In a presentation at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Woodbury Friends Meeting House, historian Patrick Ward will recount the local Revolutionary War campaigns of British General Charles Cornwallis, one of Great Britain’s most aggressive and capable senior field commanders during the American Revolution. Cornwallis’ later maneuvers in the South ultimately culminated in his surrender at Yorktown, the final battle of the war, in 1781.
Cosponsored by the Gloucester County Historical Society and the Woodbury Friends Meeting, the event is open to the public and admission is free.
Ward is a Southern New Jersey historian whose interest focuses on Gloucester City, the Delaware River, and the region’s Revolutionary War history. Cosponsored by the Gloucester County Historical Society and the Friends Meeting, the event is free and open to the public.
Titled “British General Lord Cornwallis Marches to Woodbury and Gloucester County in November 1777,” Ward’s PowerPoint presentation will include maps from the period, information about the military units that participated, personal accounts from those on the march, and details about how the Americans responded to Cornwallis’ forces.
On Oct. 22, 1777, Hessian forces failed to capture Fort Mercer at Red Bank. By holding the fort, American troops disrupted efforts to resupply the British Army in Philadelphia by way of the Royal Navy and other supply vessels on the Delaware River.
General Sir William Howe, commander in chief of the British land forces, responded by organizing a larger expedition against Fort Mercer. He placed General Lord Cornwallis in command of the attacking force.
On Nov. 17, 1777, a combined force of British and Hessian troops landed south of Fort Billingsport, New Jersey, and began marching north through Gloucester County. Additional British troops from New York City landed at Fort Billingsport under the command of General Thomas Wilson.
Cornwallis assumed command of the combined force, estimated at 4,900 troops, and led it north toward Fort Mercer at Red Bank. Their objective was to eliminate the last remaining American threat to British shipping on the Delaware River.
Ward’s presentation will include an opportunity for informal discussion with the audience.
Free parking available on Hunter Street in the Gloucester County Historical Society lot and the large County Justice Complex Parking Garage. https://bit.ly/woodbury-free-parking
Helpful Google maps link: https://bit.ly/Woodbury-friends
The Friends Meetinghouse is located across North Broad Street from the Charlie Brown Restaurant.
GPS Coordinates: Friends Meeting: 39.84058,-75.15074