Saturday, August 12, 2006

August 27, 1781 - Crossing New Jersey

Two hundred twenty-five years ago today, the Continental Army was in Chatham, NJ. In Victory in Yorktown, Richard Ketchum states:
"General Washington wrote to Governor Thomas Nelson of Virginia, who had succeded Thomas Jefferson in June, telling him that plans had changed, that the combined armies were heading south to join a formidible fleet and land forces under Admiral de Grasse to 'strike a blow at the Enemy in Virginia.' "
He further asked for the utmost in cooperation from Virigina, including the provision of food, forage, and supplies, and that Virginians "with a gun of any sort" turn out to assist.

The common troops still had no idea, though. Private Joseph Plumb Martin wrote that at this time -
"We went down to Chatham, where were ovens built for the accommodation of the French troops. We then expected we were to attack New York in that quarter, but after staying here a day or two, we again moved off and arrived at Trenton by rapid marches."

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