1777
Fought at a mill in what is now Manville, this engagement was a vital early success in the Forage War. A well-armed British foraging party of about 500 men from New Brunswick raided the mill for flour and livestock. Approximately 450 local New Jersey militia under General Philemon Dickinson waded across the freezing, waist-deep Millstone River to launch a surprise attack. The Americans routed the British in just 20 minutes, capturing 49 prisoners and reclaiming 40 wagons, 107 horses, and over 100 cattle.
1781
A second major mutiny of the winter broke out at Pompton, New Jersey. Approximately 200–300 soldiers from the New Jersey Line revolted, influenced by a similar Pennsylvania mutiny earlier that month. Exhausted by five long winters of cold, lack of pay, and food shortages, they marched toward Trenton to demand redress from the state government. Fearing a total collapse of discipline, General George Washington ordered a detachment from West Point under Major General Robert Howe to crush the uprising unconditionally. The rebellion ended with the arrest and execution of two ringleaders on January 27.
Having defected to the British, Benedict Arnold led a force that burned the town of Richmond, Virginia, on January 20, 1781, as part of a strategy to disrupt the American supply lines in the South.
1783
While the final Treaty of Paris would not be signed until September, a critical breakthrough occurred at Versailles on January 20, 1783. Great Britain signed preliminary peace articles with France and Spain. Because the U.S.–British preliminary treaty (signed in November 1782) was contingent upon Britain reaching terms with France, these signings officially set the stage for the cessation of hostilities. Britain also agreed to cede East and West Florida back to Spain.