an hour of volleys, he 'found the walls so firm that the cannon fire could make no impression.' The stout lighthouse would remain under British control for most of the war." [1]

Halyburton Monument
Hartshorne Dr.
Map / Directions to all Sandy Hook Revolutionary War Sites

"On this spot were buried the remains of the Honorable Hamilton Halyburton, 1st Lieutenant, Royal Naby, son of the Earl of Morton, and James Ohampion, Lieutenant of Marines. Together with twelve members of the crew of H.M.S. Assistance who died here at Sandy Hook in line of Duty on December 31, 1783.." [2]

"In January of 1783, as the Revolutionary War was ending, British warships withdrew from New York Harbor. While the warship H.M.S. Assistance was anchored in Sandy Hook Bay, some of her crew deserted and escaped into the salt marshes here.    A search party of thirteen men, led by 1st Lieutenant Hamilton Douglas-Halyburton was sent to find them only to get caught in a blizzard and perish. The bodies were buried in a common grave that, some time later, was lost. In 1908, workmen discovered the remains and the British sailors were re-interred at Cyupress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn. The present memorial was erected by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937."  [3]

British Embarkation Marker
Hartshorne Dr.
Map / Directions to all Sandy Hook Revolutionary War Sites

"British Embarkation - On July 5th, 1778, armies under General Sir Henry Clinton passed this point to reach British ships, at anchor off Horseshoe Cove, which evacuated them to New York. This completed their withdrawal through Middletown from Freehold after the Battle of Monmouth seven days earlier." [4]