June 23rd was the 242nd anniversary of the Battle of Springfield. A brief history of the event: In the early hours of June 23, 1780, the British advanced into Springfield in two flanks with 6,000 men. This was the 2nd attempt to attack George Washington’s army that was camped at Morristown. They assumed Springfield would be an easy defeat, but about 1,500 Americans defeated these British forces; led by General Nathanael Greene. General Greene had ordered his men to rip up the planks of the 2 bridges across the Rahway River, so there would be multiple positions to attack the British forces. While Colonel Elias Dayton and his forces made the first stand in Connecticut Farms (now Union).
When Dayton’s forces had to retreat crossing the Galloping Hill bridge, Captain Thomas Thompson was able to beat back the British forces’ first 2 attempts of crossing the river with just a single cannon. Sadly, Captain Thompson died in battle and the British forces were then met with Colonel Angell’s Rhode Island veterans. Eventually the British withdrew after having failed to clear a path to Hobart Gap. This was one of the last major engagements of the Revolutionary War in the north and effectively put an end to British ambitions in New Jersey.
To commemorate this anniversary, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) held a ceremony at the DAR cemetery. Linda Jurczak, Cemetery Chairwoman started the event. A wreath was laid at the marker for those soldiers who died in the battle by Heather Sanford, Regent, Church and Cannon Chapter of DAR, and Charles Morgan, President of the New Jersey Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). The names of the deceased were read aloud to honor them and their sacrifice.
After the ceremony the NJSSAR Color Guard marched to the First Presbyterian Church, where a 2nd wreath was laid at the foot of the Continental Soldier statue. Attendees included Sam Davis of the SAR portraying George Washington and Mark Hurwitz, Past Commander, Third New Jersey Regiment, portraying Elias Dayton.
Mayor Alexander Keiser, Deputy Mayor Chris Weber, Committeeman Richard Huber, and Police Chief John Cook were all in attendance for the celebration.
