Last Battle Of The Revolutionary War Re-Enactment Slated For Sunday In Barnegat

by Patricia A. Miller

Deep in the pines of Barnegat, the last battle of the Revolutionary War will come to life again this Sunday when history buffs re-enact ”The Affair At Cedar Bridge,” at the Cedar Bridge Tavern at 200 Halfway Road.

The free event will run from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The battle will begin at 2 p.m. Not much has changed in the immediate area around the tavern since the battle in December 1782. Back then, the Pinelands frontier in Ocean County was a hideout for Loyalists. Capt. John Bacon was one of them. But Capt. Richard Shreve and several American militia horsemen were closing in on Bacon, according to an account in Patriotpirates.com.

Shreve and his men began their search on Christmas Day, 1782. They searched for two days without success. They stopped at the Cedar Bridge Tavern for refreshments, where they found Bacon, according to the account.

As Capt. John Bacon and his men arrived at the tavern they saw the militia, barricaded Cedar Bridge and began their defense. At the onset, one of Capt. Shreve’s men was killed in the heavy musket fire. Shreve’s uncle, managed to cross the bridge and escape into the woods. Meanwhile Capt. Shreve gathered his infantry and began a full scale attack. Just as they were about to overcome Bacon and his bandits, local residents of Cedar Bridge unexpectedly came to Bacon’s assistance.

In confusion, Capt. Shreve’s men had to stop their attack and Bacon escaped. The locals surrendered to the militia and several were taken back to Burlington for trial. John Bacon escaped but not for long.
Some time after the battle, Bacon was found by a posse of six men in the public house or tavern of William Rose which was probably located in Parkertown. (There was a bounty of 50 sterling for John Bacon.) Capt. Stewart came for Bacon with a musket and Bacon raised his at Stewart’s chest. A scuffle ensued and Bacon surrendered to the men but when the dust cleared he had a bullet and a bayonet wound. Capt. John Bacon, Loyalist privateer and pineland bandit had met his end.“