USA > New Jersey > Historical collections of the state of New Jersey : containing a general collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc. relating to its history and antiquities, with geographical desciptions of every township in the state. > Part 43
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The following inscriptions are from monuments in the graveyard in the village of Woodbridge :-
In memory of Dr. MOSES BLOOMFIELD, 40 years a physician and surgeon, in this town, senior physician and surgeon in the hospital of the United States, representative in the provincial congress and general assembly, an upright magistrate, elder of the Presbyte- rian church, &c. Born 4th Dec., 1729, died 14th Aug., 1791, in his 63d year. Tim. i. 12,-I know in whom I have believed.
Here is interred the precious remains of Mrs. RUTH PIERSON, wife of the Rev. Mr John Pierson, and daughter of the Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, of Hartford, in New Eng. land, who fell asleep in Jesus, 7th of January, 1732, ætatis 38.
Reposed to rest, in this cold bed do lie Remains of meekness, prudence, piety :
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Best of Christians, parents, wives, and friends, Grim death to this dark house remorseless sends ; Once dear to all, still dear to Christ, who'll make This dust revive, and in his likeness wake.
MONMOUTH COUNTY.
MONMOUTH co. was first established in 1675, but its boundaries were definitely settled in 1709-10 and 1713-14. Its extreme length is 65, and extreme breadth 32 m .; it is bounded N. by Raritan bay, E. by the Atlantic ocean, SWV. by Burlington co., and NW. by Mid- dlesex and Mercer cos. The soil is generally light, and the middle and southern part mostly covered with pines. The surface is level. excepting in the township of Middletown. Agriculture is the chief business of the upper part of the county, and there are there many farms under the highest state of cultivation. Marl abounds in this region, and land, once comparatively valueless, has been rendered very productive by this manure. Peat, mixed with a small portion of lime, is growing into use in the western part of the county for fertilizing the land, and this material, fortunately, is in most cases found where most required, viz., without the limits of the marl formation. In the central and southern portions of the county, there are a few settlements and furnaces scattered among the pines. Along the sea-coast are several flourishing villages, from which large quantities of wood and charcoal are exported. From these places sail many coasting vessels, manned by skilful seamen, unsurpassed by any in the Union. This county was originally set- tled by Dutch, Scotch, and some New England emigrants, who removed here about the year 1664. Twenty years later, it was the most wealthy county in the province, and paid the greatest amount of taxes. In the war of the revolution it suffered severely. Its easy access from New York, and the safe anchorage for vessels within Sandy Hook, rendered it a favorite resort of the royalists for forage and plunder. Some of its inhabitants were awed into submission to the crown, and took up arms against their former neighbors, between whom occurred many sanguinary conflicts. Within its borders occurred one of the severest battles of the war Monmouth co. is divided into 7 townships, viz :-
Dover, . Howell, Shrewsbury, Upper Freehold.
Freehold, Middletown, Stafford,
The population in 1810, was 22,150; in 1820, 25,038 ; in 1830, 29,233 ; in 1840, 32,873.
DOVER.
' This township was first formed from Shrewsbury, in 1767, and incorporated by the state legislature in 1798. It is about 20 m.
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long, 16 wide, and is bounded N. by Freehold, Upper Freehold, and Howell, E. by the Atlantic ocean, S. by Stafford, and W. by Nor- thampton and Hanover, Burlington co. There are in the township 20 stores, 2 furnaces, 2 forges, 4 grist-m., 6 saw-m .; cap. in manu- fac. $1,900 ; 10 schools, 824 scholars. Pop. 2,731.
Along the seashore is a strip of fertile land ; the remaining por- tion of the township is covered with pine, oak, maple, and cedar. Outside of Barnegat bay, parallel with the coast, Island and Squan beach stretch along for about 20 miles.
