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Montgomery Township, New Jersey Revolutionary War Sites
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR SITES IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY

Revolutionary War New Jersey
HISTORIC RIVER ROAD AND RIVER CROSSING
Historic River Road and River Crossing
Montgomery Township, New Jersey

Historic River Road and River Crossing
River Rd. and Griggstown Causeway
Map / Directions to the Historic River Road and River Crossing Marker

This historic sign at the bridge over the Millstone River commemorates two movements of troops: one early in the Revolutionary War with troops moving north, and the other late in the war with troops moving south.


Route From Princeton to Morristown, 1777

George Washington and his army suffered defeats during most of the year 1776, culminating in a retreat in November from Fort Lee across New Jersey. Finally the tide was turned after the famous Christmas night 1776 crossing of the Delaware River, and the American victory at the first Battle of Trenton. This was followed the next week by more American victories at the Second Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton. After the victory at Princeton on January 3, 1777, Washington and his army headed to Morristown for winter quarters, arriving on January 6. In this northbound journey through the state, they crossed over the Millstone River at this location. [1]

There is a series of thirteen monuments which can be found in Princeton, Kingston, Griggstown, Bridgewater, Somerville, Bedminster, Bernardsville, Basking Ridge, Harding Township and Morris Township that trace the full route taken by the army from Princeton to Morristown. For a map tracing the route of all thirteen of those monuments from Princeton to Morristown, click here.


Route to Yorktown, 1781

Four-and-a-half years later, this was the site of another crossing which was part of an important movement of troops. American and French troops marching from New York to Yorktown, Virginia, crossed the Millstone River here August 30-31, 1781. The troops were en route to what would prove to be the final and decisive major battle of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Yorktown on October 19, 1781.

Other markers related to the path to the Battle of Yorktown can be found in Mahwah, Pequannock, Montville, Whippany, Liberty Corner, and Princeton.

Revolutionary War New Jersey

Source Notes:

1. ^  For more details and accompanying source notes about the events mentioned in this paragraph, see the town page linked from within the text.