“The ‘Cockpit’ of the American Revolution”

“New Jersey remained a constantly contested battleground where Loyalist and Patriot militias fought for supplies, land, and influence” (5).

The Book

The American Revolution in New Jersey: Where the Battlefront Meets the Home Front edited by James J. Gigantion II, explores the experience of the residents of New Jersey during the Revolutionary War from different aspects. The book is divided into two parts: “A Revolutionary Experience” and “The Impact of the Revolutionary Experience”.

Part One walks the reader through five areas: the militia, illegal trade, iron and salt production, the Battle of Fort Lee, and the arrival of the French military. Part Two explores the impact on local economy, religious organizations, slavery, and Loyalist residents. Instead of outlining each section here, a preview will be provided to present a look at what the reader can expect. In the militia essay of Part One, the reader learns that being a part of the militia was extremely difficult. A part-time job as soldier was not easily balanced with the full-time job of farmer or craftsmen. The laws and enforcement of the militia often fluctuated and their homes were often ransacked by British troops. In the sections on religious organizations and slavery in Part Two, the reader learns that the Quakers led the charge to abolish slavery in New Jersey and many abolitionists linked the Declaration of Independence with the call to end slavery.

The American Revolution in New Jersey is an edited book composed of a variety of essays looking at the impact of the war. It is well-written in the academic genre, but it is also easy to read. The essays are in-depth and interesting, relying on many testimonies from the residents of New Jersey. The chapters easily stand-alone, allowing the reader to pick and choose where to start.

The Place

Red Bank Battlefield Park is one of the many locations in New Jersey that commemorates where the American forces fought for Independence from Great Britain. The park is on land originally owned by the Whitall family. During a battle between American forces and Hessian soldiers, their home was used as a field hospital.

Today, visitors can walk the grounds along the Delaware River every day except Christmas and New Year’s. The Whitall home is open seasonally and provides a glimpse into Colonial life. Our family often visited Red Bank Battlefield Park for a day. It provides something for the kid (playgrounds), nature lover (grounds to discover and piers to walk to the end of), and the history buff (plaques, cannons, and the Whitall house).