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A number of the inhabitants of Hackensack reaffirm their loyalty to George III and his officers.
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400 militia in Sussex County rounded up 40 Tories
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25 Loyalists lead by John Vought conduct raid at Jones Tavern near Sidney (Clinton).
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Bartholomew and Samuel Slater and 23 other Loyalists raided house and tavern of Thomas Jones (local militia recruiting center). Beat Jones in head with clubs, threatened to kick his wife, ransacked house, stole money, and drove wife and children screaming into night.
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Two companies of Burlington County Militia are sent to Monmouth County to apprehend suspected loyalists
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Between 47-60 men from Monmouth County fled to Staten Island and were commissioned under Lt. Col. Elisha Lawrence
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Cortland Skinner commissioned B.G. of NJ Volunteers.
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Any person who by speech, writing, deeds, or action defended the King could be fined up to 300 pounds and sentenced up to a year in prison. If he showed contempt of for the state, Congress or either body’s legislation, he was open to the same punishment. Any person who was suspected could be summoned by any 2 justices of the peace and asked to take an oath of allegiance to the state, and to renounce the King.
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Sergeant Lewis Barber was shot while in a guard boat on the kills between Staten Island and New Jersey.
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William Luce was given permission to raise a battalion, but was almost immediately captured. Command was then given to Edward Vaughn Dongen. His second in command was a wealthy Loyalist from Acquackanonk, named Robert Drummond, who played a critical role in helping Cornwallis' forces pursue Washington. Drummond recruited 125 men from Essex County, mostly of Dutch heritage.
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Lord CORNWALLIS led a force of 5,000 men up the palisades overlooking the Hudson River and sent the Continental Army in headlong flight towards Pennsylvania. VAN BUSKIRK and his men could now associate freely and set about the raising and disciplining of a military regiment.
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Lt Col. Joseph Barton received a commission from Skinner and raised a battalion of 250 men and officers from Sussex County. Among these were such notables as Major Thomas MILLIDGE, one of the chief surveyors for New Jersey, and Ensign James MOODY, who would lead in scores of Loyalists to the British lines, intercept Rebel post riders, capture militia officers, free jail-bound Loyalists and eventually try to break into the Continental Congress itself.
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Lieutenant Colonel John MORRIS competed directly with Elisha LAWRENCE in seeking recruits from his home area of Monmouth County. He competed directly with Elisha LAWRENCE in seeking recruits from his home area of Monmouth County.
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Raised by Trenton lawyer Issac ALLEN. Allen was a likeable but thoroughly organized and efficient officer, as his battalion would testify by having the smallest rate of non-battle casualties and highest rate of uniformity and functioning weapons. The battalion drew their recruits primarily from the Hunterdon County area, drawing from such places as Trenton and Princeton.
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Col. William Malcom leads a party to New Bridge and raises a "terrible uproar among the Tories as well as in the enemy's little camp." They capture a Tory named Pierson.
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2 warrant captains of the 6th, Peter CAMPBELL and Charles HARRISON, were captured after the battle.
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British and Tory forces stationed at Hackensack raided Hoppertown and Paramus, almost in sight of the American Troops at Ramapo.
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Loyalist detachment under Col John Morris (2nd) suffers casualties in engagement with troops under General Thomas Mifflin near Monmouth Courthouse. Four of his men were killed in battle and as many as thirty others captured.
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Col John Neilson and troops of the NJ militia capture Major Richard V. Stockton of the NJ Volunteers and 59 men (6th). Seized near Quibbletown, Lawrence Island (Bennett's Island), and sent to Philadelphia.
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Maj. Robert Timpany (4th) raids Elizabethtown with 60 men. Kills 2 or 3 rebels and takes 4 or 5 prisoners.
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Maj. Robert Timpany (4th) leads raid on Elizabethtown and kills some rebels and captures 10 head of cattle.
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Middlesex County militia skirmishes with Refugee foraging party.
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40 men from the 4th under Major Robert Timpany chase rebels in retaliation to a raid on Staten Island. Party collects more spoils as a result of counter-raid.
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Col. Joseph Barton (5th) leads troops and takes 4 Americans prisoner.
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John Fell of Paramus, chairman of the local Committee of Safety, member of the legislature, and known to the British as a “great Tory hunter” was kidnapped near Tappan by a band of loyalists in Bergen County
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50 men under Capt. William van Allen (4th) raid Closter and took 3 sutlers with their stores.
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Howe ordered the 2nd Battalion to join the Royal Artillery.
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Col. Barton (5th) attacks picket post under Peter Fell at Paramus.
