BATTLES AND SKIRMISHES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION in New Jersey by David C. Munn,

In 1945, John D Alden, then historian of the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NJSSAR), researched and wrote the text for the original “Battles and Skirmishes” as a key to a modern map on this page. In 1965 D. Stanton Hammond made additions and revisions for the NJSSAR.  Hammond brought the new map to the attention of the NJ Geology and Topography Bureau and Archives and History, suggesting that it be produced for the bicentennial. The Bureau of Archives and History provided the research, using Alden’s original files as a starting point. The Bureau of Geology and Topography provided the draftsman and the technical cartographic assistance. David C. Munn wrote the final text for the book.

The map intends to suggest the approximate sights of the various battles and skirmishes that occurred during the revolutionary war rather than pinpoint the exact locations. Along the same lines, this book will provide on brief descriptions of the actions, adding bibliographic references for more detailed information.  The number of violent events in New Jersey during the revolutionary war years can never be determined. The era in New Jersey began with the “tea party” at Greenwich on December 22, 1774, and ended with a naval encounter on March 3, 1783, nearly nine years later.

The lack of primary source materials makes local actions, both British and American, extremely difficult to discover and document. The problem is most evident in areas such as Elizabethtown and Staten Island, and particularly in the “neutral ground” where the conflict became, more or less, a way of life for the citizens.  The same problems occur in documenting naval actions off the Jersey Coast. In many instances, only the fact that a raid occurred is on record, with no mention of the participants or the results and casualties. In such cases, only the citation is presented.

Regardless, this book lists some 732 actions – with over 47 in or near modern Elizabeth alone and 128 naval actions off the Jersey Coast and in its rivers and bays. Sorted by place name and cross-referenced chronologically, and indexed with source notes, you can download a .pdf of this book for your own study.