Middlebrook encampment
Encyclopedia
The Middlebrook encampment refers to the seasonal encampment of the Continental Army
during the American War for Independence
near Middle Brook
in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
(between Martinsville
and Bound Brook
). The site includes part of the ridge of the First Watchung Mountain
. Its position provided a natural fortress not only protecting the Continental Army, but also overlooking the plains towards New Brunswick
where the British forces were stationed in 1777. The strategic strength of the position contributed ultimately to the success of the Continental Army.
Today, a portion of the encampment site, known as the Washington Camp Ground, is preserved as a National Historic site.
During the winter of 1776–77, Washington rested the Continental Army initially at the encampment near Morristown, New Jersey
. After his outpost garrison at Bound Brook was surprised and routed during the Battle of Bound Brook
in April 1777, Washington moved the encampment closer to Bound Brook to the Middlebrook encampment on May 28 and stayed there until July 2. A total of 8,298 soldiers were housed in the encampment, but 2,660 of them were sick or disabled, unable to fight. In contrast, the British maintained a force of about 17,000 near New Brunswick, New Jersey. From the heights of the Watchung mountains Washington could monitor and counteract British movements. When General Howe
decided to move against Philadelphia
, concern over the threat by the Continental Army made him choose the safer sea route instead of the faster land route. This led to a significant delay in operations for the British and disrupted plans to help General Burgoyne
in northern New York. On June 30, Howe moved his troops to Staten Island in preparation for his Philadelphia campaign, and two days later Washington left Middlebrook and moved the army to Pompton Plains.
was unfurled, after a law to adopt a national flag had been passed by Congress on June 14, 1777. This event is commemorated annually since 1889 on July 4 with a changing of the flag, a reading of the Declaration of Independence
, and the delivery of an historical address at the Washington Camp Ground. Also, by special order of Congress
, a Thirteen Star Flag is flown 24 hours a day at the Washington Camp Ground.
for four months and paid Wallace $1,000. General von Steuben
lived at the Staats House in South Bound Brook
. General Henry Knox
lived at the Jacobus Vanderveer House
in Pluckemin with the Continental Army Artillery known as the Pluckemin Artillery Park. The main body of the much larger British army was at New York. The camp was closed on June 3, 1779 when Washington led his army to Highlands, New York
.
Various other sites of the encampment are accessible for the public including Washington Rock State Park
, an observation site on top of the Watchung mountain ridge, in Green Brook
, and Washington Valley Park
in Bridgewater (nearby, but separate from, the Washington Camp Ground), the Wallace House in Somerville, and the Staats House in South Bound Brook. A sign commemorating the encampment also stands in a now-developed area, at the corner of Chimney Rock and Gilbride Roads.
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
during the American War for Independence
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
near Middle Brook
Middle Brook (New Jersey)
Middle Brook is a tributary of the Raritan River in Somerset, New Jersey in the United States. The stream can be referred to as Rha-weigh-weiros, a Native American name meaning "running from a deep hole", on early maps of the area....
in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. , the township population was 44,464.Bridgewater Township was originally created by Royal Charter on April 4, 1749, from portions of the Northern precinct, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of...
(between Martinsville
Martinsville, New Jersey
Martinsville is an affluent unincorporated area located within Bridgewater in Somerset County, New Jersey. Martinsville is located in northeastern Bridgewater near Warren Township; the 08836 ZIP Code takes in the southern extension of Bernards as well...
and Bound Brook
Bound Brook, New Jersey
Bound Brook is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. At the United States 2010 Census, the population was 10,402.Bound Brook was originally incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 24, 1869, within portions of Bridgewater Township...
). The site includes part of the ridge of the First Watchung Mountain
Watchung Mountains
The Watchung Mountains are a group of three long low ridges of volcanic origin, between 400 ft. and 500 ft. high, lying parallel to each other in northern New Jersey in the United States...
. Its position provided a natural fortress not only protecting the Continental Army, but also overlooking the plains towards New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
where the British forces were stationed in 1777. The strategic strength of the position contributed ultimately to the success of the Continental Army.
Today, a portion of the encampment site, known as the Washington Camp Ground, is preserved as a National Historic site.
