The Battle of Ash Swamp

The Battle of Ash Swamp, A.K.A. The Battle of Short Hills

New Jersey is known as the Crossroads of the American Revolution (1). Over 350 historic sites in the Garden State boast ties to the American War for Independence--more than any other state. One battle literally happened in the backyard of our campus. That battle was the Battle of Ash Swamp, also know as the Battle of Short Hills.

The fight, in the summer of 1777, pitted the British regulars of Gen. George Cornwallis against Continental soldiers under the leadership of Lord Stirling. It was not a pivotal battle like Saratoga or Trenton. However, the fight significant for two reasons: Stirling's defense here in Scotch Plains allowed Gen. George Washington, awaiting the outcome of the battle in nearby Green Brook, an escape to his encampment at Middlebrook in the Watchung Mountains; and it was the first battle where Americans fought after the adoption of the American flag by Congress, thereby defending the Stars and Stripes. (2)

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The Battle of Ash Swamp

Sources:
1 http://www.revolutionarynj.org/
2 A Guide to New Jersey's Revolutionary War Trail for Families and History Buffs
by Mark Di Ionno

The First Flag:
Francis Hopkinson

http://www.usflag.org/francis.hopkinson.html

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/misc/ourflag/history1.htm

http://www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Hopkinson__Francis.html

http://www.ushistory.org/Betsy/flagpcp.html

http://www.classbrain.com/artfree/publish/article_194.shtml

The Players:

General William Howe
http://www.historynet.com/general-sir-william-howe.htm

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gwhtml/1777.html