Few People Know That The Last Skirmish Of The Revolutionary War Was Fought In New Jersey
By Kristen|Published January 20, 2021
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Kristen
Author
Kristen is a writer, editor, and social media maven who loves her state. Born and raised in New Jersey, sharing all it has to offer is her passion. After attending Montclair State University, she continued her education online, obtaining certifications in social media management.
New Jersey has a rich Revolutionary War history but we all know that the war ended in Virginia – or did it? Most consider the Seige of Yorktown to be the final battle of the Revolutionary War. General Charles Cornwallis surrendered his army of nearly 8,000 to around 6,500 French and American soldiers led by General George Washington. This effectively eliminated any chance of a British victory. However, the war didn’t officially end until the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783. While no large battles were fought, one of the final skirmishes happened in the Garden State.
The first known record of John Bacon was a 1775 court document related to unpaid debts.
He was married with two sons and resided in Pemberton, New Jersey. It is said he started as a Patriot but soon joined the Loyalists. William Franklin, British royal governor of the New Jersey Colony (and the illegitimate son of Benjamin Franklin) chose Bacon as the military leader of the "Pine Robbers."
Later known as "The Refugees," the "Pine Robbers" were a guerrilla-style fighting unit.
They supported the Loyalist cause gaining profits by plundering. John Bacon and his bandits wreaked havoc through southern and central New Jersey, stealing and killing along the way. They were known to have once killed 19 men in their sleep.
Though the name of the tavern is not known and it likely no longer exists, it's believed that the skirmish happened near the modern-day Cedar Bridge Tavern Historic Site. The Cedar Bridge Tavern pictured dates back to 1816.
Captain Richard Shreve and Captain Edward Thomas of the Mansfield militia stopped with their men at the tavern and were ambushed! Interestingly Bacon had only come across the militia by coincidence - this was not a planned attack.
They nearly had John Bacon...until Loyalist locals intervened and began shooting at the militia. As the battle raged, John Bacon escaped. One man died and 8 others were injured. In the end, the Loyalists surrendered but Bacon got away. Note that the sketch featured is not from the skirmish but the Battle of Trenton.
His bounty increased and, a few months later, he was apprehended and mortally wounded. Though he’s been gone for centuries, his escape will not be forgotten. It is reenacted each December at the Cedar Bridge Tavern.
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