1779
In the winter of 1779, as the bitter cold gripped the land and the cause of American liberty hung in the balance, the Continental Army at Jockey Hollow persisted, with George Washington at the Ford House in Morristown as his winter headquarters. It was known as the ‘Worst Winter’ for it’s 26 brutal blizzards and the freezing of the Hudson river, which stopped all travel.
A group of brave people set forth on a journey that would bring them into the heart of the fight for freedom. From Elizabeth to Union [then Connecticut Farms], upward through Springfield and Millburn, and then up over the rugged Watchung Mountains to Morristown, Jockey Hollow and Hunterdon County, these rebels—farmers, tradesmen, and minutemen—answered the call to defend their friends, their families, and their country against the relentless march of the British and their Hessian allies. They would play a major part of the militia forces that defended Morristown from any British attack at the Hobart Gap, the only way up the Watchung Mountains to Washington’s Headquarters.
Elizabeth
It began in Elizabeth, a town that had long been a center of Enlightenment sentiment, despite the looming threat of British occupation. A group of men of the Second Hunterdon County Regiment, many of whom were farmers who had tilling their fields just days before, gathered in the early hours of the morning, arrived to defend New Jersey. Their homes were scattered across the rolling hills of Hunterdon County, but they had come together at the summons of the Continental Army, knowing that their duty was greater than any personal sacrifice. Col. Abraham Bonnell’s family was one of the founders of Elizabeth-town in 1664 and he was a close friend to General Maxwell who had earlier worked with him procuring boats for Washington’s 1776 ‘Christmas Crossing’. Together they were in full strength on the hills of the Watchung Mountains on June 23rd, 1780 during the Battle of Springfield. Bonnell was part of the “Sons of Liberty” network which used taverns to have secret meetings and recruit support. He took over his own tavern after, working with his good friend David Reynolds, a native of Ireland, like many others involved in a war against Royal Britain, until Reynolds was executed by the British on September 17th, 1773 for his secret Counterfeiting operation with Samuel Ford, the nephew of Colonel Jacob Ford whose Morristown home became Washington’s headquarters during the winter of 1779-80. On December 17th, 1776 Jacob Ford and his militia defended Springfield at the mostly forgotten ‘First Battle of Springfield’ before returning to Morristown. On January 4th, the day after the victory of Princeton, Colonel Ford was ordered to march his men to Chatham, but was struck with ‘Pleurisy and delirium’, dying of pneumonia on January 10th, 1777 and buried in the Morristown Presbyterian Church.
Springfield
Springfield was not just a strategic location, but a symbol of resistance, and the militia knew they would need to fight to protect it, despite the outnumbering British and Hessian troops. The local farmers had taken up arms when the beacon alarms were sounded—the Minutemen—whose very name signified their readiness to fight at a moment’s notice, rose to the occasion. Many of these farmers had seen the ravages of war firsthand. Their homes were often on the front lines, and they had no choice but to stand firm against the advancing forces of tyranny.
Other regiments of militia swarmed to the Hobart Gap. The Ogdens, the Meekers, the Cranes, the Beaches, the Quicks, the Presbyterian Reverends, and so many others all joined the ranks of the defense in New Jersey. By the time their forces reached the Watchung Mountains, their ranks had swelled with soldiers from nearby counties. As they stood above the rocky peaks of the Watchung Mountains, they looked out upon the landscape below—their land, their home, but a land now threatened by foreign forces. It was here, on the mountain ridges, that they would make their stand. From the heights of the Watchungs, they could see the British and Hessian forces advancing, intent on breaking the rebel defenses.
Above Jockey Hollow
In the hills beyond Jockey Hollow, the spirit of the American Revolution was embodied in the people who had traveled from distant counties—farmers, tradesmen, and everyday people who had become soldiers. They had crossed miles of treacherous terrain, faced the dangers of war, and battled through the harshest winter to protect the cause of liberty. It was here that the Minutemen of New Jersey, like those from the Second Hunterdon Regiment, cemented their place in the history of the Revolution. Their resolve, their courage, and their love of liberty would inspire generations to come, and their efforts at places like Springfield would prove vital in the ultimate victory that secured independence for the United States.
Strength of the American Spirit
Thus, the story of these farmers and militia men from Elizabeth, Union, Springfield, and beyond—through Millburn, over the Watchung Mountains, and into the heart of the Morristown encampment—serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made and the determination of those who fought for freedom, despite the overwhelming odds they faced. Their journey was not just a march through the land, but a testament to the strength of the American spirit during one of the darkest winters of the Revolution.