The thriving village of Toms River is on both banks of the river of the same name, which is crossed by a handsome wooden bridge. . It is 25 miles S. of Freehold, and contains about 70 dwellings, 5 mercantile stores, and a Methodist church. The chief business is the exportation of cord-wood and timber, in which many coasting vessels are engaged. Cedar Creek or Williamsburg, 7 miles S. of Toms River, contains about 25 dwellings. Goodluck is a small set- tlement about half a mile SW. of the latter. Forked River, 2 miles below Goodluck, has about 20 dwellings, a grist-mill, 2 stores, and several mechanic shops. Considerable wood and charcoal are ex- ported from here. At the Phoenix and Manchester furnaces, in the N. part of the township, large quantities of iron have been manu- factured. A railroad has lately been constructed from the latter place, 9 miles in length, to Toms River. Dover and Farrago fur- naces are in the central part. There are saw-mills scattered on the various streams by which the township is abundantly watered, at which are annually prepared immense quantities of lumber for market. :
In the American revolution, a rude fort or blockhouse was erect- ed a short distance N. of the bridge, at the village of Toms River, on a hill about a hundred yards E. of the road to Freehold, on land now belonging to the heirs of Elijah Robins, deceased. In the lat- ter part of the war this blockhouse was attacked by a superior force of the enemy. Its commander, Capt. Huddy, most gallantly defended it until his ammunition was expended, and no alternative but surrender left. After the little brave garrison was in their power, it is said they deliberately murdered five men asking for quarters. From thence Capt. Huddy, Justice Randolph, and the remaining prisoners, were taken to New York, when, suffering the various progressions of barbarity inflicted upon those destined to a violent or lingering death, those two gentlemen, with a Mr. Flem- · ing, were put into the hold of a vessel. Capt. Huddy was ironed hand and foot, and shortly after barbarously hanged on the shore at the Highlands of Navisink .. Annexed is the British account of this expedition, taken from Rivington's Royal Gazette :
The authentic account of the expedition against the rebel post on Toms river, New Jersey, under the Honorable Board of Associated Loyalists :
On Wednesday the 20th inst., [March, 1782.] Lieut. Blanchard, of the armed whale- boats, and about eighty men belonging to them, with Capt. Thomas and Lieut. Roberts, both of the late Bucks county volunteers, and between thirty and forty other refugee loyalists, the whole under the command of Lieut. Blanchard, proceeded to Sandy Hook,
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under convoy of Capt. Stewart Ross, in the armed brig Arrogant, where they were de- tained by unfavorable winds until the 23d. About 12 o'clock on that night, the party landed near the mouth of Toms river, and marched to the blockhouse at the town of Dover, [now Toms River,] and reached it just at daylight. On their way they were challenged and fired upon, and when they came to the works they found the rebels, con- sisting of twenty-five or twenty-six twelve months men and militia, apprized of their com- ing, and prepared for defence.
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The post into which they had thrown themselves was about six or seven feet high, made with large logs with loop-holes between, and a number of brass swivels on the top, which was entirely open, nor was there any way of entering but by climbing over. They had, besides swivels, muskets with bayonets, and long pikes for their defence. Lieut. Blanchard summoned them to surrender, which they not only refused, but bid the party defiance : on which he immediately ordered the place to be stormed, which was accord- ingly done, and though defended with obstinacy, was soon carried. The rebels had nine men killed in the assault, and twelve made prisoners, two of whom are wounded. The rest made their escape in the confusion. Among the killed was a major of the mili- tia, two captains, and one lieutenant. The captain of the twelve months men stationed there, is amongst the prisoners, who are all brought safe to town .. On our side, two were killed-Lieut. Iredel, of the armed boatmen, and Lieut. Inslee, of the loyalists, both very brave officers, who distinguished themselves on the attack, and whose loss is much lamented. Lieut. Roberts and five others are wounded, but it is thought none of them are in a dangerous way.
The Town, as it is called, consisting of about a dozen houses, in which none but a piratical set of banditti resided, together with a grist and saw-mill, were with the block- house burned to the ground, and an iron cannon spiked and thrown into the river. . A fine large barge, (called Hyler's barge,) and another boat in which the rebels used to make their excursions on the coast, were brought off. Some other attenipts were intend- ed to have been made, but the appearance of bad weather, and the situation of the wounded, being without either surgeon or inedicines, induced the party to return to New York, where they arrived on the twenty-fifth.
FREEHOLD.
This township was incorporated in 1798. Its extreme length is 23, breadth 10 miles. It is bounded NW. by South Amboy and Mon- roe, Middlesex co .; E. by Middletown, Shrewsbury, and Howell ; S. by Dover, and W. by Upper Freehold. Its surface is level or un- dulating ; soil, sand, loam, and clay. The southern part is covered with pines, the northern and middle fertile, abounding in fine farms, fertilized by marl of an excellent quality. There are in the town- ship 12 stores, 11 grist-m., 11 saw-m .; cap. in manufac. $21,165; 17 schools, 637 scholars. Pop. 6,303.
