Quinton Bridge

A Second Forage War

Mad Anthony Wayne

The winter of 1777-1778 was particularly harsh for the Americans, but both sides regularly sent out significant forces to forage for their own side and to interfere with the foraging operations of the other side. On February 19th, 1778, with the Continental Army in desperate need of provisions, Brigadier General  "Mad" Anthony Wayne led a force across the Delaware River south of Philadelphia on a foraging expedition through southern New Jersey. General Howe responded by sending a force of about 4,000 men to harass Wayne. However, Wayne moved rapidly northward, gathering provisions, forcing residents to move supplies he could not take away from easy British reach, and occasionally skirmishing with the chasing British. Howe sent another force in March under Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood to forage and also to try to force Wayne into battle.

Lord Howe

Simcoe

British Move into the Jerseys

On March 17th, Mawhood led a force of 1,200  British regulars and Loyalist companies of New Jersey Volunteers as well as John Graves Simcoe's Queen's Rangers, across the Delaware River into Salem County, New Jersey. Scouts alerted Wayne to the British movement. He had finished his work and was preparing to return to the Continental Army encampment at Valley Forge.

19th Century Map of Salem Co.

Americans Defend

Alloway Creek in Salem County formed a natural line of defense, and the local militia (who were very active in NJ), after learning of the British movement, established strong defensive positions at the two crossings nearest the Delaware River, Quinton's Bridge, and Hancock's Bridge, to prevent the British from crossing. Mawhood led his force to Salem, where they were met by some local Loyalists who told them that Colonel Benjamin Holmes, along with 300 militia, was at Quinton's Bridge, only three miles (4.8 km) to the southeast. Holmes had established his position on the north side of the bridge and had taken up the bridge's planking to prevent its easy use.

The Militia had good positions along  the creek

Ruse de Guerre

Before dawn on March 18th, Mawhood moved several detachments of men into position on the side of the creek opposite the American forces. Captain William Smith was the senior officer with 300 local militiamen under his command defending the area around Quinton Bridge. Mawhood realized the rebels held good defensive positions behind the creek so he devised a plan to draw out the patriots.  Undercover of darkness the British concealed small detachments of the 17th and Simcoe's Rangers in and around one Weatherby's Tavern on the Salem side of the creek, and just northeast of the road. On the morning of the 18th, Mawhood baited his trap by ordering an element of the 17th Foot to stage a retreat in the direction of Salem.

Simcoe's Queen's Rangers

Punked Patriots


The rebels fell for the ruse. Captain Smith left one-third of his force to secure the defenses while he led some 200 went across the creek in what turned into a disorderly pursuit. Failing to post flank security, the militiamen headed up the road past the tavern. When they had gone about two hundred yards past the bridge, the British and Loyalists opened fire from all sides.  Caught in a hail of musket balls from their front, flanks, and rear, they broke and ran in a panic toward the safety of the creek. But not before leaving around 40 of their comrades who fell in the hail of fire. In addition, some of the fleeing patriots drowned trying to cross the creek. One of the patriots, Andrew Bacon, braved the "sizzling" British fire to raise the draw bridge and prevent the British from exploiting their ambush and further. Bacon was hit and his wound left him a cripple for life.

Smith's Militia Retreating (Rare color photo!)

Frustrated British

By that time, help arrived in the form of Colonel Elijah Hand's militia and two cannons. They reinforced the south side of the creek. At that, a frustrated Mawhood pulled back his forces and moved on to another objective - Hancock's Bridge before ultimately returning to Philadelphia. The engagement at Quinton's Bridge was a small one, but typical of the war. No real winner or loser. The relatively large loss of lives was offset by the rapid reinforcement of the creek and Mawhood's decision to try his luck elsewhere.

Seth Harding

A Strategy of Sorts

The American Revolution was an extremely complex affair. It began as a political movement and morphed into an armed insurrection that became a war for independence overplayed with a civil war, a covert war, and finally, a global war. But it was an economic war as well. The British sought to control and shut down American commerce, the lifeblood of the colonies. In some respects, British actions taken in the decade-long run-up to Lexington and Concord involved extracting the greatest benefit from the colonies, without allowing them to become too prosperous, large, or powerful. There were those in Parliament and British ruling circles who feared that the American colonies would someday overshadow Britain in population, power, and prestige. How prescient they were! But of course, instead of preparing to take advantage of this, they sought to prevent it.

