59. South Mountain Outlook Traditional Cache

Washington Rock is a central piece of the Reservation's history. Located at the end of Crest Drive, it was the site of Beacon Signal Station 9 during the American Revolution, when George Washington also had 23 beacons to observe British troops on Staten Island. On June 23, 1780, Washington observed Hessian troops moving towards Hobart Gap, which is now crossed by Route 24. Washington alerted the Essex militia, which fought against the Hessians at the Battle of Springfield on Vauxhall Road.

It was from this outlook that, on June 23, 1780, Essex County and Newark Militia were first warned that the British had launched an attack westward toward "the Gap", (Hobart Gap), a natural pathway to Washington's troops encamped at Morris Town. In a pincer movement designed to gain access to the Gap, Hessian troops fought bitterly along Vaux Hall Road, while the British advanced along Galloping Hill Road, until they were repelled, the Hessians at the base of the mountain and the British in Springfield

"Tradition places George Washington here, in the summer of 1780, observing American troops thwart British efforts to reach Morristown and destroy his base of supplies. The first advance was halted at Connecticut Farms, now Union, June 7th. The British retirement to Elizabethtown was marked by the burning of Connecticut Farms and the murder of Parson Caldwell’s wife. On June 23rd British and Hessian troops under General Knyphausen were repulsed at Springfield by American troops commanded by General Nathaniel Greene. The 2nd Rhode Island regiment, under Col. Angell, was stationed at the easterly bridge over the Rahway River, on the main road (Morris Avenue). Major 'Light Horse Harry' Lee, with Colonial veterans and local militia, held the bridge at Vaux Hall Road. Forced to abandon their effort, the British, after burning Springfield Village, quit New Jersey soil forever. In this battle Parson Caldwell brought hymn-books from his church to the American gunners who had used up their supply of wadding, shouting ';Boys, Give ‘em Watts!' as commemorated by Bret Harte in his poem 'Parson Caldwell."

This cache is one of "The American Revolution Geo~Trail" caches throughout New Jersey. These program geocaches are hidden at historic locations which have a connection to important New Jersey's American Revolutionary War history. To participate in the optional Geo-Trail, after you find the geocache, locate the secret code and record it into your passport which you will print from the Geo~Trail website. Information at njpatriots.org

The Northern New Jersey Cachers, NNJC is about promoting a quality caching experience in New Jersey. For information on The Northern New Jersey Cachers group you can visit: www.nnjc.org.