Routine duty on the lines was interrupted on January 14-15 by what might
be termed a “commando” raid on Staten Island. This daring expedition,
planned by Washington and undertaken by Maj. Gen. William Alexander,
Lord Stirling, was prepared with the utmost secrecy. Five hundred
sleighs were obtained on pretence of going to the westward for
provisions. On the night of the 14th, loaded with cannon and about 3,000
troops, these crossed over on the ice from Elizabethtown Point “with a
determination,” to quote Q. M. Joseph Lewis, “to remove all Staten
Island bagg and Baggage to Morris Town.”
Unfortunately for American hopes, the British learned about the scheme
in time to retire into their posts, where they could defy attack. After
lingering on the island for 24 hours without covering, with the snow 4
feet deep and the weather extremely cold, Stirling’s force could bring
off only a handful of prisoners and some blankets and stores. What
disturbed Washington most, however, was the disgraceful conduct
displayed by large numbers of New Jersey civilians who joined the
expedition in the guise of militiamen, and who, in spite of Stirling’s
earnest efforts, looted and plundered the Staten Island farmers
indiscriminately. All the stolen property that could be recovered was
returned to the British authorities a few days later, but the harm had
been done. On the night of January 25, the enemy retaliated by burning
the academy at Newark and the courthouse and the meeting house at
Elizabethtown. That exploit also marked the beginning of a new series of
British raids in Essex and Bergen Counties which kept those districts in
considerable uneasiness for several months to come.
[Illustration: MORRISTOWN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
Showing Points of Historic Interest and Visitor Use]
LEGEND
Park Boundary
Main Tour Route
Historic road for foot travel only
TABLE OF DISTANCES
Total Mileage, Main Tour Route—9 Miles
Headquarters Area to Fort Nonsense Area—1.5 Miles
Fort Nonsense Area to Jockey Hollow Area—3.3 Miles
1. HISTORICAL MUSEUM.
2. FORD MANSION, WASHINGTON’S HEADQUARTERS, 1779-80.
3. SITE OF WASHINGTON’S LIFE GUARD CAMP, 1779-80.
4. PARK SQUARE (MORRISTOWN GREEN, 1779-80).
5. SITE OF ARNOLD TAVERN, WASHINGTON’S HEADQUARTERS, 1777.
6. FORT NONSENSE, 1777 (NOW RECONSTRUCTED).
7. GUERIN HOUSE (PARK SUPERINTENDENT’S RESIDENCE).
8. RANGER STATION (INFORMATION POINT).
9. NEW YORK BRIGADE CAMP, 1779-80.
10. PICNIC AREA AND REST ROOMS.
11. NATURE TRAIL.
12. OLD CAMP ROAD, 1779-80.
13. FIRST MARYLAND BRIGADE CAMP, 1779-80.
14. SECOND MARYLAND BRIGADE CAMP, 1779-80.
15. BETTIN OAK AND FORT HILL.
16. NEW JERSEY BRIGADE CAMP, 1781-82.
17. WICK HOUSE, ST. CLAIR’S QUARTERS, 1779-80.
18. ARMY BURYING GROUND, 1779-80.
19. RECONSTRUCTED ARMY HOSPITAL HUT, 1779-80.
20. FIRST PENNSYLVANIA BRIGADE CAMP AND RECONSTRUCTED OFFICERS’ HUT,
1779-80.
21. SECOND PENNSYLVANIA BRIGADE CAMP, 1779-80.
22. GRAND PARADE, 1779-80.
23. HAND’S BRIGADE CAMP, 1779-80, AND RECONSTRUCTED SOLDIERS’ HUT.
24. FIRST CONNECTICUT BRIGADE CAMP, 1779-80.
25. SECOND CONNECTICUT BRIGADE CAMP, 1779-80.
26. SITE OF KEMBLE HOUSE, WAYNE’S QUARTERS, 1780-81.
27. STARK’S BRIGADE CAMP, 1779-80.
28. KNOX ARTILLERY CAMP, 1779-80.
Sept. 1949 NHP-MOR-7001