1776
During the winter of 1775–1776, the 2nd New Jersey Battalion (later the 2nd NJ Regiment) was actively mustering and organizing in Burlington and Trenton. By February 1776, these companies—drawn from Gloucester, Hunterdon, Burlington, Salem, and Sussex counties—were being prepared for the year's upcoming northern campaigns.
1777
Georgia formally adopted a new state constitution, becoming the first state to abolish several traditional English inheritance laws favoring the eldest son and keeping large estates intact; their abolition was a major step toward democratic property reforms.
In a sharp engagement along the Raritan River, American riflemen ambushed a British boat traveling from New Brunswick toward Perth Amboy. This action was part of the “Forage War,” a series of winter skirmishes where NJ militia and Continental troops harassed British supply lines, eventually forcing General Howe to abandon most of his outposts in the state.
Following the adoption of the New Jersey State Constitution just months prior, the state's revolutionary legislature was frequently on the move to evade British capture. By early February, the government was operating in various locations like Haddonfield and Princeton to maintain authority and manage the Council of Safety.
1778
South Carolina became the second state to ratify the Articles of Confederation, moving the colonies closer to a unified, though loose, national government.