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  • Researchers identified 33 soldiers buried in Wilmington, including 28 Rhode Island troops and five British officers, ending centuries of anonymity for these individuals.
  • The American contingent included ten free Black men and four enslaved laborers who died of smallpox after the Battle of Yorktown, highlighting complex histories of service and freedom.
  • A memorial ceremony honored both groups together, featuring national anthems from the United States and the United Kingdom to acknowledge shared sacrifice despite opposing sides in the war.

For nearly two and a half centuries, dozens of soldiers who died during the American Revolution lay in unmarked graves in Wilmington, Delaware. Historians have now identified 33 of these individuals, bringing long-overdue recognition to men whose final resting places were overlooked as the city expanded. The discovery sheds light on the chaotic aftermath of major battles and the often-unrecorded fates of those who survived combat only to succumb to disease or injury in makeshift hospitals.

The identified group includes 28 soldiers from Rhode Island and five British officers. These men are interred at the Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery, where their remains were moved in the 1850s from the original Poor and Strangers cemetery. While researchers have confirmed these 33 names, at least 66 soldiers are believed to be buried at the site, meaning many others remain unidentified. The effort to name them involved combing through primary source documents and using modern algorithms to estimate casualty rates among wounded troops transported to Wilmington.

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The British officers died after sustaining injuries during the Battle of Brandywine in Pennsylvania on September 11, 1777. That engagement was the largest single-day battle of the Revolution, involving nearly 30,000 troops. Following their victory, British forces established a hospital in Wilmington to treat 488 wounded soldiers. Two days after the battle, 112 wagons carried injured men nine miles south to the city. Local historian Bill Knightly led the research on these casualties, noting that conservative estimates suggest at least 38 British deaths occurred among those treated, though the actual number may be higher.

The Rhode Island soldiers died under different circumstances four years later, in late 1781 and early 1782. They were members of the First Rhode Island Regiment, which fought in the Battle of Yorktown in Virginia. That victory paved the way for the British Army’s surrender and effectively ended major combat operations. As these troops made their way home, many contracted smallpox. Some sought treatment at a hospital in Wilmington, where 28 of them ultimately died. Researchers found a document listing all 28 Continental soldiers who perished between December 8, 1781, and January 27, 1782.

The composition of the Rhode Island regiment reveals significant historical complexity regarding race and freedom in early America. Half of the identified American soldiers were Black. Among them were ten free Black men and four enslaved laborers who had enlisted under a 1778 Rhode Island law that granted freedom to enslaved men who joined the military. Although lawmakers repealed this policy shortly after its enactment, more than 100 enslaved men had already taken advantage of the offer. Their service represented a path to liberty in a nation where such rights were not yet universally recognized.

A memorial ceremony held last month marked the dedication of a permanent monument at the site. Wilmington Mayor John Carney noted that these soldiers had been unknown and unremembered for too long, obscuring their stories and neglecting their final resting place. The event included readings of all 33 identified names and featured the playing of both the United States and United Kingdom national anthems. This joint tribute underscored a modern reconciliation with history, honoring combatants from opposing sides who now share the same ground.

Attendees included Jason Roomes, a direct descendant of Private Caesar Rose, one of the Black soldiers buried at the site. Roomes expressed satisfaction that the memorial recognized all soldiers rather than focusing solely on high-ranking officers like generals and colonels. His presence highlighted the personal connections that persist across generations, linking contemporary families to ancestors who fought for independence under difficult conditions. The ceremony also featured an excerpt from a poem by Adam Drummond, father of one of the British soldiers, which historian Knightly located at the National Library of Scotland.

Colonel Thomas Archer-Burton, a military representative from the British Embassy, spoke about the significance of honoring both American and British soldiers together. He remarked that the deceased could not have imagined seeing their respective flags carried side by side or hearing their national anthems played in unison. This gesture reflects a broader shift in how historical conflicts are commemorated, moving beyond adversarial narratives to acknowledge shared human cost. The identification process continues, with researchers hoping to name more of the remaining unidentified individuals buried at the cemetery.

The systematic care for war dead did not become a standard practice in the United States until decades after the Revolution. During the conflict, victorious armies typically handled burials on battlefields, often without markers or records. The work done by historians and local societies in Wilmington demonstrates how modern tools and archival research can recover lost histories. By identifying these soldiers, researchers have restored dignity to individuals who contributed to the founding of the nation, ensuring their sacrifices are no longer forgotten.

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  • Smithsonian Magazine↗These Soldiers Were Buried in an Unmarked Grave During the Revolutionary War. Now, Historians Finally Know Their Names