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Small detachment under Colonel Dongen (3rd) attacks militia post capturing 2 American officers and 3 enlisted men.
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NJ militia under Col. Nathaniel Heard fight a brief battle with Loyalist raiders under Col. Joseph Barton (5th) near Paramus. Barton also raided around English Neighborhood.
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Militia nearly traps Tory Col. George Taylor and party, takes 2 and wounds 1.
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The Legislature offered Loyalists a free and general pardon if they appeared before a justice of the peace, and took the oath. The recanted Loyalist was to be given a certificate which was recorded by the county clerk for 2 shillings
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200 under Col. Barton (5th) invade Bergen County as far as Paramus without opposition. Supposedly chase a rebel party under Frelinghuysen.
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Loyalists surprise a party of 30 men at Englewood and force them to retreat.
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A skirmish occurs between 30 man rebel scouting party and a strong party of NJV.
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Col. George Taylor has 2 of his men taken and 2 killed during plundering raid.
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The 2nd Battalion sails with Howe's army for Philadelphia.
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Party of Volunteers raid Crane's Ferry near Elizabethtown Point and capture 3 militia.
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Colonel Edward Dongan of the NJ Volunteers leads a raid near Perth Amboy, capturing prisoners and seizing goods.
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Rebels raided Staten Island at Old and New Blazing Star Ferries, Lt. Col. Barton and 30 men (5th) were captured at New and Lt. Col Elisha Lawrence and 90 men (1st) were captured at Old. This destroyed 5th Battalion and unfinished 6th, forcing a reorganization. Lt. Col Dongen (3rd) was shot and mortally wounded.
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Lt. Col. Dongen Dies from his wounds, 3 hours before his 3 year old son died from exposure in the swamps, fleeing the action 3 days before.
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2nd Battalion involved.
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Clinton invaded NJ with 300 provincials, principally Colonel Van Buskirk’s 4th New Jersey Volunteers and the 6th, landed at Elizabethtown and moved north…200 Tory troops and 40 marines landed up the river toward Tappan and marched south.
Van Buskirk’s 4th New Jersey Volunteers won a citation for the action on the Passaic -
Americans capture James Illif and John Moor, Loyalists, during raid.
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Americans capture party of Tories.
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Capt. Taylor, commander at the lighthouse (sandy hook) falls in with Capt. John Dennis and troop of rebel light horse, captures Dennis and 6 others and send them to NYC.
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2nd Battalion involved.
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Tories from Sandy Hook destroy salt works.
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1st and 5th combined into 1st. 3rd (Essex) and 6th (Hunterdon) combined into 3rd. Lt. Col. Issac Allen (Trenton lawyer) was given command, former commander of the 6th.
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Col. John Morris (2nd) threatens Toms River but inflicts little damage.
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American raid on Staten Island captures Tory Benjamin Williams.
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A whole company under Captain Donald CAMPBELL was added from Major William STARK's corps of New Hampshire Volunteers. Despite the name, this company had been raised in Philadelphia, being added to the NJV in January of 1778.
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American raid kills Tory John Richards.
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West Jersey Loyalists out of Philadelphia raid vicinity of Red Bank
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Smallpox ran through the 4th for a month.
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Major John Simcoe and Rangers with NJV murder everyone in Hancock House near Hancock's Bridge.
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60 Loyalists and British marines under Cox. raid Swedesboro. They skirmish with the 4th Regiment and take Lt. Bateman Lloyd and 2 recruits. They also plunder house of Capt. Robert Brown.
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Party of Refugees and few marines conduct foraging raid.
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British troops and Refugees burn a school and plunder homes in Swedesboro after finding local militia gone.
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Party of "Greens" (NJV) and "Highlanders" destroy 2 small salt works.
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The Legislation took steps to broaden its measures against Loyalists and to set up official procedures for general confiscation. In some cases the patriots found that certain vital interests were in the hands of quiet Loyalists.
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About 70 NJV from Sandy Hook landed near Middletown Point and marched to John Burrow's, made him prisoner and burnt his buildings and furniture. Also took Lt. Col. John Smock, Capt. Christopher Little, Mr. Joseph Wall, Capt. Jacob Covenhoven, and several others. Killed Peace and Van Brockle and mortally wounded another. A number of them were former inhabitants of that neighborhood.
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Lost 4 men.
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2 units from the West Jersey Volunteers were folded into the 3rd Battalion.
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Major Patrick Ferguson with some NJ Volunteers (1st and 3rd) raided whaleboats and warehouses at Little Egg Harbor and Chestnut Neck, catching Pulaski's Legion asleep.
