British, American Troops Square Off In Haddonfield On Saturday

HADDONFIELD, NJ — You might hear the phrase "The British are coming" in South Jersey on Saturday.

However, the phrase — made famous in the story of Paul Revere's 1775 ride warning of an advancing enemy — means something different in Haddonfield.

"Back in 1778, during the British Troop evacuation of occupied Philadelphia, George Washington ordered the local militia to annoy the Redcoats," said Joe Murphy, Chair of the Haddonfield Skirmish Committee.

"Thus both sides would skirmish throughout South Jersey until they finally battled at Monmouth, and so on June 4, we will annoy them again!" he added.

The reenactment of the skirmish returns after a two-year hiatus and takes place at 2 p.m. along Kings Highway.

Other family-friendly events are tied to the day-long colonial-themed event throughout the borough, organizers said. These events include discussions with Ben Franklin, walking tours of Haddonfield's historic district, performances of colonial-era music, speeches about Revolutionary War-era music and more.

A complete list of skirmish-related events, including times and locations, can be found by visiting this website.

Got a news tip? Story idea? Send me an email with the details at janel.miller@patch.com.