Revolutionary War Monument Dedicated in Wilmington

A new monument commemorates 33 soldiers buried in a mass grave at the Wilmington & Brandywine Cemetery.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Historical

Screen-print poster illustration of a stone monolith rising from green grass, evoking quiet historical remembrance in a park-like setting. — Officials in Wilmington, Delaware, dedicated a new monument honoring 33 Revolutionary War soldiers discovered in a mass grave at the local cemetery. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Officials have unveiled a new monument in Wilmington, Delaware, honoring 33 soldiers buried in a previously identified mass grave. The site serves as a final resting place for troops from both the American and British sides of the Revolutionary War.

Why it matters

The memorial provides recognition for soldiers whose sacrifice in the Revolutionary War had long gone unmarked. It highlights the diversity of the Continental Army by honoring the integrated First Rhode Island Regiment.

The site contains 28 soldiers from the racially integrated First Rhode Island Regiment and 5 British troops. These individuals died between 1777 and 1782.

The players

Bill Knightly

He is the historian who conducted the research and discovery of the mass grave.

First Rhode Island Regiment

This was a historically significant, racially integrated military unit that served in the Continental Army.

The details

Historian Bill Knightly discovered the mass grave, leading to the installation of a plaque that officially lists the names of the identified soldiers. The site includes British troops wounded at the 1777 Battle of Brandywine and members of the First Rhode Island Regiment who died from smallpox.

British soldiers were wounded at the Battle of Brandywine in 1777.
Soldiers from the First Rhode Island Regiment died of smallpox between 1781 and 1782.
Officials unveiled the monument at the cemetery on Sept. 23, 2026.

Roadmap

This monument connects current commemorative efforts to the 1777 Battle of Brandywine by formally marking the final resting places of participants. It shifts local historical tourism toward a more inclusive narrative regarding Revolutionary War casualties.

Residents and visitors to the Wilmington & Brandywine Cemetery can now view the plaque and learn about the diverse soldiers buried at the site. The site is expected to function as a new point of interest for those exploring the city's Revolutionary War history.

The takeaway

This project demonstrates the ongoing importance of archaeological research in uncovering forgotten chapters of military history. It serves as a reminder to communities that local landscapes often hold significant, yet unrecognized, historical markers.