Past Events Archive
Nathaniel Heard's Brigade to present a Revolutionary
War Re-enactment
Saturday, November
6th at Camp Jefferson
The Nathaniel Heard Brigade's re-enactment organizational goal
is to promote an understanding of the life and times of the
people of the American Revolution specifically, and the 18th
century in general. Also, it is their goal to promote research
in order to more accurately recreate and represent the various
material goods as well as aspects of military and home life
during the American Revolution. The Brigade is a member organization
of the Brigade of the American Revolution, a national organization
of re-enactment units. Currently they have the following military
and civilian membership -- 2 officers- Captain & Lieutenant,
2 sergeants, 2 corporals, 47 men-at-arms, and 36 civilians -
including children.
As some historical background, The New Jersey militia participated
in numerous battles and skirmishes during the American War
for Independence. Militia of the State, from time to time,
were required that volunteers be called into service to repel
raids, prevent foraging, protect the sea coast, supplement
the Continental Army , and perform a variety of duties in
territory which was in the area of strife.
New York State, probably the most loyalist state in the colonies,
furnished 15,000 men to the British Army, and another 8,000
to local militias. Long Island contributed many to these numbers.
In February 1776, the Continental Congress ordered Colonel
Nathaniel Heard to take about 500 men of his New Jersey militia
through the Long Island towns of Jamaica, Hempstead, Jericho,
and Oyster Bay, to disarm the loyalists. A wide assortment
of weapons were confiscated. The song Yankee Doodle was originally
composed by the British to ridicule American troops. The British
were astonished when the Americans began singing it themselves!
As a result of Heard's foray through Long Island, they composed
another verse to the song.... "Colonel Heard has come
to town in all his pride and glory, And when he dies, he'll
go to hell for robbing of the Tory."
In late 1776, before the battles of Trenton and Princeton,
Heard had been promoted to Brigadier General. His brigade
consisted of 800 officers and men of the following New Jersey
militia regiments: Colonel Phillip Van Cortland's regiment,
Colonel David Forman's regiment, Colonel Joseph Phillip's
regiment, Colonel Ephriam Martin's regiment, and Colonel Silas
Newcomb's regiment.
On June 14, 1776, New Jersey was requested to provide 3,300
militia troops for the defense of New York City. They were
placed under the command of Continental General Nathaniel
Greene and fought the British at Bedford Road in the Battle
of Brooklyn. They also fought at the Battle of White Plains,
NY on Oct. 28,1776; in New Jersey at the Battle of Short Hills
on June 26,1777; The Battle of Monmouth on June 28,1778; and
The Battle of Minisink on July 22, 1779, on the Delaware River
(near today's Barryville,NY). The troops were composed mostly
of NY militia, but some NJ militia also participated and also
fought in many more smaller actions in New Jersey.
In a letter dated June 12,1780 to General Heard from General
Washington in the handwriting of Alexander Hamilton, Heard
was ordered to remove horses and cattle within five miles
of the water from Newark to Amboy and drive them inland to
prevent them from falling into the hands of British foraging
raids. An account of the number taken was to be kept so the
owners would be paid.
|
