4. What was the route of Washington's army from Cranbury to Englishtown June 26-27 before the Battle of Monmouth-- where did he camp?
5. Similarly, the route of Lafayette's advance force from Robins' Tavern, east of Allentown to Englishtown and where did he camp?
9. More confirmation of Washington's army using the well on Joost Duryea's farm, June 25, 1777 [sic.] -- now called "Washington Well Farm" on Route 518
(12. Where did Washington's retreating army camp on the night of Dec. 1, 1776 between New Brunswick and Princeton? Where did he stay? )
17. Map the roads of Western Precinct (Montgomery Township) at that time.
18. Map in detail the Rocky Hill Area
20. Assemble the legends of that time that relate to Western Precinct. (i.e. determine where the pursued British troops crossed the Millstone after the engagement at Princeton and where the "Battle of Beden's Brook" occurred, if indeed it did.)
Heins shows the route from Coryell's Ferry/Lambertville(Georgetown)
to Rocky Hill as Route 518 all the way.
"After crossing on June 22-23 he moved over the
Georgetown Road, now Route 518, through heavy rainstorms. He camped
his army at Hopewell on June 23 and 24..."
We now know he crossed between noon and 3 PM on the 21st, and on the
22nd was encamped 3 miles from the river (but where!). It is not
clear that County Route 518 was used, or if it existed in 1778.
Heins cites the papers of the Perrine family for help on Cranbury and
Monroe:
"Washington's main force had rested throughout
June 26 at Cranbury and he commenced moving his column forward in the evening...
He had chosen a defensible position on the west side of Manalapan Creek
along a sand ridge and before a bridge called Panalapan which no longer
exists as a creek crossing. The army camped on what was later called
the Miller Farm and Washington made his quarters at the John Anderson House,
below the sand ridge on the creek and later to be owned by William R. Davison.
This important camp site is about five miles west and a bit south of Englishtown.
"Diaries and reports of the time are vague in
recording the routes and camp sites after leaving Cranbury. We are
indebted to the excellent research of William Davison Perrine and the Perrine
family papers for enlightenment" [p16]
Heins laid out a plan for the future, which still holds today:
"Awareness of history is needed in our today's
troubled society [sic.] We are sure that New Jersey people will show
their pride in this incomparable heritage during the coming bicentennial
year of 1976. Among the many actions which should be considered are:
working toward according a national recognition of and to Somerset Courthouse
(the Village of Millstone) and, similarly, work toward making Camp Middlebrook
a national park...
"... Route markers are needed on the roads over
which these armies marched.
" Of great need is a clear, descriptive guide
book, mapping, and marking of the battle fields of Princeton and Monmouth...
Gravel paths over these locations, with markers, would permit teachers
to knowledgeably guide their eager students. Other states like Virginia,
Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania do this with pride." [p21]
Markers for the battlefields are in place for the most part, but the
route is still not known. Middlebrook Encampment is now I-287, or
sprawl development. Route markers exist only in a few places, such
as Manalapan Township and Englishtown Borough.
[last revised March 23, 2002]