The American Revolutionary soldiers engaged the British in Metuchen on June 26, 1777 at the Battle of Oak Tree. One of the few places in Union County untouched since Colonial times is the Ash Brook Reservation, which played an important role in the Battle of the Short Hills in 1777.
The British hoped that if they feigned a departure from New Jersey, they would lure the Continental Forces down from the Watchung Mountains, crush them, and finally end the Revolutionary War. The American forces sought to lure and slow the the British and Hessian troops by having their cannons bogged down in through the Ash Swamp in order to buy more time for Gen. Washington. The American troops wanted to draw the British through this area and slow their advance to get his soldiers back up to safety in the Watchung Mountains.
”Bloody Gap Retreat"
The plan didn’t go so well, even though Washington’s troops of less than 6,000 were vastly outnumbered by a combined British and Hessian force numbering about 12,000. The Continental Army fought a running battle across what is now Edison and Scotch Plains before retreating to the safety of the Watchung Mountains—It has been said that Gen. George Washington turned back the British forces through a pass by Seeley’s Pond that would become as Bloody Gulch or Bloody Gap during the battle in June 26, 1777.
The First Official American Flag in Battle
It is said the American soldiers were carrying the first national American flag which was adopted by the U. S. Continental Congress on June l4, 1777 under the First Flag Act, and the new official Stars and Stripes flag was fired upon for the first time at this spot.
” On June 14, 1777, to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: "Resolved, that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation." "
Seeley’s Pond is named after Edmund A Seeley who was a business man in the later l800's founded a paper manufacturing company and used the falls for power.
This cache is one of "The American Revolution Geo~Trail" caches throughout New Jersey. These special geocaches are hidden at many 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 this website. Information at njpatriots.com
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