Historic sites thrive in Garden State

By ANTHONY A. AMABILE

There probably isn’t an American anywhere who hasn’t heard the phrase “George Washington Slept Here.” But in several New Jersey locations, it’s probably true.
For almost half of America’s Revolutionary War for Independence, Washington and his Continental Army fought up and down the trails, rivers, mountains and fields of New Jersey. Caught between the Continental Congress in Philadelphia and British-occupied New York, with the Delaware River in the west and access to New England by way of the Hudson River in the northeast, New Jersey became a major crossroads of the war. From 1775 to 1783, New Jersey was home to a series of events which were not only crucial to the outcome of the war, but are a testament to the historical contributions of the Garden State.
The sites of the Continental Army’s conquests and their defeats, of their agonies and their ecstasies – rich in history and lore – are yours for the asking with just a few set aside days of car travel. Take along the family, especially the kids, and you will come away with a new appreciation of the American Revolution, the sacrifices and hardships endured, and New Jersey’s true place in history.

There are over 50 sites across New Jersey where visitors can retrace the footsteps of the Continental Army. The New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry publishes a driving guide and map to New Jersey’s Revolutionary War Trail (800-843-6420 to request a copy). For logistical purposes and to plan your trip, it is better to group the sites in one area and make that the day’s itinerary. Call ahead of time to get directions, hours and to find out when the site’s buildings are open.

Washington Crossing State Park
On Christmas night, Dec. 25, 1776, the Continental Army under the leadership of George Washington crossed the icy Delaware River from Pennsylvania and for the “10 critical days” through Jan. 3, 1777, staged a successful surprise attack on Hessian troops at Trenton. They won a second Battle of Trenton and then one at Princeton on Jan. 3,

Johnson Ferry House – This site is located within Washington Crossing State Park. Photo by nj dep, division of parks & forestry

1777. Each Christmas Day, a group of dedicated history buffs in period uniforms reenact the historic crossing. There is a visitor’s center at the site which houses the Swan Collection, an impressive collection of authentic Revolutionary War artifacts interpreting the 10-day period.
The park is located at 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville, NJ (609) 737-0623.

While in this area, you can venture into Trenton and visit the Old Barracks Museum on Barrack Street (609) 396-1776. Built in 1758 for British soldiers during the French and Indian War, it housed the Hessians before the Battle of Trenton and served as a Continental Army hospital in 1777. Nearby at 205 West State St. (609) 292-6464 is the New Jersey Museum, which has artifacts dating from the Revolutionary War. The replica by Robert Bruce Williams of Emmanuel Leutze’s famous painting of Washington and his troops crossing the Delaware is located in the museum auditorium.

Clark House – located within Princeton Battlefield State Park. Photo by nj dep, division of parks & forestry

Up the road from Trenton at Princeton are the sites of the Princeton Battle Monument (next to Town Hall in Princeton), and Historic Morven, (609) 683-4495. Morven is adjacent to the Monument and built around 1758 by Richard Stockton III, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and his wife, Annis Boudinot Stockton, a published poet. Next to these lies the Princeton Battlefield State Park (609) 921-0074, where on Jan. 3, 1777, American troops under Washington defeated a force of British Regulars. The park is the site of the Clarke House, built in 1772. The Princeton Battle Monument is a striking memorial which has shown the ravages of time but still pointedly depicts Washington on horseback surrounded by soldiers clinging to his presence in the heat of battle. On the backside of the Memorial is an inscription that reads, “Here memory jingles to recall the Guiding Mind whose daring plan outflanked the foe and turned dismay to hope when Washington, with swift resolve marched through the night to fight at dawn and venture all in one victorious battle for our freedom.”

Indian King Tavern

If you should find yourself in the Town of Haddonfield on one of your journeys, you’ll love your visit to the Indian King Tavern Museum, 233 Kings Highway East (609) 429-6792. Curator Bill Mason will gladly take you through the history of the tavern and its collection of early American furnishings. Located in the prosperous market town of Haddonfield and across the river from Philadelphia, the tavern was visited by both the commoners and the well-to-do. Among those who are said to have stopped here are the Generals Marquis de Lafayette and “Mad” Anthony Wayne. Historically, the Tavern was where the New Jersey Assembly met on March 10, 1777 and approved the adoption of the Great Seal of New Jersey. Six months later, on Sept. 20, the Assembly again met at the Tavern and enacted a law substituting the word “State” for “Colony” in all commissions, writs and indictments. At an earlier meeting held at the Tavern, the Legislature selected one of its delegates, Francis Hopkinson – a lawyer, composer and writer of political satires – to the Continental Congress. Not only was he a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but he designed the American Flag.

Monmouth Battlefield State Park
One of the largest battles of the American Revolution took place at what is now Monmouth Battlefield State Park, 347 Freehold-Englishtown Road, Manalapan (732) 462-9616. The park is a splendid rural 18th Century landscape of hilly farmland and hedgerows of 2,000 acres encompassing miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, picnic areas, a restored Revolutionary War farmhouse and a visitor’s center. During the war, the Craig House was used as a field hospital by both sides. Even during the dead of winter, the site is used by children riding their sleds and dog lovers taking their pets out for a romp through the snow.

Boxwood Hall– Boxwood Hall was the home of Elias Boudinot, president of the Continental Congress. Located in Elizabeth. Photo by nj dep, division of parks & forestry

Monmouth was one of the largest battles of the American Revolution. For several long and hot, exhausting hours on June 28, 1777, the largest land artillery battle of the Revolution raged. It ended up in a political and military triumph for the Continental Army and George Washington. The battle is enacted every year during the fourth weekend of June. In the visitor’s center, which sits on top of a hill overlooking the battlefield, there is a collection of memorabilia from the battle and detailed description of the battle and its strategies.

