A view of Continental Troops encamped on the property of Lewis Morris, III, in Hardyston N.J.
In our journey through the Revolutionary War, during this Semiquincentennial year, we might want to realize a few things about the war, and also the time period.
The war, as it turned out, required the American troops to perform much movement. This had strategic intent and it also grew out of necessity. How did this work?
At that time, there were no motorized vehicles. Not many people had horses, so walking was the “weakest link” in a hasty move from one point to another. Where would General Washington want to take his troops?
An important area for a headquarters for the officers and a campground for the troops was Newburgh, N.Y. Another place was Morristown, N.J. So, what is the nature of their travel from one place to another?
Between Newburgh, N.Y. (Washington’s final wartime headquarters), and Morristown, N.J. (the Continental Army’s major winter encampment site), the army used a chain of intermediate posts, cantonments, and temporary encampments. These other locations weren’t as large or as famous as Morristown, but they formed a continuous military corridor through the Hudson Highlands and northern New Jersey.
New Windsor was just south of Newburgh where Washington’s army spent the winter of 1782–83 — the final major encampment of the war. This was a full military city of huts, parade grounds, and supply depots.
Vails Gate was south of New Windsor A major logistics hub between Newburgh and the Hudson River crossings. Troops frequently bivouacked here when moving south.
Our own Route 94, that winds its way through Sussex County was known back then as the King’s Highway. This highway goes through Vails Gate, and then through New Windsor and finally to Newburgh where Washington’s headquarters stood, high above the Hudson River with good views.
Further south were Hudson Highland forts. These weren’t winter encampments but were temporary camping places. These included Fort Montgomery, Fort Clinton, the large West Point, and Fort Putnam.
A major Continental Army supply and ironworking center was at Ringwood. Washington, Greene, and other officers passed through or stayed here. Troops camped in the surrounding hills when escorting supplies south.
A frequent encampment and rest point for units moving between the Hudson Highlands and Morristown was a Pompton, N.J. Another was at Totowa and Great Notch. Then there were the locations in Morristown, as with the Green, and just to the south was Jockey Hollow.
For a full army on the move — wagons, artillery, livestock, camp followers, and thousands of soldiers — the standard daily distance was: 8-12 miles per day. This was the normal, sustainable pace. So if, instead of the Newburgh to Ringwood to Morristown route they went further west they would have gone something like the following.
Day 1: Newburgh to Blooming Grove. Day 2: Blooming Grove to Warwick (and the general may have stayed at Baird’s Tavern, still standing). Day 3: Warwick to Hamburg, and stay on Lewis Morris III property (where today’s Wallkill Valley High School is, and along the Wallkill River). Day 4: Hamburg to Newton, (and the general may stay with the quartermaster Anderson, whose house is still standing). Day 5: Newton to Morristown.
There’s a layout of a trek from the two large encampments with way stops along the route. Several of these cover our Sussex County and include our heritage like the Unknown Soldier buried on Cherry Lane or the DAR marker at the Wallkill High School barn.
Bill Truran, Sussex County’s historian, may be contacted at billt1425@gmail.com He is the author of “Franklin High School: Two Basketball Dynasties (with Mike Ferrara).”