Freehold, the seat of justice for Monmouth county, is on a plain in the eastern part of the township, slightly elevated above the sur- rounding country, and distant from Trenton 30 miles. The village is handsomely built, containing many large dwellings with spacious grounds, exhibiting evidence of wealth and refinement. It has 4 hotels, 6 mercantile stores, the county buildings, an academy, 2 newspaper printing-offices, about 450 inhabitants, and 5 churches, viz : 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, 1 Reformed Dutch, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Baptist. Of these the Episcopal is the most ancient. It was standing in the revolution, and used for barracks by the soldiery. Balls; mementoes of those perilous times, have been found buried in its walls. This village properly dates its origin from the period when the county courts were held here in 1735, and in olden times
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was known by the appellation of "Monmouth Courthouse." A short time after, the first courthouse was erected, just in front of the site of the present one, near the street. It was of antique ar- chitecture, of wood, had a peaked roof, and the main body of the structure was clapboarded with shingles. About the year 1800, upon the erection of the present handsome edifice, it was removed
View of the Courthouse, Freehold.
across the street, and used as a barn. Some of the original timber is now preserved in an outbuilding in the village. The new court- house, together with the county offices, are of brick, erected at an expense not far from $28,000. This village will ever be memora- ble in American history on account of one of the most sanguinary battles of the revolution being fought in its vicinity-the battle of Monmouth, June 28th, 1778.
BATTLE OF MONMOUTH.
The main army of the Americans, after crossing Coryell's ferry, (now Lambertville, Hunterdon co.,) on the 20th and 21st of June, proceeded by the way of Hopewell, Rocky Hill, Kingston, and Cranberry, and on the 28th overtook, at Monmouth Courthouse, the British army, then on their retreat through New Jersey from Philadelphia to New York. Annexed is Washington's account of the battle, given in a letter to the President of Congress.
ENGLISHTOWN, July 1, 1778.
SIR-I embrace this first moment of leisure to give congress a more full and particular account of the movements of the army under my command, since its passing the Delaware, than the situation of our affairs would here- tofore permit.
I had the honor to advise them, that on the appearance of the enemy's in- tentions to march through Jersey becoming serious, I had detached General Maxwell's brigade, in conjunction with the militia of that state, to interrupt and impede their progress by every obstruction in their power, so as to give
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time to the army under my command to come up with them, and take ad- vantage of any favorable circumstances that might present themselves. The army having proceeded to Coryell's ferry, and crossed the Delaware at that place, I immediately detached Col. Morgan, with a select corps of 600 men, to reinforce Gen. Maxwell, and marched with the main body toward Princeton.
The slow advances of the enemy had greatly the air of design, and led me with many others to suspect that Gen. Clinton, desirous of a general ac- tion, was endeavoring to draw us down into the lower country, in order by a rapid movement to gain our right, and take possession of the strong ground above us. This consideration, and to give the troops time to repose and re- fresh themselves from the fatigues they had experienced from rainy and ex- cessive hot weather, determined me to holt at Hopewell township, about five miles from Princeton, where we remained until the morning of the 25th. On the preceding day I made a second detachment of 1,500 chosen troops, under Brigadier-general Scott, to reinforce those already in the vicinity of the enemy, the more effectually to annoy and delay their march.
The next day the army moved to Kingston, and having received intelli- gence that the enemy were prosecuting their route toward Monmouth Courthouse, I dispatched 1,000 select men under Brigadier-general Wayne, and sent the Marquis de Lafayette to take the command of the whole of the advanced corps, including Maxwell's brigade and Morgan's light-infantry, with orders to take the first fair opportunity of attacking the enemy's rear. In the evening of the same day the whole army advanced from Kingston, where our baggage was left, with intention to preserve a proper distance for supporting the advanced corps, and arrived at Cranberry early the next morning. The intense heat of the weather, and a heavy storm unluckily coming on, made it impossible for us to resume our march that day, without great inconvenience and injury to the troops. Our advanced corps being differently circumstanced, moved from the position it had held the night be- fore, and took post in the evening on the Monmouth road, about five miles from the enemy's rear, in the expectation of attacking them the next morn- ing on their march. The main body having remained at Cranberry, the ad- vanced corps was found to be too remote, and too far upon the right, to be supported either in case of an attack upon, or from the enemy, which in- duced me to send orders to the marquis to file off by his left toward Eng- lishtown, which he accordingly executed early in the morning of the 27th.
