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Bring on the Revolution!

Middlebrook: Ever hear of it?

Learn the story of Middle Brook presented by Linda Barth, author and co-chair of the Middlebrook Symposium Committee.

The Revolutionary War was a cat and mouse game involving pursuit, evasion, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and constantly shifting strategy. Because New Jersey was centrally located between New York City and Philadelphia, it was a coveted geographical location to control. It’s no surprise that more skirmishes and battles were fought here than in any other colony. And George Washington and his troops had to live somewhere while away from home. Depending on how long they planned to remain in a particular area, sometimes they pitched tents (an encampment) and sometimes they built huts (a cantonment) at strategic locations. The goal was to keep an eye on the British. At the risk of oversimplifying the situation, after those ten crucial days from December 25, 1776 to January 3, 1777 involving the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, Washington and his men encamped for the winter in Morristown, establishing outposts at various key locations to detect/ monitor British movement. The British, headquartered in New Brunswick, decided to launch a surprise attack on one such outpost in Bound Brook but, because they had to ford the Raritan River, They could not do so until the winter had passed. But then, in April, attack they did! It was 4000 British against 500 Continentals! The Continentals escaped via an unguarded exit. Washington took immediate action, sending troops to Bound Brook and moving his camp from Morristown to a place called Middle Brook (as it was originally spelled), in the Watchung Mountains, to keep a closer eye on the enemy.

Linda Barth will pick up the story from here.

The Van Harlingen Historical Society and the Somerset County Library System is proud to host this program in collaboration. 

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