Quinton Bridge

A Second Forage War

Mad Anthony Wayne

The winter of 1777-1778 was especially tough for the Americans, but both sides often sent out significant forces to forage for their own troops and to disrupt the other's foraging efforts. On February 19th, 1778, with the Continental Army desperately needing supplies, Brigadier General "Mad" Anthony Wayne led a force across the Delaware River south of Philadelphia on a foraging mission through southern New Jersey. General Howe responded by sending about 4,000 men to disrupt Wayne. However, Wayne moved quickly north, collecting provisions, forcing residents to move supplies he couldn't take, and occasionally skirmishing with the British pursuing him. Howe sent another force in March under Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood to forage and try to force Wayne into a fight.

Lord Howe

Simcoe

British Move into the Jerseys

On March 17th, Mawhood led a force of 1,200 British regulars and Loyalist companies of the New Jersey Volunteers, along with 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 served as a natural line of defense. The local militia, who were very active in NJ, quickly established strong defensive positions at the two crossings nearest the Delaware River—Quinton's Bridge and Hancock's Bridge—after learning of the British movement, to prevent crossing attempts. Mawhood led his force to Salem, where they were met by local Loyalists who informed 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 positioned his forces on the north side of the bridge and had taken up the bridge's planking to block easy passage.

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 strong defensive positions behind the creek, so he devised a plan to draw out the patriots. Under cover of darkness, the British concealed small detachments of the 17th and Simcoe's Rangers in and around Weatherby's Tavern on the Salem side of the creek, 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 toward Salem.

Simcoe's Queen's Rangers

Punked Patriots

The rebels fell for the trap. Captain Smith left one-third of his troops to defend the defenses while he led about 200 men across the creek in what turned into a chaotic chase. Without proper flank security, the militiamen headed up the road past the tavern. When they had gone roughly two hundred yards beyond the bridge, the British and Loyalists opened fire from all directions. Surrounded by a hail of musket balls from the front, sides, and back, they panicked and ran toward the creek for safety. However, they left around 40 of their comrades dead in the crossfire. Additionally, some of the fleeing patriots drowned trying to cross the creek. One patriot, Andrew Bacon, risked the

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. 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 small but typical of the war. There was no clear winner or loser. The significant loss of lives was balanced by the quick reinforcement of the creek and Mawhood's decision to seek his luck elsewhere.