History of the Jersey Brigade
New Jersey Brigade common soldiers likely wore hunting shirts, with breeches or overalls, in the spring and summer of 1778.
Illustration by Peter F. Copeland
Military-Jersey-Brigade-Uniform.gif
October 9, 1775
The 2nd NJ Battalion is authorized as part of the first establishment of the Continental Army. Originally New
Jersey’s contribution for 1776 was to be two battalions, but this was raised to three.
December 1775 to February 1776
The battalion was mustered and organized at Burlington and Trenton to consist of eight
companies from Gloucester, Hunterdon, Burlington, Salem, and Sussex counties. The men served under Colonel William “Scotch
Willie” Maxwell for an enlistment of one year.
March to May 1776
Assigned to the Canadian Department, the regiment belatedly took part in the investment of Quebec. The
leading contingent arrived at the city on March 25. The siege of Quebec ended on May 5.
June 8, 1776
After enduring the retreat from Quebec, the regiment took part in the ill-executed action at Troise Riviers, Canada.
July to November 1776
Took part in the retreat from Canada to Crown Point and then to Fort Ticonderoga, NY. The unit
formed part of the garrison there until November 13 when they returned to New Jersey.
November to December 1776
Ordered to reinforce Washington’s army, the battalion marched to Morristown, NJ where they
arrived about December 3 and were disbanded when one-year enlistments expired. Many of the men reenlist in the second
establishment of the regiment for three year enlistments.
January to April 1777
The newly formed regiment headquartered in Burlington and then Princeton until April 5, is ordered to join
the main army under General Washingon.
May 22, 1777
Maxwell’s Jersey Brigade and Conway’s Pennsylvania Brigade are ordered to form a division under Lord
(General William Alexander) Stirling.
May to June, 1777
The regiment was stationed in the area between Middlebrook (modern-day Metuchen) and Short Hills,
keeping watch on, and occasionally skirmishing with, the enemy.
June 26, 1777
Stirling’s Division was attacked at Short Hills by General William Howe’s British and Hessian troops. After a
sharp fight, the Americans successfully retire to Middlebrook and rejoined the main Army under Washington
July to August 1777
A period of marching and countermarching ensued after the action a Short Hills. General Howe’s forces
sailed on board the British fleet on July 24, their destination unknown. Unable to decide their objective, General Washington
determined to cover all possibilities while waiting for news of the fleet. Stirling’s Division moved from Middlebrook across the
Hudson to Peekskill, NY and then back south again into PA. At their camp at “The Cross Roads”, in Bucks County, news was
finally received that the British were in the Chesapeake.
September 11, 1777
Shreve’s Regiment, along with the rest of the Jersey Brigade, took part in the Battle of Brandywine. Forced
to move from their positions on the right of the army, along the creek, Stirling’s Division marched to a hill near Birminham Meeting
House to counter a British flank attack. The three Continental divisions on the hill caught the full force of Howe’s assault, which
included the British Guards and light infantry. After an action of about 45 minutes, the defenders were forced to give way. With
the army’s right flank defeated, the battle was lost and the Americans retreated to Chester, PA. During the fighting on
Birmingham hill, Colonel Israel Shreve was wounded in the thigh and did not return to duty until November.
September to October, 1777
The army undertook a series of marches and maneuvers designed to cover both the magazine at
Reading Furnace and the capital at Philadelphia. In spite of their efforts, the city fell to the British.
October 4, 1777
At the battle of Germantown, Washington’s army assaulted the British encamped outside of Philadelphia.
Maxwell’s Brigade formed part of the reserve and as such attacked the Chew House in which members of the British 40th
Regiment had barricaded themselves as the Continentals swept through town. After a series of futile assaults, the Jersey troops
were forced to give up the attempt when the battle was lost and the Americans retreated.
November to December 11, 1777
On November 2, the 2nd New Jersey Regiment arrived at Whitemarsh, PA with the rest of
the Army. They remained here for six weeks.
December 19, 1777 to March 1778
Shreve’s Regiment entered winter quarters at Valley Forge and stayed there until ordered,
on March 19, 1778, to take post in Haddonfield, NJ.
March 26 to May 31, 1778
On detached duty and in cooperation with the Jersey Militia, the 2nd NJ gathered forage and supplies,
and skirmished with the British and Loyalist for two months. At the end of May, the rest of Maxwell’s Brigade joined them at Mt.
Holly.
June 1778
The reunited Jersey Brigade kept watch on the British in Philadelphia in anticipation of their evacuation.
June 28, 1778
Maxwell’s Brigade formed a part of Gen. Charles Lee’s advance force in the opening phases of the Battle of
Monmouth. Hampered by confused orders and heavy pressure from the British, Lee’s troops retreated in disorder until they were
met by the main army under Washington. The 2nd NJ covers the retreat of Lee’s forces and fall back as reserves for the rest of
the engagement.
June to December 1778
The Jersey Brigade is stationed in and around Elizabethtown, NJ to cover the area and counter any
British moves from New York through the summer and autumn.
December 16, 1778 to May 29, 1779
The unit was ordered into winter quarters at or near Newark, New Jersey, where they
remained until spring. At the end of May they marched to Easton, Pennsylvania, to join the expedition against the Iroquois, forming
under Major General John Sullivan.
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Major General John Sullivan
June 18 to October 1779
During this period the 2nd Regiment took part in Sullivan's campaign to destroy the power of the Indian
allies of the British. They marched through Pennsylvania and into western New York, burning villages and laying waste to crops.
24 August
General Sullivan's army left Tioga, Pennsylvania, leaving behind Colonel Israel Shreve and a mixed detachment to
garrison a small work called Fort Sullivan. The remainder of the regiment marched north with the rest of the army.