The enemy, in marching from Allentown, had changed their disposition, and placed their best troops in the rear ; consisting of all the grenadiers, light-infantry, and chasseurs of the line. This alteration made it necessary to increase the number of our advanced corps, and in consequence of which I detached Major-general Lee, with two brigades, to join the marquis at Englishtown, on whom of course the command of the whole devolved, amounting to about 5,000 men. The main army marched the same day, and encamped within three miles of that place. Morgan's corps was left hovering on the enemy's right flank, and the Jersey militia, amounting at this time to about 700 or 800 men, under Gen. Dickinson, on their left.
The enemy were now encamped in a strong position, with their right ex- tending about a mile and a half beyond the courthouse, in the parting of the road leading to Shrewsbury and Middletown, and their left along the road from Allentown to Monmouth, about three miles this side of the courthouse. Their right flank lay on the skirt of a small wood, while their left was se- cured by a very thick one; a morass running toward their rear, and their
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whole front covered by a wood, and to a considerable extent toward the left with a morass. In this situation they halted, until the morning of the 28th.
Matters being thus situated, and having had the best information, that if the enemy were once arrived at the heights of Middletown, 10 or 12 miles from where they were, it would be impossible to attempt any thing against them with a prospect of success, I determined to attack their rear the mo- ment they should get in motion from their present ground. I communicated my intention to Gen. Lee, and ordered him to make his disposition for the attack, and to keep his troops constantly lying upon their arms, to be in readiness at the shortest notice. This was done with respect to the troops under my immediate command.
About five in the morning Gen. Dickinson sent an express, informing that the front of the enemy had begun their march. I instantly put the army in motion, and sent orders by one of my aids to Gen. Lee, to move on and at- tack them, unless there should be very powerful reasons to the contrary ; acquainting him at the same time that I was marching to support him, and for doing it with the greatest expedition and convenience, should make the men disencumber themselves of their packs and blankets.
After marching five miles, to my great surprise and mortification, I met the whole advanced corps retreating, and, as I was told, by Gen. Lee's or- ders, without having made any opposition, except one fire, given by the par- ty under the command of Col. Butler, on their being charged by the enemy's cavalry, who were repulsed. I proceeded immediately to the rear of the corps, which I found closely pressed by the enemy, and gave directions for forming part of the retreating troops, who, by the brave and spirited con- duct of the officers, aided by some pieces of well-served artillery, checked the enemy's advances, and gave time to make a disposition of the left wing and second lines of the army upon an eminence and in a wood a little in the rear, covered by a morass in front. On this were placed some batteries of cannon, by Lord Stirling, who commanded the left wing, which played upon the enemy with great effect, and seconded by parties of infantry de- tached to oppose them, effectually put a stop to their advance.
Gen. Lee being detached with the advanced corps, the command of the right wing was given, for the occasion, to Gen. Greene. For the expedi- tion of the march, and to counteract any attempt to turn our right, I had ordered him to file off by the new church 2 miles from Englishtown, and fall into the Monmouth road, a small distance in the rear of the courthouse, while the rest of the column moved on directly toward the courthouse. On intelligence of the retreat, he marched up, and took up a very advantageous position on the right.
The enemy, by this time finding themselves warmly opposed in front, made an attempt to turn our left flank ; but they were bravely repulsed, and driven back by detached parties of infantry. They also made a move- ment toward our right, with as little success; Gen. Greene having ad- vanced a body of troops, with artillery, to a commanding piece of ground,- which not only disappointed their design of turning our right, but severely enfiladed those in front of the left wing. In addition to this, Gen. Wayne advanced with a body of troops, and kept up so severe and well-directed a fire, that the enemy were soon compelled to retire behind the defile where the first stand in the beginning of the action was made.
