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Yorktown Battlefield
1st and 2d New Jersey Regiments (combined)

1st and 2d New Jersey Regiments (Combined)

1st New Jersey Regiment (Eastern Battalion)

Authorized 9 October 1775 in the Continental Army as the 1st New Jersey Regiment and assigned to the New York (subsequently Middle) Department. Organized 26 October - 15 December 1775 at Elizabethtown and Perth Amboy to consist of eight companies from Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Monmouth, Essex, and Bergen Counties.
Assigned 24 April 1776 to Stirling's Brigade, an element of the Main Army. Relieved 27 April 1776 from Stirling's Brigade and assigned to the Canadian Department. Relieved 2 July 1776 from the Canadian Department and assigned to the Northern Department. Assigned 20 July 1776 to Stark's Brigade, an element of the Northern Department. Relieved 5 August 1776 Stark's Brigade and assigned to St. Clair's Brigade, an element of the Northern Department.
Relieved 14 November 1776 from St. Clair's Brigade and assigned to the Main Army. Assigned 22 May 1777 to the New Jersey Brigade, an element of the Main Army. Reorganized 7 February 1779 to consist of nine companies. Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1783 as the New Jersey regiment. Furloughed 6 June 1782 at Newburgh, New York. Disbanded 15 November 1783.

Engagements
     
Defense of Canada
     Lake Champlain
     Northern New Jersey
     New York 1777
     
Defense of Philadelphia
     Philadelphia - Monmouth
     Iroquois 1779
     New Jersey 1780
     Yorktown

2d New Jersey Regiment (Western Battalion)

Authorized 9 October 17775 in the Continental Army as the 2d New Jersey Regiment and assigned to the New York (subsequently Middle) Department. Organized 26 October - 25 December 1775 at Bulington and Trenton to consist of eight companies from Gloucester, Hunterdon, Burlington, Salem, and Sussex Counties.
Relieved 8 January 1776 from the Middle Department and assigned to the Canadian Department. Relieved 2 July 1776 from the Canadian Department and assigned to the Northern Department. Assigned 20 July 1776 to Stark's Brigade, an element of the Northern Department. Relieved 21 October 1776 from Stark's Brigade and assigned to St. Clair's Brigade, an element of the Northern Department.
Relieved 14 November 1776 from St. Clair's Brigade and assigned to the Main Army. Assigned 22 May 1777 to the New Jersey Brigade, an element of the Main Army. Reorganized 7 February 1779 to consist of nine companies. Reorganized and redignated 1 March 1783 as the New Jersey Battalion, to consist of four companies. Furloughed 6 June 1783 at Newburgh, New York. Disbanded 15 November 1783.

Engagements
     
Defense of Canada
     Lake Champlain
     Northern New Jersey
     Defense of Philadelphia
     Philadelphia - Monmouth
     Iroquois 1779
     New Jersey 1780
     Yorktown
 

The information contained in these unit lineages is taken fromThe Continental Army by Robert K. Wright Jr. published by the Center of Military History, 1989.

Painting of Colonial Yorktown  

Did You Know?
During the period of its peak prosperity from 1740-1770, the town of Yorktown contained 250-300 buildings and had almost 2000 residents. Approximately 80% of the town were damaged or destroyed during the 1781 siege. Today Yorktown is still an active community of about 200 residents.

Last Updated: June 25, 2006 at 10:32 EST