The Battle of Metuchen Meetinghouse (a.k.a. Short Hills)

It is interesting to see how word of a battle, though fought within hearing of the British Command, often trickled in to in bits and pieces over several days. I have included the several entries as they appeared in the journal of Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Kemble:

Thursday, June 26th, 1777: Much firing heard this morning in Jersey, both of cannon and small Arms, which we are told took it’s course towards Brunswick [New Jersey], we hope from thence a glorious issue to our Arms, and a total Defeat of Mr. Washington’s Forces.

Friday, June 27th: Accounts vary so strangely, that there is no confidence to be put in them, the only authentic account is that Lord Cornwallis had met with Lord Sterling, commanding upwards of 3,000 Rebels, at or near Quibbletown, attacked, and put them to a total Route, and took three pieces of cannon from them.

Saturday, June 28th: Captain Mulcaster this afternoon arrived from Jersey and Amboy, informs us that General Howe came there last night with the whole Army; that Lord Cornwallis had fell in with Lord Sterling between Swamp Town and Quibbletown, had put him to flight without loss, except that of Captain Finch of the Guards, who is most dangerously wounded, but does not say how far General Howe proceeded, or anything more of him.

Sunday, June 29th: A short relation of late affairs in Jesey; On the 26th, at four in the morning, Lord Cornwallis marched from Amboy with one battalion Light Infantry, one of Grenadiers, some Jägers, Donop’s Grenadiers, the Brigade of Guards, and three Brigades British, 17th Light Dragoons and Rangers in upwards of 5,000; am told their march was retarded by [the] Hessians, and his Lordship fell in with Lord Sterling's Brigade, about 1,400 men, near Short Hills [at Metuchen Meeting House] at about ___ o’ clock who had received intelligence and were preparing to go off, but could not get away in time enough to save three pieces of cannon, which fell into our hands, with about 70 prisoners, and about 100 men killed and wounded. General Howe marched with the rest of the Army on the Brunswick Road, leaving Bonam Town on his left, quitting the road at the Black Horse, about four miles from Amboy.

SOURCE: Kemble's Journal, p. 123

Transcribed and annotated by Mark Tully

Bibliography

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