In this situation, the enemy had both their flanks secured by thick woods and morasses, while their front could only be approached through a narrow
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pass. I resolved, nevertheless, to attack them,-and for that purpose or- dered Gen. Poor, with his own and the Carolina brigade, to move round upon their right, and Gen. Woodford upon their left, and the artillery to gall them in front ; but the impediments in the way prevented their getting with- in reach before it was dark. They remained upon the ground they had been directed to occupy, during the night, with intention to begin the attack early the next morning ; and the army continued lying upon their arms in the field of action, to be ready to support them. In the mean time, the ene- my were employed in removing their wounded, and, about 12 o'clock at night, marched away in such silence, that, although Gen. Poor lay extreme- ly near them, they effected their retreat without his knowledge. They car- ried off all their wounded except four officers and about forty privates, whose wounds were too dangerous to permit their removal. The extreme heat of the weather, the fatigue of the men from their march through a deep, sandy country, almost entirely destitute of water, and the distance the enemy had gained by marching in the night, made a pursuit impracticable and fruitless. It would have answered no valuable purpose, and proved fatal to numbers of our men,-several of whom died the preceding day with heat.
Were I to conclude my account of this day's transactions without ex- pressing my obligations to the officers of the army in general, I should do injustice to their merit, and violence to my own feelings. They seemed to vie with each other in manifesting their zeal and bravery. The catalogue of those who distinguished themselves, is too long to admit of particularizing individuals. I cannot, however, forbear mentioning Brigadier-general Wayne, whose conduct and bravery during the whole action deserve par- ticular commendation. The behavior of the troops in general, after they recovered from the first surprise occasioned by the retreat of the advanced. corps, was such as could not be surpassed.
All the artillery, both officers and men, that were engaged, distinguished themselves in a remarkable manner.
Enclosed, congress will be pleased to receive a return of our killed and wounded. Among the first, were Lieut. Col. Bunner, of Pennsylvania, and Maj. Dickinson, of Virginia,-both distinguished officers, and much to be regretted. The enemy's slain on the field, and buried by us,-according to the return of the persons assigned to that duty,-were four officers, and 245 privates. In the former was the Hon. Col. Monckton. Exclusive of these, they buried some themselves,-as there were several new graves near the field of battle. How many men they have had wounded, cannot be deter. mined ; but, from the usual proportion, the number must have been conside- rable. There were a few prisoners taken.
The peculiar situation of Gen. Lee at this time, requires that I should say nothing of his conduct. He is now in arrest. The charges against him, with such sentence as the court-martial may decree in his case, shall be transmitted, for the approbation or disapprobation of congress, as soon as it shall have passed.
Being fully convinced, by the gentlemen of this country, that the enemy cannot be hurt or injured in their embarkation at Sandy Hook, (the place to which they are now moving,) and unwilling to get too far removed from the North river, I put the troops in motion early this morning, and shall proceed that way,-leaving the Jersey Brigade, Morgan's corps, and other light parties, (the militia being all dismissed,) to hover about them, countenance desertion, and prevent depredations as far as possible. After
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they embark, the former will take .post in the neighborhood of Elizabeth. town, the latter rejoin the corps from which they were detached. I have the honor, &c. G. WASHINGTON.
Return of the killed, wounded, and missing, of the American army, in the battle of Monmouth, on the 28th day of June, 1778.
Killed-1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, 3 captains, 2 lieutenants, 1 sergeant, 52 rank and file.
Wounded-2 colonels, 8 captains, 4 first lieutenants, 2 second lieutenants, 1 ensign, 1 adjutant, 8 sergeants, 1 drummer, 120 rank and file.
Missing-5 sergeants, 126 rank and file. Some of the missing, dropped through fa- tigue and hardship, since come in.
ARTILLERY .-- Killed-1 first lieutenant, 7 matrosses, 1 bombardier. Wounded-1 cap- tain, 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, 1 gunner, 10 matrosses. Missing-1 matross. Six horses killed, and two wounded.
The following is extracted from the General Orders. issued the day after the battle of Monmouth, and dated, Head-quarters, Free- hold, June 29, 1778 :
The commander-in-chief congratulates the army on the victory obtained over the arms of his Britannic Majesty, and thanks most sincerely the gallant officers and men who distinguished themselves upon this occasion, and such others as, by their good order and coolness, gave the happiest presage of what might have been expected had they come to action.
Gen. Dickinson, and the militia of this state, are also thanked for their nobleness in opposing the enemy on their march from Philadelphia, and for the aid which they have given in embarrassing and impeding their motions so as to allow the continental troops to come up with them.
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