Manalapan Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
D’Annae: A French, Swedish-Style 4-pounder
The Battle of Monmouth – 28 June 1778
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 3, 2010
1. D’Annae: A French, Swedish-Style 4-pounder Marker
This photo shows the marker at its former location.
In 1777, the Continental Army was in desperate need of more field artillery. When 31 Swedish-style 4-pounders arrived in New Hampshire in April, Commander-in-Chief George Washington directed that “they will be forwarded to Camp, as fast as circumstances permit.”
The French welcomed the war between their British enemies and the Americans. To support the rebellion, in 1776, the French royal arsenals released tons of surplus weapons. Their conduit to America was a fictitious trading company headed by the flamboyant playwright, Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. During 1777, Beaumarchais’ ships delivered 100, 4-pounders to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and another 53 to Charleston, South Carolina. A few of these were heavy, old-fashioned (1732) guns. The rest were the lighter, more mobile, “Swedish-style” guns.
Erected by the Battlefield Restoration and Archaeological Volunteer Organization (BRAVO).
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1777.
Location. 40° 15.817′ N, 74° 19.191′ W. Marker is in Manalapan Township, New Jersey, in Monmouth County. Marker can be reached from New Jersey Route BUS 33, on the left when
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Monmouth Battlefield (a few steps from this marker); General von Steuben (within shouting distance of this marker); Molly Pitcher (within shouting distance of this marker); Monmouth Battlefield State Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Combs Hill Cannonade (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mary Hays, nicknamed “Molly Pitcher" (approx. 0.2 miles away); Battle at the Parsonage (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hold the Hedgerow! (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manalapan Township.
More about this marker. The bottom left of the marker features a photograph of a D’Annae cannon with the caption “An original Swedish-style 4-pounder on display at West Point Military Academy. It was cast in Strasbourg, France in 1761. The gun in front of you is a replica.”
The right of the marker contains an illustration of a cannon, gun crew, limber and ammunition box. It has a caption of:
“The Gun Crew -- Ideally, a Swedish-style 4-pounder had a large gun crew – men to move, load, point, and fire the gun, supply ammunition, and hold the horses.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 15, 2013
2. D’Annae: A French, Swedish-Style 4-pounder Marker (latest location)
The marker and cannon was moved again with the completion of the new Visitor Center at the Monmouth Battlefield. It is now located just west of it's prior location.
Gun Crew Rules -- 1 - 6 Move the gun, 7 Loads cartridge, 8 Rams cartridge, 9 Serves the vent, 10 Fires, 11 Aims, 12 Carries the slow match & water bucket, 13 Carries ammunition from #14 to #7, 14 Fills haversacks with cartridges from ammunition boxes, 15 Leads the rear horse and 16 Holds the fore horse (detached).”
This wayside exhibit (the cannon and interpretive panel) was provided for and erected by the Battlefield Restoration and Archaeological Volunteer Organization (BRAVO). They have been working at the park for over 20 years and have provided much funding for its many projects via fund raisers. —Ed.
Also see . . .
1. The Battle of Monmouth. New Jersey during the Revolution. (Submitted on July 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. The Battle of Monmouth, 1778. A British perspective of the Battle of Monmouth on BritishBattles.com. (Submitted on July 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 3, 2010
3. Marker in Monmouth Battlefield State Park
The D’Annae: A French, Swedish-Style 4-pounder marker is now located at the new Visitor Center. This photo shows it at a previous location.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 3, 2010
4. Monmouth Battlefield Marker
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 3, 2010
5. Battle of Monmouth Marker
The marker can be seen here between the cannon (in the foreground) and the statue of Baron Von Steuben (in the background).
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 3, 2010
6. D’Annae: A French, Swedish-Style 4-pounder
This cannon is located behind the marker.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 7, 2008
7. D’Annae: A French, Swedish-Style 4-pounder Marker (old location)
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 7, 2008
8. Marker at its old location
The marker was moved from this location to in front of the Visitor Center.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 7, 2008
9. Monmouth Battlefield Markers
Several markers are found at this location on a hiking trail in Monmouth Battlefield State Park. The D’Annae: A French, Swedish-Style 4-pounder marker is no longer one of them.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 7, 2008
10. Revolutionary War Cannon
This replica cannon is located in the Monmouth Battlefield Visitor Center.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 7, 2008
11. Cannon Crew Illustration
Detail of the Cannon Crew Illustration from the marker. A key to the numbers is above.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,710 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 9, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 2. submitted on June 16, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 9, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on July 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
