| Author | Message | ||
     Phil Citizen Username: Barleyrooty Post Number: 633 Registered: 5-2001  |
Apologies for the repost, but this clearly should be here (I posted it under the Vauxhall Bridge closure discussion): I have a map of the battle of Springfield (aka Maplewood, Millburn, Vauxhall). If anyone cares for a copy I'll email it. The British were trying to get through the Hobart Gap (on Rte 24) in the Watchung Mountains to attack the main American army camped at Morristown. The British attacked on two fronts, along Vauxhall Road and along Morris Ave. The Americans defended at Vauxhall Bridge and another bridge in front of Springfield. The Americans fell back to Summit and Short Hills. The right front pushed forward along Millburn Ave, then turned left at Main St and reconnected with the other front. The British then burned Springfield and retreated, seeing the Americans holding all the high ground in front of them. This was the largest battle in the War of Independance in terms of men (5000 british and 1000 americans + 500 militia) and the Brits last attempt to invade the "central states". The battle is also famous for the Reverend James Caldwell's battle cry of "Now, boys, give 'em Watts" - Watts being a common hymn-book that he gave the troops to use - having run out of wadding for their rifles. | ||
| Nohero Citizen Username: Nohero Post Number: 1615 Registered: 5-2001  |
Thanks for noting this history. There are a couple of locations connected to the battle that can be visited today. The "Cannon Ball" house on Morris Avenue, where it intersects with Springfield, is run as a museum. Going towards Millburn on Morris Ave, you pass Rev. Caldwell's church, with a statue of a revolutionary war soldier in front of it; someone told me once that the small patch of ground around the statue was one of the smallest pieces of property covered by the National Park Service. Going towards Union on Morris, you first go over a small bridge at the point where the troops first engaged, and then can proceed to visit Rev. Caldwell's homestead. And finally, over near the Cannon Ball house and the church, behind where the NY Sports Club and Foodtown are, there is a small cemetery, where some of the men who died in that battle are buried. There's some other history of the battle at this link, and the British version at this link. | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 3070 Registered: 5-2001 |
Phil, thanks for the post. This is the first account of the Battle of Springfield that I have seen that relates the locations to present day landmarks such as the bridge on Vaux Hall Road and Millburn Avenue as a line of advance. I have to admit, sheepishly, that I have walked and ridden my bike over the soon to be no longer bridge a number of times and never noticed the historical marker. I was aware of the “canon ball house”, but did not know it was a museum. I thought it was occupied by Singer Real Estate. More directly related to present day Maplewood I have read accounts that the farms along present day Ridgewood Road, then known by the perfectly charming name Grub Street, were evacuated and there are the usual “George Washington slept here” stories in connection with the Ball House on Ridgewood near Washington Park and a tavern located on the northeast corner of Ridgewood and Baker which is now a private home. The story about the Ball house may have some credibility because the Balls were related to Martha Washington’s family. In any event, the tree in front of the Ball House that sticks out into Ridgewood Road is alleged to be where George tied his horse. This story must have some credibility since the tree was spared during the rehab of the roadway several years ago. Allegedly in the 1940s the tree was x-rayed and a spike was found, that might have been when the tree was young used as a hitching post. | ||
| kathy Citizen Username: Kathy Post Number: 556 Registered: 5-2001 |
Coincidentally, a couple of days after BobK's post there was a big article about this very subject, with a map, in the Star Ledger. | ||
| Dave Ross Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 4726 Registered: 5-2001  |
I doubt it was a coincidence. | ||
| crossroads Citizen Username: Crossroads Post Number: 13 Registered: 12-2001  |
I missed that article. Checked the Star-Ledger's web site, but no luck. Anybody have a copy or link? | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 3119 Registered: 5-2001 |