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3rd Battalion joined Lt. Col. Archibald Campbell and 3,000 men as they departed NY for Georgia.
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Confiscation was extended to citizens of other states who owned land in New Jersey. Also, a conviction in one county resulted in the confiscation in all counties.
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The 3rd battalion lost its light infantry commander, Captain Patrick CAMPBELL. He was replaced by Captain Peter CAMPBELL, no close relation.
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Cpt. Samuel Ryerson(4th)n captured Captain Nathaniel Fitz Randolph militia platoon of 15 men at Woodbridge. They also raid the house of Charles Jackson.
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British soldiers under General Thomas Stirling, guided by Loyalists, attack Elizabethtown in an attempt to capture Governor William Livingston. He is not at home. The raiders demand that his daughters hand over important correspondence.
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Col. Abraham van Buskirk (4th) sends a party to pursue Carolina troops from Three Pidgeons into Bergen Woods, captures 2.
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30 men from 4th Battalion raided Closter from Hoebuck to steal supplies and horses, but were routed by militia under Lt. J. Huyler.
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A detachment under Captain van Allen (4th) surprised and captured a Continental outpost at Little Ferry.
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Small rebel patrol routed a party of Tories at Weehawken
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Engagement between Cpt Ryerson's Tories and an advance guard of Continentals
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Cpt William van Allen (4th) attacked outpost at Little Falls and captured 11 rebels.
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British soldiers and Loyalists attack Tinton Falls and Middletown. They burn and loot the houses of leading civil and military officials before being driven back to their boats
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Militiamen under Lt. John Huyler drive off raiding party under Buskirk (4th).
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Col. Abraham van Buskirk (4th) leads 1,000 men on an incursion into Bergen Area.
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50 of van Buskirk's 4th were placed at New Bridge with 2 companies of the 63rd.
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Militia captures Tory named Lawrence (Elisha?) as he enlists men for the British Army.
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Small party of Col. Abraham van Buskirk's 4th surprise party of rebels and take 2 prisoners, William Wirts and Henry Bastion.
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Party of Refugees capture Cols. Daniel Hendrickson and Auke Wyckoff, Maj. Hendrick Vanbrunt, Capts. Thomas Chaddock and Richard McKnight and a continental soldier. Local militia attacks and suffers 3 killed and 14 wounded.
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Cornelius Hetfield and 5 Tories cross to mainland from Staten Island and capture Lt. John Haviland and a captain of a guard boat.
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Cornelius Hetfield leads plundering and reconnaissance raid.
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A party of British regulars and Loyalists from Staten Island surprise and capture American soldiers at a tavern in Spanktown
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50 Negroes and Refugees plunder inhabitants of 80 head of cattle, 20 horses and household items and capture William Brindley and Elihu Cook.
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Party of New Jersey Volunteers under Capt. William Van Allen (4th) capture 2 rebels, David Ritzema Bogert and John Loshier.
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Lt. Col. Henry Lee and 400 Continentals attack the NJV garrison at Paulus Hook. Over 200 of the 4th briefly clashed with Lee's rear guard near English Neighbourhood and captured 4 continentals.
The garrison consisted mostly of men from the Garrison Battalion, soldiers invalided or worn out primarily from the regular regiments. In addition to them, 48 men from the 4th were taken prisoner, including 1 surgeon, 1 surgeon's mate, 1 quartermaster, 4 subalterns, 2 sergeants, and 39 rank and file. -
Refugees under Major John Simcoe kill Capt. Peter Voorhees during raid.
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Left with only 150 men.
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80 NJ Volunteers from the 1,4 (40 men led by Captain Samuel RYERSON and his cousin Lieutenant Martin RYERSON), and 5 Battalions joined Clinton on his voyage to SC. They joined 100 other Provincials under Captain Patrick Ferguson and were renamed the American Volunteers.
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The American Volunteers land in Georgia and make their way North to Charleston
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Van Buskirk's 4th was attacked on Staten Island by 2,700 men under Lord Stirling. Only a few notable Tories were taken prisoner.
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Lt. Col. Abraham van Buskirk (1st and 4th) captured 52 rebels at Elizabethtown as retaliation for Lord Stirling's raid on State Island on January 14.
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Party of 300 infantry and about 60 Dragoons under Lt. Col. Abraham van Buskirk (4th) cross from Staten Island and burn Presbyterian meeting and Court House.
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Inhabitants from Spanktown make excursion to Staten Island and bring off a Tory captain and 7 loyalists.
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Unidentified Loyalists from Staten Island carry off Matthias Halsted.
