New Jersey and The American Revolution

New Jersey played a major role in the American Revolution. In fact, the Battles of Trenton and Princeton were turning points in the war. You can even follow Washington's march from Trenton to Princeton (click here) stopping at twelve markers show the exact route taken..

Follow the links on the left to learn more.

Chronology of Events in New Jersey

1776
10-May	2nd Continental Congress opens in Philadelphia
19-Jun	Royal Governor Franklin arrested at Proprietary House, Perth Amboy
21-Jun	NJ Provincial Congress at Burlington votes 53-3 to break ties with Great Britain, Burlington
4-Jul	Continental Congress approves Declaration of Independence, Philadelphia
1-Jul	Washington's troops construct Fort Lee in NJ and Fort Washington in NY
16-Nov	Fort Washington falls to the British, and Washington evacuates Fort Lee
20-Nov	Washington leads 2,000 troops from Fort Lee across Hackensack River to New Bridge Landing & Steuben House
Nov 23 - Dec 3	Washington continues retreat passing through Princeton on way to Delaware River
Dec 7-8	Washington and troops cross Delaware River. British and Hessians reach Princeton and Trenton
13-Dec	General Lee is captured by British in Basking Ridge
25-Dec	The night of December 25, Washington and 2,400 troops cross Delaware River landing at Johnson's Ferry Washington Crossing State Park
26-Dec	Predawn - American army marches to Trenton, surprising Hessians in attack at the Old Barracks, Trenton

1777
1-Jan	Lord Cornwallis takes command of the British Army in Princeton
2-Jan	Battle of Trenton with heavy fighting along Assunpink, Trenton
3-Jan	Battle of Princeton - Washington strikes the British rear at Princeton, Americans defeat small British force
Jan 6 - May 28	Washington's troops spend winter at Morristown
26-Sep	British take Philadelphia September to October Washington builds up defenses at Red Bank on lower Delaware River
22-Oct	Americans defeat attacking Hessian troops, then abandon Fort Mercer
15-Nov	British take Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania
Dec - May	Washington and 12,000 troops survive bitter winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

1778
21-Mar	British and Loyalist troops raid Hancock's Bridge, American troops die at Hancock House massacre
28-Jun	Critical American victory at Battle of Monmouth
11-Dec	Washington sets up headquarters in Wallace House, troops spend winter in Watchung Mountains in Middlebrook

1779
19-Aug	Major Henry Lee attacks the British fort at Paulus Hook (Jersey City)
28-Oct	British Major John Simcoe leads raid through Elizabethtown to Bound Brook and Somerset Courthouse, Millstone
1-Dec	Washington moves army into winter quarters at Morristown for the most severe winter of the century

1780
June 7 - 23	Battle of Springfield/invasion of Elizabethtown and Springfield
July 1 - 8	Washington establishes headquarters at Dey Mansion, Wayne

1783
30-Jun	Congress abandons Independence Hall in Philadelphia and reconvenes at Nassau Hall in Princeton
23-Aug	George and Martha Washington arrive at Rockingham
3-Sep	America and Britain sign Peace Treaty in Paris, France
2-Nov	Washington writes Farewell Address at Rockingham