Down to the Sea in Ships

When war broke out, the British strategy involved hemming in the Americans with Indian and Canadian allies to the west and north. The east and south would be taken care of by the Royal Navy. So a naval war became the less discussed but was as important, perhaps more important, than the land war. Great Britain had the largest and most powerful navy in the world and the American colonies had none. America did have a growing and efficient merchant marine, as well as the raw materials to build ships. So it set about creating its own small navy and refitting its merchant craft as privateers and naval vessels. This approach was only successful because of the brave and determined men who sailed the ships and the resourceful and uncompromising men who captained them. This is one such captain's story.

Connecticut Navy

Seth Harding was born in Eastham, Massachusetts although he moved to Norwich, Connecticut when he was a young man. Harding went to sea early in his life and commanded several merchant ships during the French and Indian War. By 1771 he had moved to Liverpool, Nova Scotia. At the beginning of the American Revolution in 1775, he returned to Connecticut and offered his services to its nascent navy. Harding was commissioned commander of the state brig, Defence. Harding captured many British ships while in command of this and two other vessels. He was first sent on patrol near Boston Harbor, where on 12 June 1775 he captured the British armed transport ship, George. Along with the ship he took several hundred Scottish soldiers of the 71st Highland Regiment and their commander, Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell.

Most American actions (including Harding's) were small-scale but still played a critical role in the war. Here is a contemporary letter that mentions one of Harding's exploits:

FAIRFIELD, MAY 13, 1776.

More Tory business. Last Sunday Captain Harding, in the brig Defence, had the happiness of taking a number of Tories who were crossing over to Long Island, on some of their pious errands, I suppose; among whom was one McNeal, a wretch you have often seen up town. He generally wore a white hat and blue silk jacket; in exchange for which, I hope, they will give him a coat-of-mail, that is, one of lime and stone.

It is said there were a number of letters found on them, giving an account of their diabolical schemes, together with the names of several of their associates. In consequence of which, a number of gentlemen resolved to break up the den, and set off to Ridgefield; among whom was the bold asserter of his country's cause, Major Dimon, who, I have this moment heard, had like to have lost his life, in reposing too much confidence in one of the villains. It seems he was very active in taking one Lyons, who, after he had surrendered, invited him in, where he had a number of the brother murderers concealed, that fell on him and would have put an end to his life, had not some of his friends very providentially come to his assistance. The Major, I am told, is much wounded in the head, but still had resolution to go in quest of the others.

You shall hear further in my next.





During his service with Connecticut's navy, Harding actually commanded two brigs named Defence and   Oliver Cromwell. His success led to bigger and better things.

John Jay

Continental Navy

In September 1778, Harding accepted a Continental Navy commission and took command of a new 32 gun frigate, Confederacy. In 1779, he sailed along the east coast with two other ships, Boston and Deane, taking three prizes and performing convoy duties. His ship was undermanned so he had to impress several French prisoners being exchanged by the British. During this cruise, the American flotilla captured a British privateer, Pole, and a schooner, Patsey, in addition to several merchant vessels. Withal, nice work. In September of that year, Harding was directed to take John Jay, the newly appointed American Minister to Spain, to Europe, but a tremendous Atlantic storm struck them and the ship was dis-masted 10 days out. Harding, through skillful seamanship, sailed his ship to Martinique for repairs, his passengers continuing on another ship.

"The Harding" goes to Work

Once repaired, Harding set to work. Confederacy raided British merchantmen and guarded convoys until 18 April 1781, when, at the Delaware Capes, she was forced to surrender to two British ships, the 44-gun Roebuck and 32-gun Orpheus. In early 1782 Harding was exchanged. He went on to command the letter of marque (privateer) Diana, but was captured again near Jamaica. And again he was released. This was not uncommon. Craving more action, Harding volunteered to serve as First Lieutenant to famed American naval Captain John Barry on the Alliance. In October of 1783, Harding was wounded during the last engagement of the war, fighting off the coast of France against HMS Sybill. By then, Harding had somewhat of a reputation, especially in France, where he was regarded warmly. The King of France, Louis XVI, referred to him as "the Harding."

John Barry

Back to the Merchant Navy

After the war, Harding went back into the merchant marine and sailed and traded in the Virgin Islands. He even became a Danish citizen to facilitate his business prospects there. By 1786 Harding's war wounds had weakened him to the point where he retired, settling first in New York City. New York evidently sapped his resources and over the years he sank into poverty. In 1807 Congress awarded him a pension. The fighting merchantman died in Schoharie, New York in November 1814. Harding's talents and exploits are indicative of the young American navy and merchant marine, which played such critical roles in securing independence, peace, and prosperity for the fledgling nation.


The World War I vintage USS Harding, DD-91, is named after this fighting first patriot...