Battle of Bound Brook

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Bound Brook


caption=
partof=the American Revolutionary War
date=April 13, 1777
place=Bound Brook, New Jersey
result=British victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=Benjamin Lincoln
commander2=Charles Cornwallis
strength1=500
strength2=4,000
casualties1=30 Killed
30 Wounded
50 Captured
casualties2=1 Killed

The Battle of Bound Brook, one of the battles in the New York and New Jersey campaign during the American Revolutionary War, occurred on April 13, 1777, and resulted in a defeat for the Continental Army, who were routed by about 4,000 troops under British command.

Background

In the spring of 1777, British forces reinforced with Hessian troops were stationed in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and conducted foraging raids against local targets in the area with little success. General George Washington at this time held the Continental Army north near Morristown. His southern outpost on the Raritan River and closest to the 17,000 Royal troops was his garrison of about 500 men at Bound Brook under General Benjamin Lincoln. Since the foraging strategy did not prove to be successful, Lord William Howe and Lord Charles Cornwallis decided to take the garrison at Bound Brook.

Battle

Under the command of Cornwallis, 4,000 British and Hessian troops were used in a four-pronged surprise attack against the garrison at Bound Brook. Two groups moved north along both sides of the Raritan River, while a third contingent crossed the river further upstream to attack from the west. The fourth group moved from the east to cut the potential retreat route of the Americans. The vanguard of Hessian Field Jaeger Corps under Colonel Johann Ewald encountered fierce resistance from the Americans on the left bank of the river. Shortly thereafter, the main contingent of the British army crossed the Queen’s Bridge to the left side and entered Bound Brook. The American forces were caught by surprise and fled, fighting during their retreat. General Lincoln barely escaped and “did not collect his clothes”. The fourth column of the British coming from the east along the Watchung Mountains arrived late, nevertheless many men were captured.

Outcome

Lord Howe indicated that about 30 Americans were killed and 80-90 captured, while General Lincoln reported that 60 of his men were killed or wounded. On the British side one soldier was killed. The British captured also cannons, ammunition, and supplies, looted in Bound Brook, but returned the same day to New Brunswick. In the evening, the Continental Army, under General Nathanael Greene, occupied Bound Brook again.

Aftermath

While the Continental Army was caught by surprise by an overwhelming force, the British did not press their advantage and returned to New Brunswick. Thus it was a shallow victory. Washington recognized that Bound Brook itself was a difficult place to defend. On May 28, he moved his army from Morristown to the (first) Middlebrook encampment, just north of Bound Brook but well protected between the first and second Watchung Mountain range. From the top of the Watchung Mountains, he could monitor British movements and continue to harass and disrupt their supply lines. Eventually, the British changed the focus of operations, left New Brunswick, and embarked their troops to sail south to attack Philadelphia.

ee also

*New Jersey during the American Revolution

References

*Ewald, Johann: Diary of the American War, translated by Joseph Tustin. Yale University Press. 1979.
*Davis, T.E.: The Battle of Bound Brook. The Chronicle Steam Printert, Bound Brook, 1895.

External links

* [http://www.jaegerkorps.org/Site%20Map.html About the Hessian Jaeger Corps]
* [http://www.njskylands.com/hsBoundBrook.htm The Battle]