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Small party of Loyalists carry off Mr. Browne and take 6 other prisoners.
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Negroes and Refugees from Sandy Hook raid Shrewsbury.
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A party of Loyalists attacks Shrewsbury
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Folded into the British Legion under Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton, they defeated the Rebel cavalry under B.G. Issac Huger at Moncks Corner.
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Refugees from Sandy Hook attack party of militia.
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30 Refugees raid Woodbridge and capture Justice Freeman, Mr. Edgar, 6 other whites and 2 Negroes.
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Armed Refugees at Toms River surprise Major John VanEmburg with 8 or 9 others.
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300 of Buskirk's 4th mistake each other for Americans and fire upon themselves at Joost Zabriskie's house. 7 or 8 killed and others wounded.
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30 Refugees carry off prisoners to NY.
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Major Robert Hoops captures soldier from Lt. James Moody's NJV (1st).
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Hessian General Wilhelm von Knyphausen, in command of the British garrison at New York City, made an attempt to reach the principal Continental Army encampment at Morristown, New Jersey. Knyphausen's advance was strongly met by companies of the New Jersey militia at Connecticut Farms (present-day Union Township). The 1st and 4th Battalions of the NJ Volunteers joined. They British were delayed and retreated upon word of General Clinton's return to NY.
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Col. Tye with 20 blacks and whites (Refugees) captures American Capt. Barnes Smock and Capt. Gilbert Vanmater.
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Refugees kill Pvt. Joseph Murray during raid.
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"Party of Villains" comes from Staten Island to steal horses. Americans capture 3, kill 1 Tory with no losses.
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Col. Tye with 30 blacks, 36 Queen's Rangers, and 30 Refugees, plunder area around Conascung.
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A party of British regulars, Loyalists, and blacks under their leader, Col. Tye, raid Middletown. They carry off several prominent citizens
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Knyphausen and Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton decided upon a second attempt. Although the British were initially able to advance, they were ultimately forced to withdraw in the face of newly arriving rebel forces, resulting in a Continental victory. The battle effectively ended British ambitions in New Jersey. The NJ Volunteers lost 10 men in the course of 2 weeks.
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Lt. Eben. Ward leads Refugees and captures 4 Americans at Newark - Maj. Joseph Hayse, Thomas Canfield commissioner of forfeited estates, Job Canfield, and Zophar Lyon.
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Party of Refugees take Dr. Moses Bloomfleld, Jonathan Bloomfield and Ens. Britton Moores prisoners.
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Colonel Alexander INNES of the South Carolina Royalists promptly led the 3rd's light company into an ambush at Musgrove's Mills. Every officer of the company was wounded, and many of the men were killed or likewise wounded.
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Party under Ens. Lewis Fitz Randolph take Justice Lake and 5 other Tories prisoner during raid.
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Militia captures Refugees drive ashore from Delaware Bay.
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Colonel Tye (Black Brigade) lead a detachment, including some of 2nd Battalion, and engaged Captain Joshua Huddy at his home, capturing him. Some militia opposite the shore forced the boat to capsize and Captain Huddy escaped. Col. Tye died 2 days later from an infected wound to his wrist.
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Attack by Col. Tye (Black Brigade) and Tory associates on home of Joshua Huddy. Huddy later escapes and Col. Tye dies 2 days later from a wound in his wrist.
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Ens. Lewis Fitz Randolph leads excursion onto Staten Island and captures Anthony Wright and 2 other noted Tories.
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Tory raiders attack the Middletown area and capture Joshua Huddy and others. As they retreat to their boats the Middletown militia fires upon them and Captain Huddy escapes
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The sick of the unit (3rd), who had been left behind under Major DRUMMOND, were all captured, killed or wounded by an attack on that place in September. The battalion, then at Ninety Six, rushed back to assist the defenders of the town, and were able to drive the attackers off.
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Refugees take 3 rebel officers in raid.
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Refugees take Mr. Thomas Brown and 2 others in raid.
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The American Volunteers, under the Command of Captain Patrick Ferguson, were soundly defeated at King's Mountain, SC.
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Loyalists in Bergen Point skirmish with American troops
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Tories Smith Hetfield, Cornelius Hetfield, Cornelius Blanchard and others take Col. Matthias Ogden and Capt. Jonathan Dayton to State Island as prisoners.
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Tory Smith Hetfield leads raid on Elizabethtown and Connecticut Farms.
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100 under Capt. Thomas Ward enter Newark. Militia recaptures most of the livestock and takes 2 prisoners.
