Conference on Horseback – On January 3, 1777, immediately after winning the Battle of Princeton, Washington and his senior officers met on horseback near the cemetery in Kingston to decide whether to proceed up the King’s Highway to New Brunswick to try to finish off the British, or to proceed up the Millstone Valley toward Morristown to “bank” their recent victories, rest, and prepare for a new fighting season in the spring. The troops were exhausted, so they chose Morristown.

Battle of Millstone – On January 20, 1777, a British foraging party of about 500 captured provisions at a Van Nest’s Mill on the Millstone River in the Weston section, near Manville. American militia counter-attacked and were able to recapture “107 horses, 49 wagons, 115 cattle, 70 sheep, 40 barrels of flour - 106 bags and many other things, 49 prisoners.”

March to Monmouth and the Feu to Joie – Late June 1778, thousands of American troops marched along what is now Route 518 through Rocky Hill, passing through Kingston on their way to Monmouth to fight and barely win a difficult battle in the summer heat. Afterwards, they marched to the banks of the “Landing Lane” area of the Raritan River, where on July 4^th they were ordered to fire cannon and muskets into the air, from both sides of the river, in celebration of the Monmouth victory and the second anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Known as the Feu de Joie (Fire of Joy) it was the first 4^th of July fireworks in American history.

March to Yorktown – In late August 1781 thousands of French troops marched along the Millstone River and thousands of American Troops marched down the King’s Highway, now Route 27, meeting in the Rocky Hill and Princeton areas. They were headed to Yorktown, Virginia where they would win the last major victory of the American Revolution and make American independence inevitable.

Farewell Orders at Rockingham – Although the building has moved several times to accommodate the growth of the Trap Rock quarry, Rockingham was the final headquarters of General Washington during the American Revolution as the Continental Congress was meeting at Nassau Hall in Princeton. Here Washington wrote his Farewell Orders, stepping down from his position as our first military leader. This action was significant because throughout human history, victorious revolutionary leaders almost always insist on immediately leading the new regime.

Interactive Map

https://w3r.stqry.app/2/list/21879#list-map