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Hillsborough passes an Act for paying the Militia
Various towns determined how they would pay the militia, Hillsborough set the standard for the state. "That the men so voluntarily enlisting in said Company shall receive one shilling and sixpence for every part of a day they are employed in being exercised by any of their officers, and the officers in proportion." -
NJ Provincial Congress passes the Militia Act
This was a plan for regulating the militia in the colony. The Act didn't require militia service, only recommended it. It set the militia age from 16-50 -
Oridinance was passed for the expenses of war
Thirty thousand pounds of proclimation (paper with proclaimed value) money was to be printed. -
Signing of Delcaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence is signed -
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Washington's Retreat
New Jersey Militia began to refuse to turn out after being demoralized by constant ground loss by Washington retreating. However, the British and Hessian following Washington began looting and pillaging and the militia began to act. Small groups began to attack small parties. -
British General Howe issues order
"Head Quarters Trentown 12th of December 1776. Small straggling parties, not dressed like Soldiers and without Officers, not being admissible in War, who presume to Molest or fire upon Soldiers, or peaceable Inhabitants of the Country, will be immediately hanged without Tryal as Assassins" -
Battle of Trenton
As Washington crossed the river to attack the British, he sent two other units to cross the river south of Trenton to prevent the Hessians from escaping and from others reinforcing them but were unable to land because of the storm and ice. Luckily von Donop of Burlington in charge of the Hessians moved south in response to the NJ militia and was out of position to support Trenton. -
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Washington in the Watchung hills
The British tried drawing out Washington and his troops to fight in an open field. Washington used the Militia to constantly harass the British and forced them to retreat to Staten Island and then sail to Philadelphia to attack. -
Cooper's Ferry
New Jersey militia captured 20 British sailors at Cooper's Ferry -
Battle of Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth historic site
NJ Militia, with the Continental army, faced off against the British at Monmouth. The Battle was a political victory because the Continental army met the British in a open field, held their own, and forced the British to retreat. It was the Continental army's first victory in two years. -
British invade New Jersey again
The British landed 5000 troops in Eilizabethtown and moved across the state. Even though the Continental army was outnumbered, the British were unable to bring all their power to force becasue of constant harassment by the New Jersey Militia on their flanks. -
British move toward Springfield
General Greene of the Continental army's was forced back to Springfield.After seeing Greene's strong position in a gap in the mountains, and militia gahtering by the thousands on it's flanks, the British retreated. During this time, Washington also rotated the militia fearing they would desert if forced to stay for a long period of time. -
Long Island Beach Massacre
http://www.revolutionarywarnewjersey.com/new_jersey_revolutionary_war_sites/towns/long_beach_island_nj_revolutionary_war_sites.htm#longbeachisland-massacre Captain Andrew Steelman and his men were massacred on the beach by Tory raiders led by Captain John Bacon, while they were sleeping.