The first Middlebrook encampment (1777)
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
. After his outpost garrison at Bound Brook was surprised and routed during the Battle of Bound Brook
Battle of Bound Brook
The Battle of Bound Brook was a surprise attack conducted by British and Hessian forces against a Continental Army outpost at Bound Brook, New Jersey during the American Revolutionary War. The British objective of capturing the entire garrison was not met, although prisoners were taken...
in April 1777, Washington moved the encampment closer to Bound Brook to the Middlebrook encampment on May 28 and stayed there until July 2. A total of 8,298 soldiers were housed in the encampment, but 2,660 of them were sick or disabled, unable to fight. In contrast, the British maintained a force of about 17,000 near New Brunswick, New Jersey. From the heights of the Watchung mountains Washington could monitor and counteract British movements. When General Howe
William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe
William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe, KB, PC was a British army officer who rose to become Commander-in-Chief of British forces during the American War of Independence...
decided to move against Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, concern over the threat by the Continental Army made him choose the safer sea route instead of the faster land route. This led to a significant delay in operations for the British and disrupted plans to help General Burgoyne
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
in northern New York. On June 30, Howe moved his troops to Staten Island in preparation for his Philadelphia campaign, and two days later Washington left Middlebrook and moved the army to Pompton Plains.
First flag: June 1777
Tradition holds that it was at the Middlebrook encampment that the first official flag of the United StatesFlag of the United States
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
was unfurled, after a law to adopt a national flag had been passed by Congress on June 14, 1777. This event is commemorated annually since 1889 on July 4 with a changing of the flag, a reading of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
, and the delivery of an historical address at the Washington Camp Ground. Also, by special order of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, a Thirteen Star Flag is flown 24 hours a day at the Washington Camp Ground.
The second Middlebrook encampment (1778-79)
Washington used the Middlebrook grounds again in the Winter of 1778–9. He brought about 8-10,000 troops to the camp site by November 30, 1778. Soldiers constructed cabins from logs covered with clay similar as they had done at Morristown. Washington himself rented the Wallace House (now converted to a museum) in SomervilleSomerville, New Jersey
Somerville is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,098. It is the county seat of Somerset County....
for four months and paid Wallace $1,000. General von Steuben
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand von Steuben , also referred to as the Baron von Steuben, was a Prussian-born military officer who served as inspector general and Major General of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
lived at the Staats House in South Bound Brook
South Bound Brook, New Jersey
South Bound Brook is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 4,563.What is now South Bound Brook was originally formed as a town within Franklin Township...
. General Henry Knox
Henry Knox
Henry Knox was a military officer of the Continental Army and later the United States Army, and also served as the first United States Secretary of War....
lived at the Jacobus Vanderveer House
Jacobus Vanderveer House
The Jacobus Vanderveer House, also known as Knox House, is a Federal style house located just north of the village of Pluckemin, in Bedminster Township, New Jersey at the junction of US 202 and 206 north of River Road. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
in Pluckemin with the Continental Army Artillery known as the Pluckemin Artillery Park. The main body of the much larger British army was at New York. The camp was closed on June 3, 1779 when Washington led his army to Highlands, New York
Highlands, New York
Highlands is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 12,484 at the 2000 census.The Town of Highlands is on the eastern border of the county....
.
Today
The Washington Camp Ground, on Middlebrook Road in Bridgewater Township, just north of Route 22, was dedicated a historic site by local citizens in 1889, and entered the National Register of Historic Places July 3, 1975. The site is owned and preserved by the Washington Camp Ground Association, which also organizes the annual July 4 program at the site.Various other sites of the encampment are accessible for the public including Washington Rock State Park
Washington Rock State Park
Washington Rock State Park is a scenic state park on top the first Watchung Mountain in Green Brook Township, New Jersey. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry....
, an observation site on top of the Watchung mountain ridge, in Green Brook
Green Brook Township, New Jersey
Green Brook Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 7,203....
, and Washington Valley Park
Washington Valley Park
Washington Valley Park is a public park between the first and second Watchung mountain ridge in the Martinsville section of Bridgewater Township, New Jersey that is administered by the Somerset County Park Commission...
in Bridgewater (nearby, but separate from, the Washington Camp Ground), the Wallace House in Somerville, and the Staats House in South Bound Brook. A sign commemorating the encampment also stands in a now-developed area, at the corner of Chimney Rock and Gilbride Roads.