Battle of Connecticut Farms facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Connecticut Farms, also known as the battle of Connecticut and Concur
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Date June 7, 1780 Location Connecticut and Concur (now Union Township), New Jersey
Belligerents
United States	Great Britain Hesse-Kassel
Commanders and leaders
William Maxwell	Wilhelm von Knyphausen
Strength
12,000	6,000
Casualties and losses
35 killed 139 wounded 10 captured 22 missing	25 killed 234 wounded 48 missing

The Battle of Connecticut and Concur happened on June 7, 1780. It was one of the last big fights between British and American soldiers in the northern colonies. This battle was part of the American Revolutionary War.

A German general named Wilhelm von Knyphausen led the British forces. He was in charge of the British soldiers in New York City. His goal was to reach the main camp of the Continental Army in Morristown, New Jersey.

But American soldiers from the New Jersey militia met Knyphausen's army. They fought strongly at Connecticut Farms, which is now Union Township. The militia had to fall back, but they slowed the British down. This delay made Knyphausen stop for the night. He then realized that moving further would be too hard. So, he decided to go back to New York.

Why the British Attacked

Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen got news from spies. They told him that General George Washington's army was weak. His main army in Morristown, New Jersey, had only about 3,500 men. Many soldiers had left, and some were sick. Their spirits were also low.

Knyphausen saw this as a chance to seriously hurt the American cause. He decided to attack Washington's army. He also thought that people in New Jersey were tired of the war. He believed they would not fight back much.

Knyphausen's Plan

Knyphausen's plan was to move his troops from Elizabethtown. They would march seven miles northwest. Their goal was to capture Springfield and Hobart Gap by sunrise on June 7.

The Watchung Mountains protected Washington's army. Hobart Gap was a pass through these mountains. If the British took the gap, they could march eleven miles across flat land. This would let them attack Washington's main camp.

Knyphausen's army had about 6,000 soldiers.

• The 1st Division was led by Brigadier General Thomas Stirling. It included British and German (Hessian) soldiers.
• The 2nd Division was led by Major General Edward Mathew. It had more British soldiers and some American loyalists.

The British Advance

On June 6, Knyphausen's troops got on boats. They sailed from Staten Island. At midnight, they started landing at Elizabethtown Point, New Jersey.

As the soldiers moved west, one of the first shots hit Brigadier General Stirling. He was badly hurt. Command of the 1st Division then went to a German officer, Colonel Ludwig von Wurmb. This confusion slowed down the British army.

Early Skirmishes

When the sun rose on June 7, about 60 New Jersey militiamen fought the British. They were led by Ensign Moses Ogden. One of his men had wounded General Stirling. The militia tried to slow the British down in an orchard. But they were quickly pushed back.

A bit further west, Colonel Elias Dayton fought the invaders. He had soldiers from the New Jersey Continental Brigade and more militia. They fought for a while, then fell back to Connecticut Farms.

Battle at Connecticut Farms

Around 8 a.m., Brigadier General William Maxwell and his New Jersey Brigade met the British. They used trees and bushes for cover. The Americans held their ground for three hours.

Then, General Mathew's 2nd Division joined von Wurmb. Now, 3,000 British soldiers pushed the Americans. They drove them through Connecticut Farms, which is now Union Township, New Jersey. The Americans were forced towards Springfield.

Knyphausen noted that the Americans "withdrew from house to house and from wood path to wood path, resisting with all means available." This shows how hard the Americans fought.

The British soldiers then looted the village. They set at least a dozen houses on fire. General George Washington arrived and sent his personal guard of 153 men. They charged a Hessian unit but could not stop them. As the sun set, Knyphausen stopped his advance.

Civilian Casualties

During the fighting in Connecticut Farms, some civilians were killed. A stray bullet killed a man named Ball.

Also, Hannah Caldwell was shot and killed. She was the wife of Reverend James Caldwell. He was a chaplain in Washington's army. Hannah was sitting in her house with her children when it happened.

A maid named Abigail Lennington saw a British soldier outside the window. The soldier fired his gun through the window. Both bullets hit Mrs. Caldwell. Soon after, more British troops came. They broke down the door and searched the house.

British Withdrawal

That evening, Knyphausen and his officers discussed their situation. He had failed to reach Hobart Gap. He was surprised by how many New Jersey militia had gathered to fight him. Some had come from far away.

If he kept going, he would have to fight Washington's main army. The Americans were on high ground. The militia were all around the British army. The situation did not look good for the British. So, Knyphausen decided to pull back.

The next day, June 8, there were small fights. The British army marched back to Elizabethtown Point. One British soldier was captured. An officer and 16 men were also taken prisoner. Several Americans were killed by British artillery fire.

Two weeks later, Knyphausen tried again to capture Hobart Gap. This led to the Battle of Springfield.

Battle Losses

The official report for the American Continental troops showed 12 killed, 50 wounded, and 13 missing. Of these, 6 killed, 38 wounded, and 11 missing were from Maxwell's New Jersey Brigade. This report did not include losses for the militia.

Other reports say that militia losses from June 7 to June 23 were 10 killed, 40 wounded, and 10 captured. When you add up all the American losses from June 7 to June 23, it comes to:

• 35 killed
• 139 wounded
• 10 captured
• 22 missing

The British losses for the entire expedition, from June 7 to June 23, were:

• 25 killed
• 234 wounded
• 48 missing