Fort Lee in Bergen County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Thomas Paine
1737-1809
“Common Sense” “American Crisis”
January 10, 1776 December 19, 1776
Thomas Paine volunteered for the Continental Army. He marched to Amboy, New Jersey, located off the tip of Staten Island where the British began the invasion of New York. He arrived before the first 9,3000 Redcoats landed and stayed until the fighting went north. Paine then went to Fort Lee where General Nathaniel Greene appointed him as one of his aides. While stationed at Fort Lee, he authored “The American Crisis” pamphlet which contained the famous quote “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Fort Lee (Monument Park area) is the site where this most influential writing was conceived. Paine’s passion and writings about freedom had a great influence on many of the delegates that created the Declaration of Independence.
Erected 2004 by Borough of Fort Lee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Forts and Castles • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1812.
Location. 40° 50.946′ N, 73° 58.153′ W. Marker is in Fort Lee, New Jersey, in Bergen County. Marker is at the intersection of Palisade Avenue and Angioletti Place, on the left when traveling south on Palisade Avenue. Marker is at Monument Park, at the southeast corner of the Palisade Avenue and Angioletti Place intersection. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Lee NJ 07024, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. General John “Black Jack” Pershing (here, next to this marker); General George Washington (within shouting distance of this marker); Soldiers of the American Revolution (within shouting distance of this marker); General Nathaniel Greene (within shouting distance of this marker); General Hugh Mercer (within shouting distance of this marker); Liberty Tree Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Lee Road (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Army Road (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Lee.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This set of markers is located in Fort Lee’s Monument Park.
Also see . . .
1. Thomas Paine. Portraits in Revolution website entry (Submitted on August 11, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Battle of Fort Washington. Revolutionary War website entry (Submitted on September 1, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
3. Common Sense. Political And Miscellaneous Works of Thomas Paine, Volume I, 1819; Internet Archive website entry (Submitted on April 19, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 7, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,833 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 7, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4. submitted on April 19, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.