Such was the general condition of affairs when, on November 30,
Washington informed Nathanael Greene, then Quartermaster General, that
he had finally decided “upon the position back of Mr. Kembles,” about 3
miles southwest of Morristown, for the next winter encampment of the
Continental forces under his immediate command. As he later wrote to the
President of Congress, this was the nearest place available “compatible
with our security which could also supply water and wood for covering
and fuel.”
The site thus chosen lay in a somewhat mountainous section of Morris
County known as Jockey Hollow, and included portions of the “plantation”
owned by Peter Kemble, Esq., and the farms of Henry Wick and Joshua
Guerin. Some of the American brigades being already collected at nearby
posts, Greene at once sent word to their commanders of Washington’s
decision: “The ground I think will be pretty dry; I shall have the whole
of it laid off this day; you will therefore order the troops to march
immediately; or if you think it more convenient tomorrow morning. It
will be well to send a small detachment from each Regiment to take
possession of their ground. You will also order on your brigade quarter
master to draw the tools for each brigade and to get a plan for hutting
which they will find made out at my quarters.”
Simultaneously with this instruction, which was dated December 1,
Washington himself arrived in Morristown, during a “very severe storm of
hail & snow all day.” He promptly established his headquarters at the
Ford Mansion, presumably at the invitation of Mrs. Theodosia Ford, widow
of Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., who was then living in the house with her four
children. Morristown had again become the American military capital.