Posted on 06/25/2010 8:16:38 AM PDT by Pharmboy
Springfield celebrated the 230th anniversary of the
Battle of Springfield with a dedication of a clock and
benches in Patriot Park on Wednesday. Springfield
resident and member of the 3rd New Jersey Regiment Mark Hurwitz
tells the story of the battle. Springfield was burned to the ground
by the English.
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield paused this week to remember a time 230 years ago when it was under siege.
snip...
On June 23, 1780, Springfield stood in the way of the British army’s attempt to attack Washington’s Morristown headquarters. The Americans held their ground there, despite being outnumbered nearly three to one by Redcoats and Hessian troops.
Most of the defenders were merely farmers trying to protect their property and their families. More coverage:
The fighting became so intense that, on the steps of the First Presbyterian Church on Morris Avenue, the Rev. James Caldwell ripped out pages of Isaac Watts hymn books to use as cannon wadding as the rebels fought off advancing troops.
Thus, the reverend’s cry of “Give em’ Watts, boys!” became an unofficial township motto.
By the end of the day, the British advance had been thwarted, ending the last major northern battle of the Revolutionary War.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
The reason this (last major in the north) battle gets less ink than many others is that Washington was not present...wherever he was gets more attention (Monmouth, Brooklyn, Brandywine, Trenton, Princeton, &etc.)
"Give 'em Watts, boys!"
The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list...
I just have to tell someone who I think will be as excited about this as I am.....I found a book at my Mother In Law’s...Copyright 1721!....”English Liberties” or “The Free-Born Subject’s Inheritance”.....has the Magna Charta, etc....the front blank pg has handwriting, but half of it is ripped out....which is sad because it looks as though someone was discussing the “colonies”....
LOL!!! Exactly the pics I was going to look for and post.
Wow!! That IS exciting...your mom-in-law’s family likely goes way back. Will you have it appraised?
well...I’ve done a little research (there was a Christies auction of one - but I’m pretty sure it was in much better condition than this one.) Getting it appraised may be interesting....I’m most interested in the note on the face page... I do not have any idea where this book came from...it may be it was from her husband’s side, and he’s gone and never said much of anything about anything. Her side came from Finland in the late 1800’s...My MIL will NOT know...she has no idea what this is...and if I ask her she’ll be her usual (dumb) self....sorry, just the way she is. She has books that haven’t been looked at in probably 40+ years....I’m going to try to wrap it to keep it from further deterioration...and go looking for an appraiser in this state. After November! I’m a little busy right now. (It IS ironic this book ended up in MY hands!)
While Luke & Laura search high and low for the Ice Princess.
And everyone knows Laura is fat and can't walk in heels!
I love the way those battle scene paintings always have a guy with a drum.
Perhaps someone who knows about battlefield drum signals can weigh in...
But, it just may be a fanciful addition, and your initial comment might be on the money!
Thanks once again, Joe.
In the histories I have read - mostly “old” histories - Springfield is regarded as nothing more than a skirmish, or almost an aborted battle. Monmouth is shown not only as the biggest battle, period, but the last “major” battle in the north. Springfield seems to be “minor”.
Bugles were almost non-existant.
Fifes (flutes) were the prevalent wind-type instruments.
A "skirmish?" LOL!! You should burn those history books (or maybe use them for wadding as the good minister might have)...
The first verifiable formal use of a brass horn as a military signal device was the Halbmondblaser – literally, "half moon blower" – used in Hanover in 1758. It was U-shaped (hence its name) and comfortably carried by a shoulder strap attached at the mouthpiece and bell. It first spread to England in 1764 where it was gradually accepted widely in foot regiments. Cavalry did not normally use a proper bugle, but rather an early trumpet that might be mistaken for a bugle today, as it lacked keys or valves, but had a more gradual taper and a smaller bell, producing a sound more easily audible at close range but with less carrying power over distance.
You're not having a good day; maybe tomorrow will be better.
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BTW, I’ve seen an identical clock up close, they look and sound beautiful. Made in, hmm, Mass or Conn.
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