LECTURE: Digging Deeper into the Hessian Ditch

During the American Revolution, Robert Coleman, ironmaster at Elizabeth Furnace, sought to support the fight for independence by expanding the furnace’s capacity to produce iron for military armaments. To accomplish this, he requested the assistance of General Edward Hand in securing Hessian soldiers held as prisoners of war. These prisoners were put to work digging a diversion channel from a nearby creek to increase the water supply powering the furnace and boost iron production.

Our presenter, Dan Snyder, will share insights from his ongoing research, including a visual tour of the archaeological work underway at Elizabeth Furnace and an exploration of the surviving earthworks created by the Hessian prisoners, remnants that can still be seen today. Discover how the labor of these prisoners contributed to the struggle for American independence and left a lasting mark on the local landscape and community.

This event will take place in-person at Freeman Hall at Cornwall Manor and virtually on Zoom. Registration is only required for online attendance. To register for the virtual lecture please go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/webina...

This presentation is offered at no cost to attendees, but donations are greatly appreciated and can be made in person or by following this link: https://givebutter.com/support...