"The Importance of the North River (the Hudson), and the sanguine wishes
of all to prevent the enemy from possessing it, have been the causes of
this unhappy catastrophe." So wrote General George Washington in 1776 as
the British invaded New Jersey. Worse was to come, as the British
overran the state, and the Americans suffered one unhappy catastrophe
after another.
Central New Jersey witnessed many small battles and important events
during the American Revolution. This area saw it all: from spies and
espionage, to military encampments like Morristown and Middlebrook, to
mutinies, raids, and full-blown engagements like Bound Brook, Short
Hills, and Springfield. The British had their own catastrophes too. So
did civilians caught in the middle.
In the fall of 1776, British forces drove the Americans out and secured
the state. Following the battles of Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey
became a battleground.
The spring of 1777 saw the formation of a new Continental Army, one that
served the rest of the war. That spring, British and American forces
clashed in a series of small but sharp battles.
By summer, British General Howe tried to lure Washington into a major
engagement, but the Americans avoided the trap. As the conflict dragged
on, civilians became engulfed in the fray, and a bitter civil war
erupted, continuing until the end of the conflict.
In Unhappy Catastrophes: The American Revolution in Central New Jersey,
1776-1782, Robert M. Dunkerly follows the course of the war through its
various phases and details lesser-known battles, military campsites,
raids, espionage, and more. The book also includes historic sites to
visit, markers, and websites for further research and study. This part
of New Jersey saw more action during the Revolution than anywhere else
in the young nation and has been called the Cockpit of the Revolution.
To truly understand the war, look at central New Jersey.
