Battle of Bound Brook

The Battle of Bound Brook
April 13-14, 2024

In the spring of 1777, British forces reinforced with Hessian troops were stationed in New Brunswick, New Jersey and conducted foraging raids against local targets in the area with little success. General George Washington at this time held the Continental Army north near Morristown. His southern outpost on the Raritan River, and closest to the 17,000 British troops, was his outpost garrison of about 500 men at Bound Brook, under the command of Major General Benjamin Lincoln.

As the foraging strategy did not prove to be successful, General William Howe and Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis decided to make a surprise attack on the American outpost at Bound Brook. The objective of capturing the entire garrison was not met, although prisoners were taken. Lincoln, left in great haste, abandoning papers and personal effects.

On April 12, late on the evening, about 4,000 British and Hessian troops, under the command of Cornwallis marched from the British stronghold of New Brunswick. All but one detachment reached positions surrounding the outpost before the battle began near daybreak the next morning.

During the battle, most of the 500-man garrison escaped by the unblocked route. American reinforcements arrived in the afternoon, but not before the British plundered the outpost and began the return march to New Brunswick.