Many Mount Holly residents know the winter of 1776 as the most consequential time for our town’s role in the revolutionary war, but 1777 offers a little-known story that again put Mount Holly at the center of the American Revolution.
To our south, the British Army occupied Philadelphia during September of 1777. This made the smattering of forts along the banks of the Delaware River strategically important to block the movement of British troops and materials into New Jersey. To our north, Americans had barely repelled an attack on Fort Mercer by Count Colonel von Donop’s Hessian troops.
But despite a successful defense of Fort Mercer, the Americans nevertheless evacuated it on November 18 since they deemed Mercer indefensible should British deploy more troops from Philadelphia.
In a November 22 dispatch to American Field Commander Nathanael Greene, who was in Burlington City, General Washington made it clear that he was not ready to give up New Jersey so easily.
“An attack upon the Enemy’s detachment, if it can be made with success, would be a most desirable object. But I must leave the propriety of it entirely to your own judgment.”
Greene was Washington’s most trusted field commander and his presence here is no small deal. A few sentences later, Washinton reveals that General Greene had company in the area.
“ There are not more than one hundred and Seventy of Morgan’s Corps fit to march, as they in general want Shoes, they went Yesterday and will join you I suppose this day.”
This interesting detail shows that the famous Virginia riflemen of Daniel Morgan was here, fresh off of their victory at Saratoga. Over the past 2 years these famous Virginians had walked from Virginia to Boston, then to New Jersey, up to New York State, and now back to New Jersey and Mount Holly. It is not clear whether Colonel Morgan was with his men at the time, but the mere presence of this elite force demonstrates Washington’s commitment to attack the British in Southern New Jersey.
On November 24th, General Greene sent a dispatch from Mount Holly to Washington informing him that while his loyalty to Washington and the Revolution’s cause was absolute, he was aware that his strength was significantly less than that of the British.
“ Your Excellency observes, in your last, you must leave the Propriety of attacking the Enemy to me. Would you advise me to fight them with very unequal Numbers. Most People, indeed all, agree they are near or quite 5000 strong—Our Force is upwards of three, exclusive of the Militia, which may be from seven to eight hundred at most.”
So that makes nearly 4,000 American Soldiers in Mount Holly at the end of November 1777, with more on the way. This made Mount Holly a very busy place. Where did they all sleep? Where and what did they eat? With that many men the answer must be everywhere. All of Mount Holly must have quartered the brave American soldiers. And somewhere in the little town of Mount Holly in late November General Nathanael Greene sat at a desk lit perhaps by a single candle and wrote this to General Washington.
“For your Sake for my own Sake & for my Country’s Sake I wish to attempt every thing which will meet with your Excellency’s Approbation—I will run any Risque or engage under any Disadvantages if I can only have your Countenance if unfortunate. With the Publick I know Success sanctifies every thing and that only. I cannot help thinking from the most dispassionate Survey of the Operations of the Campaign that you stand approved by Reason & justified by every military Principle. With Respect to my own Conduct, I have ever given my Opinion with Candour & to my utmost executed with Fidelity whatever was committed to my Charge.”