1777
Following his victories at Trenton and Princeton, General George Washington issued a significant proclamation from his new headquarters at Arnold’s Tavern in Morristown. Washington ordered all residents who had previously taken an oath of allegiance to Great Britain to head to headquarters within 30 days. These individuals were required to either swear a new oath of allegiance to the United States or withdraw themselves and their families behind British lines. This was a critical step in asserting American authority over New Jersey’s “Crossroads” territory.
1780
During the brutal “Hard Winter” of 1779–1780, British forces took advantage of the frozen Hudson River to launch simultaneous surprise raids. British troops crossed the ice on sleighs from New York to Jersey City and marched to Newark. They burned the Newark Academy (then located at what is now Washington Park), ransacked homes, and captured over 30 Americans as prisoners. The same night another British force raided Elizabeth, burning the First Presbyterian Church, the courthouse, and another local academy. The raid was notably led by Cornelius Hetfield, a local Tory whose father was an elder at the very church he destroyed.
1781
This engagement was a crucial point in General Lord Cornwallis’s pursuit of American General Daniel Morgan following the American victory at the Battle of Cowpens. Morgan's army had crossed the flooded Catawba River in North Carolina two days earlier. On January 25, Cornwallis arrived with his British forces, intending to cross and trap the Americans. General William Davidson and his North Carolina militia were waiting on the opposite bank to defend the ford. As the British crossed a sharp skirmish ensued. The British forced their way across, and General Davidson was killed, dealing a heavy blow to the local militia. Cornwallis’s advance was delayed, allowing Morgan’s main army to escape.
2026 Commemorations in New Jersey
As part of the America 250 celebrations today:
- Newark History Tours (Newark) Special walking tours are available through Washington Park to commemorate the burning of the Newark Academy.
- Morristown Encampment Walks (Morristown) National Park rangers are leading tours at Morristown National Historical Park to discuss the 1777 and 1780 winter hardships.