I want the article. I missed it in the paper. Help!!! | ||
| kathy Citizen Username: Kathy Post Number: 559 Registered: 5-2001 |
It was in the Thursday, May 22 issue. Privateline me if you want me to mail you a copy. | ||
| Robert Little Citizen Username: Boblittle Post Number: 2 Registered: 4-2003  |
There's a couple of books I've enjoyed on this. 1. A Guide to New Jersey's Revolutionary War Trail for Families and History Buffs (Mark Di Ionno) helps you find the current location of lots of battles, including many sites not marked. The book will say, "across from the Foodtown is..." (Incidentally, that's where the sad little cemetary is on Morris Avenue, with many of the tombstones worn smooth.) 2. Crossroads of Freedom is a comprehensive history of NJ in the revolutionary war. It's by a Rutgers professor, now out of print, but at the Maplewood libe. 3. Still in print is New Jersey in the Revolutionary War (Bill), available on Amazon but unread by me. Robert Little Law Office: 161 Maplewood Avenue, Third Floor Maplewood, NJ 07040 973 313-9700 fax 973 313-9712 | ||
| tom vilardi Citizen Username: Tlv350 Post Number: 10 Registered: 1-2004 |
For those interested, On June 4-5, 2005 there will be a commemoration of the 1st Battle of Springfield (225th Anniv. of Connecticut Farms) at the Liberty Hall Estate (Near Kean Univ.) in Union - www.libertyhallnj.org. Later in the month the town of Springfield will have something on it's school fields for the 2nd Battle. The British probed as far as the Vauxhall Bridge and into the South Mountain Reservation along Glen Ave. up behind the Paper Mill Playhouse and then down Hobart Ave., but eventually withdrew because the Continentals had cannon further down Hobart (probably by the Short Hills Train Station) and then massed troops about where Scotty's Steak House is. Millburn Ave. did not continue beyond Main St. and the area from Charlie Browns to Bed Bath and Beyond were just a bunch of large farmers fields intersected by Hobart Ave and Short Hills Ave. as it runs past the Chantecler (Sp?) and St. Rose of Lima Church. Tom | ||
| anon Citizen Username: Anon Post Number: 1619 Registered: 6-2002 |
tom: Please remember to remind us closer to the event. Thank you. | ||
| tom vilardi Citizen Username: Tlv350 Post Number: 11 Registered: 1-2004 |
Will do my best to remember to notify everyone. I also noticed references to a couple of books about the subject. Here's another one: "Winter at Morristown 1779-1780, the darkest hour" by Samuel Smith. | ||
| overtaxdalready Citizen Username: Overtaxdalready Post Number: 339 Registered: 6-2001 |
Another good book on this campaign is Thomas Fleming's "The Forgotten Victory - The Battle for New Jersey, 1780". I believe it's in the library. | ||
| crossroads Citizen Username: Crossroads Post Number: 45 Registered: 12-2001 |
Check this out! http://www.springfieldbattle.com/ | ||
| tom vilardi Citizen Username: Tlv350 Post Number: 21 Registered: 1-2004 |
The website listed in the previous post refers to a commemoration of the 2nd Battle of Springfield in late June, 2005 on the grounds of Springfield High School. The June 4-5 Event (1st Battle of Springfield/Connecticut Farms)will be at Liberty Hall, Governor Livingston's Home (later the Kean Family estate) in lower Union, NJ - across from kean University. Website is www.libertyhallnj.org and should contain some more in detail about the British invasion Weekend in the near future. For those on the border of Maplewood/Millburn, there is now a movement to paint a mural of a portion of the battle on a Jersey Transit overpass off of Ridgewood Road (Cypress St.). The Liberty Hall event will commemorate the British Invasion and Occupation of Elizabeth and Lower Union and some of the events leading up to what is called 1st Sprinfield or the Battle of Connecticut Farms. Thomas Flemings book "The Forgotten Victory" is a good quick read on the subject - While Routes 78 and 24 have done some damage to the original terrain, there is still enough remaining to give you a good understanding of it all. I've always been amazed with the fact that this all occurred literally in our own backyards... or at least from the southernmost portions of the Maplewood County Club to and beyond the Paper Mill Playhouse (for those who want modern monuments). If you take into account squads of Militia on the march responding from the North, you can include current South Orange and Orange too. I'll do my best to keep you posted on commemorative activities. Tom |