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Tory Capt. Cornelius Hetflied captures lieutenant and 5 or 6 others during raid.
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30 Refugees under Tory Cornelius Hetfield take 9 men from Elizabethtown.
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Tory Capt. Cornelius Hetfield takes Capt. Craig and 4 inhabitants in raid.
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Refugees take John Clawson, commissioner for selling forfeited estates, prisoner during raid.
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Refugees from Staten Island on plundering raid carry off several inhabitants.
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200 Regulars and Refugees under Maj. George Beckwith capture 10 inhabitants, 1 lieutenant, 3 privates, and 2 Continentals. Refugees loose only 2 men.
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Capt. Baker Hendricks with another officer and 11 privates conduct raid on Staten Island. NJV under Ensign Barton (1st) take 2 American prisoners and would captain Hendricks.
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Between May and June of 1781, the post of Ninety Six was besieged Greene. These men were from the 1st DeLancey's, 3rd NJV and some South Carolina Militia. British commander Lord RAWDON to led a relief force to Ninety Six. Unable to halt their advance, Greene decided to storm Ninety Six. In a desperate attack, the force was repelled by a gallant sortie from the fort by the light companies of the NJV and DeLancey's. Greene quickly raised the siege and left the area. Lasted until 6/18.
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Militia and Refugees have skirmish.
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Force of 1000 under Cortlandt Skinner attempts to plunder Pleasant Valley. Inhabitants succeed in frustrating them until militia drives them away.
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Cortlandt Skinner leads a large force of Loyalists in a plundering expedition in Monmouth County. They burn houses and carry off sheep and cattle.
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Volunteers take 20 prisoners and some sheep and cattle in skirmish with local militia and sustain no injuries.
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Refugees under Capt. Cornelius Hetfield take Lt. Obadiah Meeker and 14 privates.
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American whaleboats under captain David Maffet capture a British sloop and Loyalist boats off the Monmouth County coast
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Capt. Harding with about 40 Refugees conducts foraging raid.
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Greene's force smashed into the British camp, where Isaac ALLEN and the NJV (3rd) held the center of the line. On the point of collapse, the British and Loyalists rallied and threw back Greene's army. The battalion had lost 40% of the men they had present that day, killed, wounded or captured.
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Loyalist Capt. William Harding (Loyal Refugee Volunteers) captures rebel guard of 6 men and takes 15 cattle.
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Party of Refugees hidden behind fence fire upon company under Capt. John Pain reconnoitering near Spanktown killing Sgt. Joshua Marsh.
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A party of Loyalist raiders lands in Shrewsbury. They attack Colts Neck before retreating. Many Freehold inhabitants pursue the invaders. In an attack upon the rear of the Loyalist party, Doctor Nathaniel Scudder, a leading citizen of Monmouth Court House and a former member of the Continental Congress, is killed.
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Capt. Adam Hyler captures 6 men in raid on Refugee town near Sandy Hook.
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Capt. Jonathan Dayton ambushes 7 Refugees from Staten Island, kills 1, mortally wounds another and takes 3 prisoners.
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Militia and Refugees under John Bacon clash; Lines Pangborn (Am.) killed during action.
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Refugees capture New Brunswick. After daybreak, militia drives them off. Refugees suffer 2 killed and several wounded.
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British troops and Loyalists raid New Brunswick. They occupy the town for an hour.
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Capt. Cornelius Hetfield and 30 Tories take 9 prisoners from Elizabethtown.
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Refugees from Sandy Hook plunder area. Local militia captures some of the enemy.
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Loyalists raid in Pleasant Valley, Monmouth County. They take prisoners who later escape at Sandy Hook
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Tory Lewis Robbins leads raid and takes 7 prisoners.
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120 Loyalists attacked and captured blockhouse near Dover, Monmouth County that was commanded by Cpt Joshua Huddy
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Philip White, a Loyalist, kills the son of a Monmouth County Militia colonel. In his flight, White is struck and fatally wounded.
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Party of Refugees hang Capt. Joshua Huddy
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Refugees destroy Samuel Brown's salt works.
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Capt. Sanford (Am.) takes Capt. McMichael and 2 other Refugees.
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Loyalists attack Blockhouse.
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Loyalists under Captain John Bacon massacre Gloucester County militia under Captain Andrew Steelman. Steelman’s men had been resting on the beach at Barnegat after unloading cargo of a British ship that had run aground on Barnegat shoals.
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Loyalists defeat New Jersey troops in possibly the last land action of the war. Pvt. William Cooke Jr. dies during skirmish.
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Captain John Stewart shoots and kills Loyalist Captain John Bacon