Other nearby sites you may visit are the Monmouth County Historical Association, 70 Court St., Freehold (732) 462-1466, which houses changing exhibits plus a permanent exhibit on the Battle of Monmouth; the Monmouth Battle Monument on Court Street in Freehold; and the Covenhoven House, 150 West Main Street, Freehold (732) 462-1466, which was built in 1752, the home of William and Elizabeth Covenhoven and occupied by the British General Clinton before the Battle of Monmouth.

Rockingham – this site is where Washington wrote his farewell orders to the troops. The physical building has recently moved. Photo by nj dep, division of parks & forestry

Morristown National Historical Park
Morristown twice served as headquarters for Washington and his army during two critical winters. From January through May of 1777, Washington overcame desertion and disease to rebuild an army capable of taking the field against William Howe’s veteran Redcoats. In 1779-1780 – the hardest winter in anyone’s memory – the military struggle was lost amid starvation, nakedness, and mutiny on the bleak hills of Jockey Hollow. Never was the leadership of George Washington more evident as he held together, at a desperate time, the small ragged army that represented the country’s main hope for independence.

This is a stop on the Revolution Trail you won’t want to miss. The Ford Mansion, behind the visitor’s center served as headquarters for Washington and his officers. It was, at the time, the largest mansion house in the county and it contains much of the original furniture, including original Queen Anne and Chippendale pieces. National Park Rangers Elizabeth Gray and Kim Watts are excellent guides and quick to point out that there are over 50,000 original artifacts, documents and memorabilia in the park. In the Jockey Hollow Encampment Area, the army built over 1,000 simple huts to house the 13,000-member army. The area was perfect for rebuilding and refurbishing an army since it is a beautiful valley bordered by five mountains, whose passes were easily defensible and lent themselves to posting guards for an early warning system.

The Ford Mansion – Site of headquarters for Washington and his officers during their two encampments at Morristown. Photo by anthony a. amabile

In the visitor’s center (Washington Place, Morristown 973-539-2085) is an extensive collection of books, games and replicated clothing of the American Revolution for sale. In addition, it houses a two-floor exhibit of the war and times, including a collection of American Revolution firearms. Among the collection is a Ferguson Rifle, and Morristown is the only place in the world where this rifle – which could fire off six shots in comparatively rapid succession to its counterparts – is on perpetual display. In addition, the Center has a second-floor auditorium with a film presentation on the Morristown encampament and a slide show on the different types of weapons then in use. In the area, all within short driving distance is the Wick House, the Pennsylvania Brigade Encampment Site, Fort Nonsense (later so nicknamed because of legend that it had been built only to keep the troops occupied), and the New Jersey Brigade Encampment Site.

Historic Morven – Built in 1758 by Richard Stockton III, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Photo by anthony a. amabile

The site has a year-round schedule of events with fun for the whole family such as “Spies,” where visitors of all ages assume the role of a spy in the American Revolution as you encounter one of Washington’s aides on a Ford Mansion tour. Colonel McHenry will brief you on the use of codes, invisible ink and our spy network. Discover how Washington used spies to gather information and to deceive the enemy.

Fort Lee Historic Park
Traveling east from Morristown to the Hudson River, you will find Fort Lee Historic Park (Hudson Terrace, Fort Lee, (201-461-1776), with several overlooks offering spectacular views of the George Washington Bridge, the Hudson River and the New York skyline. The visitor’s center has two floors of audio-visual displays, exhibits and programs. The Fort Lee Revolutionary War Monument is located on a point where the original outworks of the old fort was located.

Wallace House– Located in Somerville, Wallace House was leased by Washington as his headquarters in 1779. Photo by nj dep, division of parks & forestry

There are many more places for you to visit, and whether you are a Garden State resident or not, you should make an attempt to follow the Revolutionary War trail. It will give you an appreciation of the sacrifices of the men and women who fought for our independence. Our thanks go to the National Park Service and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Division of Parks and Forestry which not only aided us in researching this article, but for preserving these historic sites so that our history comes alive to us in a meaningful way.




Reprinted with permission, Gateway Guide, Vol. 3, Spring, 2004, published by The Hudson Reporter Assoc., LP

Hancock House– At the Hancock House, the British forces surprised and massacred members of the American garrison, including Judge William Hancock. Photo by nj dep, division of parks & forestry

CAPTION

MOVING IN – George Washington and his Continental Army fought up and down the trails, rivers and fields of the Garden State.
Photos by jonathan carlucci

BY GEORGE – New Jersey contains so many Revolutionary War sites that it’s worth taking a few days to see the historic villages, buildings and battlefields where the future of America was forged.
Photo by anthony a. ambile
Photo by jonathan carlucci

Boxwood Hall– Boxwood Hall was the home of Elias Boudinot, president of the Continental Congress. Located in Elizabeth.
Photo by nj dep, division of parks & forestry

Clark House – located within Princeton Battlefield State Park.
Photo by nj dep, division of parks & forestry

The Ford Mansion – Site of headquarters for Washington and his officers during their two encampments at Morristown.
Photo by anthony a. amabile

Johnson Ferry House – This site is located within Washington Crossing State Park.
Photo by nj dep, division of parks & forestry

Wallace House– Located in Somerville, Wallace House was leased by Washington as his headquarters in 1779.
Photo by nj dep, division of parks & forestry

Rockingham – this site is where Washington wrote his farewell orders to the troops. The physical building has recently moved.
Photo by nj dep, division of parks & forestry

Historic Morven – Built in 1758 by Richard Stockton III, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Photo by anthony a. amabile

Hancock House– At the Hancock House, the British forces surprised and massacred members of the American garrison, including Judge William Hancock.
Photo by nj dep, division of parks & forestry