The Geocachers of the North East (GONE) caching and camping
event will celebrate New Jersey's history with the Crossroads of
the American Revolution Event - October 2nd through 4th 2009 All
are welcome!
NEW LOCATION: Camp Jefferson, Jefferson Township, NJ - see
NNJC.org photo gallery for pictures.
When: Friday - 5 PM,10/02/09, through Sunday, 10/04/09
Day Event: Saturday, October 3rd, Starts 10 AM for those not
camping, stay as long as you want or all day into the night. We
will have a fun campfire after dark and a movie at 9:00 PM at the
amphitheater, then we hold a fun night cache hike throughout camp
Jefferson.
Activites: Geocaching, (10 new caches will be available by
Saturday) camping, playing GPS games, participating in fun
activities, finding event caches, fishing (with NJ license),
boating, hiking, dining, gathering around the council campfire and
sharing caching stories with fellow geocachers.
Camping: There are cabins available, you will need an air
mattress or cot, and plenty of tent sites available. More info on
registering will follow.
Entertainment: Camp Jefferson has a very nice amphitheater, If
you are interested in bringing your band, guitar, sax, or comedy
stand up routine, the stage is all yours. Please volunteer to
entertain your fellow Geocachers!
NNJC will be holding a movie at 9:00 PM at the amphitheater
after any entertainment, Movie TBD...email any suggestions
GONE EVENT INFO SEE NNJC.ORG
ABOUT THE REVOLUTION IN NEW JERSEY
The American Revolution swept across New Jersey which was the
scene of countless skirmishes and some of the toughest battles of
the entire conflict.
Most Americans know about the crucial days in 1776 –
Washington’s crossing the Delaware and victories at the Battles of
Trenton and Princeton are part of national lore – few are aware
that Washington and his troops crisscrossed the state for the
duration of the American Revolution.
Few other states retain as much of the Revolutionary War era as
New Jersey or offer so many possibilities to appreciate the
conditions and ways of life that shaped America at the birth of
the Republic.
New Jersey, located between the British base at New York and the
rebel capital at Philadelphia, was the most war-ravaged of the 13
original states. More than 600 skirmishes and battles were fought
on its soil and more than 150 naval actions on its waters.
Then, as now, New Jersey straddled roads connecting north and
south. In 1775 and 1776, state regiments marched north. During
November and December 1776, the remnants of the main Continental
Army fled south from Fort Lee across New Jersey, pursued by a
British army. Just a month later, they retraced part of their route
to defeat German and British detachments in Trenton and Princeton
and march on to Morristown. This was the first of three winters
that the Continental Army spent in New Jersey.
From July 1776 until November 1783, a British, German and
Loyalist army occupied Staten Island, western Long Island and
Manhattan, launching expeditions to collect supplies, probe local
defenses and attack the Continental Army. Between January and June
of 1777, skirmishes were fought up and down the Raritan River, as
Continentals sought to limit British foraging and the British
attempted to lure the Continentals from the safety of the Watchung
Mountains. When Washington eluded them, the British withdrew from
the Raritan Valley to attack Philadelphia.
The September 1777, British occupation of Philadelphia brought
the war to southern New Jersey. Fierce battles were fought for
control of the Delaware River and surrounding countryside. On June
18, 1778, the British army evacuated Philadelphia and began
marching toward New York, as Washington led the Continental Army
eastward from Valley Forge. The resulting Battle of Monmouth was
the last time the two armies met in New Jersey. In 1780, the
British moved offensive operations to the south.
The war was not over for New Jersey even then. In June 1780, the
New York garrison launched two large probes to test the
Continentals at Morristown–probes that resulted in the burning of
Springfield and Connecticut Farms. Along the coast, small British
and Loyalist units continued pinpoint attacks. One of the American
Revolution’s last skirmishes was fought December 27, 1782, at Cedar
Bridge, Ocean County.
In August 1781, the French and Continental armies marched across
New Jersey toward Yorktown and victory. Two years later, after a
peace treaty was signed in Paris, word reached the Continental
Congress, assembled in Princeton, on November 1, 1783.
In 2002, the Secretary of the Interior recommended to the
Congress the designation of the Crossroads of the American
Revolution National Heritage Area in New Jersey. On August 5, 2005,
former Governor Richard J. Codey signed an executive order
designating New Jersey the Crossroads of the American
Revolution.
In October 2006, President Bush signed legislation designating
the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area in
New Jersey. This area is comprised of 14 counties between Bergen
and Passaic in the north and Camden and Gloucester in the south.
This area includes Morristown National Historical Park, Princeton
and Monmouth Battlefield State Parks, Washington’s Crossing State
Park, New Bridge Landing, the Old Barracks in Trenton, 13 National
Historic Landmarks and more than 250 other National Register of
Historic Places sites and districts. All these sites have
significant Revolutionary War period resources and that has secured
their protection.
NJ Patriot Trivia:
On June 14, 1777 The Continental Congress passed a law to adopt
an official 13-star United States flag.
The very first official 13-star flag of the United States was
made by Betsy Ross, brought from Philadelphia to Washington's
Continental Army to fly over the Middlebrook Encampment, located
near Martinsville, New Jersey. The area is a natural fortress and
was the location of two major encampments of Washington's
Continental Army, during the early summer of 1777, and during the
winter of 1778-1779.