August 29th
A force of Iroquois and Loyalist troops attempted an ambush at Newtown, New York, but were defeated and driven from the field.
Maxwell's Brigade was in the reserve during this action. The army returned to Easton on October 15th.
December 1779 to April 1780
On the 17th of December the brigade arrived at Eyre's Forge on the Hardscrabble Road, located
between Jockey Hollow, Basking Ridge, and Vealtown (present-day Bernardsville). The Jersey regiments made this site their
winter quarters, remaining there until April or May of 1780.
June 7, 1780
The 2nd New Jersey took part in the Battle of Connecticut Farms, New Jersey. Colonel Shreve wrote that this
"Action was the warmest that has Ever Happened since the war with Our Brigade."
June 8 to June 22, 1780
The brigade kept watch on British forces encamped behind their fortifications at Elizabeth Town.
June 23, 1780
Shreve's Regiment again saw action in the Battle of Springfield which resulted in the retreat of the British army
back to Elizabeth Town. At midnight on the 23rd the enemy troops crossed back to Staten Island.
June to November 1780
During this period the Jersey Brigade was situated at several posts to protect the New Jersey side of
the Hudson from enemy incursions. In October they moved to West Point and entered barracks in anticipation of remaining there
for the winter. The brigade also lost their long-time commander, William Maxwell having resigned from service.
November 1780 to January 1781
Contrary to expectations the Jersey troops were ordered to take up winter quarters in and
around Pompton, New Jersey. With the new year another change in command took place, with Israel Shreve resigning as colonel
of the 2nd New Jersey and Colonel Elias Dayton assuming the post.
January 20 to January 27, 1781
The men of the Jersey Brigade at Pompton mutinied to redress their grievances in emulation of
the Pennsylvania troops. The uprising was suppressed quickly with the execution of two of its leaders. In February, after the
Pennsylvania Line mutiny, the New Jersey soldiers moved into the old Pennsylvania huts at Mount Kemble (Jockey Hollow).
February 1781
Two light companies and three battalion companies from the New Jersey line along with the light troops from
New England were selected to form a detachment under the Marquis de Lafayette to serve in Virginia. In addition to other skirmishes
during the spring and summer, these men saw action on June 26, 1781 at Spencer's Ordinary, near Williamsburg. They were
reunited with the rest of the Jersey Brigade at Williamsburg in late September of 1781.
February to June 1781
During the first six months of the year the two New Jersey regiments kept a large proportion of troops on
detached duty, including one company on duty at Wyoming, Pennsylvania. Besides commanding the 2nd Regiment, Colonel
Dayton had charge of the brigade, keeping his headquarters at Chatham, New Jersey. On 30 June Dayton was ordered to
concentrate the whole brigade at Morristown, excepting the troops at Wyoming.
June to August 1781
On June 30 the brigade was ordered to march towards Kingsbridge. They were then redirected towards
Dobb's Ferry and remained in the vicinity of that place until August. On July 21 the brigade was ordered to send a detachment of
troops to Fort Lee and on the 28th 150 New Jersey soldiers escorted General Washington as he reconnoitered the British positions
at New York from the Palisades at Fort Lee.
August 29, 1781
The Continental army left Springfield, New Jersey, bound for Virginia in an effort to trap British forces under
Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown.
September 2, 1781
The American forces passed through Philadelphia on their way south; the following day the French army
under General Rochambeau marched through the city.
September 5, 1781
On this day the French and British fleets battled for control of the Chesapeake Bay. With the defeat of the
British fleet the escape of Cornwallis' troops by sea was blocked.
September 23, 1781
The first contingent of New Jersey troops under General Washington landed near Williamsburg, at which
place they joined the force under Lafayette.
September 29, 1781
The siege of Lord Cornwallis' forces at Yorktown was begun.
October 14, 1781
On this date, at night, the Jersey Light Infantry under Lt. Colonel Francis Barber took part in the assault and
capture of Redoubt Number 10. This was one of two important strongpoints taken, Redoubt Number 9 being captured by French
troops.
October 19, 1781
The capitulation of the British and German forces at Yorktown took place, the enemy troops surrendering their
arms to the French and American armies.
December 1781 to August 1782
The New Jersey regiments for their winter cantonment "take Post somewhere in the Vicinity of
Morristown." The troops may have been housed once more in the old Pennsylvania Line huts at Mount Kemble.
August to October 1782
Through the first half of the year the Jersey regiments spent most of the time in small detachments
doing duty as guards and picquets. On August 29 they left their huts and marched north to join the main army on the other side of
the Hudson at Verplanks Point, crossing at King's Ferry. Leaving Verplanks in October and travelling north, they marched from
"Murderer's Creek" on the 29th a distance of "about five miles to our ground for hutting and encamped."
October 1782 to Spring 1783
On the 30th of October General Washington wrote from Newburgh, New York, that the regiments
of "New Jersey, are hutting in the Neighborhood of this place" it being "of Importance to the Health, care and comfort of the
Troops, as well as economical on many Accounts, that they should be early put into Quarters for the Winter." This, the last
cantonment for the army, was located at New Windsor, New York.
This last winter was relatively uneventful. Ebenezer Elmer, surgeon's mate and then surgeon to the 2nd New Jersey Regiment
from 1777 to 1783, recorded the end of the war in his diary. On April 19 "The cessation of hostilities was announced in camp just
eight years from the commencement thereof." And finally "Our brigade received our furloughs, and we all decamped" on June 6,
1783.
The New Jersey Brigade at the Battle of Monmouth, http://www.revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthM.htm;