As America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution we are refreshing some of the "American Revolution Geo Trail” cache located at historic sites across New Jersey.
Start your journey or revisit these historic locations to learn about the endurance, perseverance and bravery of the American patriots who fought in the War for Independence.
The United States Marine Corps met the enemy on land for the first time at the battle of Princeton. The Marines were in the thick of the fighting, participating in Washington's decisive counter attack.
The Colonial Marines, predecessor to the United States Marine Corps, was founded on November 10, 1775 under the Continental Marine Act of 1775. Their primary duty was to serve as the Navy’s infantry arm, providing security, making amphibious assaults, repelling boarders, and sweeping enemy decks with musket fire. Marines allowed the fledgling Colonial Navy to raid targets of opportunity and capture British merchant shipping.
The Battle of Princeton was the first time in a long line of battles where the Continental Marines were called to action far from their ships
Throughout the fall of 1776, Nicholas and his Marines were recruiting in Philadelphia and waiting for their next assignment. The land war, however, was beginning to turn against Washington and his Continental Army with the defeats at Long Island, White Plains, Fort Washington, and Fort Lee. By December of 1776, Washington was retreating through New Jersey and in desperate need of veteran soldiers. Nicholas and the Marines were ordered to attach themselves to Washington’s army.
After his arrival upon the Pennsylvania shore of the Delaware River, Washington sent out an urgent plea for reinforcement. One of the first contingents of soldiers to respond to this request were roughly 600 marines from the Philadelphia area. This force of marines had been recruited for duty aboard the various Continental warships now anchored near Philadelphia and were generally considered to be excellent fighters. The marine officers had seen active duty against the British onboard various vessels and their men had been occupied in daily drill and frequent skirmishes with British forces operating in the area.
By December 25, 1776, the Marines found themselves not at sea, but on a river. Washington, recognizing the need for sailors for his planned crossing of the Delaware, assigned the Marines to General John Cadwalader’s Brigade crossing at Burlington. The ice-choked river and deteriorating weather, however, prevented Cadwalader from landing more than a few men on the New Jersey riverbank, and prevented the Marines from participating in Washington’s stunning victory over the Hessians at Trenton.
The Marines would not have to wait long, however, for their first taste of land combat. Still attached to Cadwalader’s Brigade, they marched from Crosswicks, New Jersey, and joined Washington outside Princeton on the night of January 2, 1777. Cadwalader’s Brigade was then attached to Nathanael Greene’s Division. When the sun rose on January 3, 1777, the Marines arrived on the outskirts of Princeton. Placed in reserve initially, it seemed as if they were likely to miss the action yet again.
Marines fought alongside Washington at Princeton
Three companies of marines accompanied Washington’s army on its nighttime march to Princeton. Moving with Cadwalader’s Brigade into the fight, a few marines under the command of Major Samuel Nicholas, engaged Manhood’s troops on the Clarke Farm. During the fierce fighting the Regulars several of the marines were killed in battle, including Captain William Shippin. These casualties were some of the first to be suffered by marines on any battlefield.
The British had other plans, and their sudden appearance on the King’s Highway began the engagement. The British shattered the first line of American troops under the command of Hugh Mercer. Cadwalader’s Brigade, and the Marines, would have heard the exchange of volleys and thunder of cannon from their position on the Sawmill Road near Thomas Clarke’s house. They would have seen their comrades come running out of William Clarke’s farmyard, pursued by British Redcoats, with no sign of General Hugh Mercer or his second in command, Colonel John Haslet, among them.
At this point, the battle was at its critical moment. Cadwalader ordered his inexperienced men into action, with the Marines advancing on the right flank. This advance would have placed the Marines near the fence between William and Thomas Clarke’s farms, close to the present day boundary between Princeton Battlefield State Park and the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS). These troops managed to slow the British, but the intense musketry, artillery, and the flight of Mercer’s men through their ranks unnerved them. Cadwalader’s men began to break.
Thanks to quick thinking by Capt. Joseph Moulder and his battery of Pennsylvania Artillery, and accurate grapeshot and canister salvos, the British advance was halted. Washington arrived on the field, riding among Cadwalader’s men shouting “parade with us my brave fellows, there is but a handful of the enemy and we will have them directly!” At great personal risk, Washington rallied Cadwalader’s and some of Mercer’s men. With reinforcements from Sullivan’s Division--Col. Daniel Hitchcock’s Brigade supported by Col. Edward Hand’s riflemen and two batteries of artillery--the Marines and Cadwalader’s men renewed the attack and drove the British from the field.
For the first time in the Revolution, Washington and his men saw the fleeing backs of British Redcoats. Of the estimated 130 Marines engaged at Princeton, no known casualty list exists. The entire army suffered eight officers and about thirty men killed. In Cadwalader’s Brigade three casualties are known, Ensign Anthony Morris, Lt. Morgan, and a Pennsylvania Marine, Capt. William Shippin. The Pennsylvania Marines were from the Brig Hancock, a privateer where Shippin was Captain of Marines. These state Marines fought with the Philadelphia Militia in Cadwalader’s center and left flank.
Given the losses in Cadwalader’s Brigade, the Continental Marines likely suffered in equal numbers. It is possible that some of the unknown Marine casualties still lie buried in the mass grave within Princeton Battlefield State Park. The Battle of Princeton was the first in a long line of battles where the Continental Marines were called to action far from their ships.
New Jersey served as the crossroads of the American Revolution, Situated between British-held New York City and Patriot held Philadelphia, with over 600 battles, skirmishes and acts of war; today there are over 150 historic sites to explore.
The New Jersey American Revolution Geo-Trail is a heritage journey to adventure and discovery. This geocache is one of The American Revolution Geo~Trail geocaches placed throughout New Jersey. Visit many historic locations that have a connection to important New Jersey's American Revolutionary War history. Information at njpatriots.org
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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.
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