The Retreat Across New Jersey

Shortly after the Declaration of Independence was signed in July of 1776, both the Continental and British forces sought control of New York City and the vital Hudson River. The British landed on Long Island in August and, after three months of fighting, eventually arrived at the river. The only remaining Continental threat that stood in their path were Fort Washington and Fort Lee.

On November 16, 1776, 8,000 British and Hessian troops would force the surrender of Fort Washington. Four days later, 5,000 British and Hessian troops landed at the base of Fort Lee. Unwilling to risk more troop losses, General George Washington and his army would quickly evacuate. Thus, Washington’s retreat across New Jersey began, with a goal of reaching safer territory in Pennsylvania. The Continental army would pass through many New Jersey towns, including Hackensack, Newark, Elizabeth, Woodbridge, New Brunswick, Princeton and Trenton.

Hanover Township’s Jedediah Beach was one of the many soldiers who helped to construct Fort Lee. Morris Township’s George Emmell fought in the Battle of Fort Washington, where he was captured by the British. He managed to escape after a month in prison and would eventually return to Morris County, where he is buried in Morristown’s First Presbyterian Churchyard. One of his grandsons, Heyward Glover “H. G.” Emmell, would go on to serve in the U.S. Civil War.

To learn more about the Battle of Forts Lee and Washington and read about the Morris County soldiers who participated, visit the ‘Battles’ section of our StoryMap: Morris County in the American Revolution.

Crossroads of the American Revolution offers an audio tour of Washington’s “Retreat Across the Jerseys”. It can be used as a driving tour, or you can take the tour remotely. For more information visit: https://revolutionarynj.org/stories/retreat-across-the-jerseys/

 

Image: Forcing a Passage of the Hudson River, 9 October 1776 by Thomas Mitchell (National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London)