Losses in the New Jersey Brigade at the Battles of:

Short Hills (June 26, 1777);

Brandywine (September 11, 1777);

Germantown (October 4, 1777).

John U. Rees

(Note: Unless otherwise noted the following information was garnered from the Jersey regiment

muster rolls. One important factor to be taken into consideration is that often wounded soldiers

were not listed as such on the rolls.)

I. The Short Hills, 26 June 1777

Comparative Accounts

Bloomfield's Journal "... one Lieut. & an Ensign Wounded, & about forty Privates killed,

Wounded & taken Prisoners."

Israel Shreve Journal "Our Loss in kiled was 12... and about 20 taken prisoner... [and] about 20

wounded..." (Shreve included the following officers; 1 captain and 1 lieutenant killed; 1 captain and

one adjutant captured)

Israel Shreve letter, June 29, 1777 "We had between 20 & 30 Wounded... mostly slightly Except 3

or 4..."

Israel Shreve letter, July 6, 1777 "we had 12 kiled and about 20 wounded and as many taken

prisoners..."

1st New Jersey

1 private killed

(1 private wounded in June 1777)

2nd New Jersey

Captain Anderson killed1

(1 private dead June 25, 1777)

Captain Lawrie wounded and captured2

1 volunteer wounded3

4 privates captured

1 sgt. Missing

3 privates missing

3rd New Jersey

1 private killed

Captain Hennion wounded

1 private captured

1 private missing

4th New Jersey

Ensign Sproul killed

1 private killed

Adjutant King wounded and captured

9 privates missing

Totals for Officers

Breakdown of Casualties and Enlisted Men

1 captain, 1 ensign and 2 officers killed, 1 officer wounded,

3 privates killed and 2 officers captured

2 captains wounded (1 also captured) 22 enlisted men and 1 volunteer, killed,

1 volunteer wounded wounded, captured, or missing.

1 private possibly wounded

1 adjutant and 4 privates captured

1 sergeant and 13 privates missing

Combined Total

(Officers and Enlisted Men)

5 killed, 3 wounded, 6 captured, 14 missing

Final Analysis, June 26, 1777

Israel Shreve's journal and letters seem to give the most accurate total: 12 killed, 20 captured and 20

wounded "mostly slightly Except 3 or 4..."3

II. Brandywine, 11 September 1777

Comparative Accounts

Lewis Howell letter "... wounded and killed not exceeding twelve...", he stated that Captain Stout

and a sergeant were the only killed in the 2nd Regiment. (found in "A Biographical Sketch of

Governor Richard Howell...")

Ebenezer Elmer stated that Stout, Sgt. Armstrong and 2 privates of the 2nd Regiment were killed

and Colonel Shreve and 7 men wounded, 1 of these mortally.

John Shreve's narrative "Two men, Jeremiah NcMahon and Ezekiel Jobs, were severely wounded

near me; they both recovered."

Bloomfield's journal: Sept. 11, 1777: Major Joseph Bloomfield, wounded, 3rd N.J.

Capt. Bellard, wounded, 3rd N.J.

1st New Jersey

1 sgt. Killed

2 privates captured

4 private missing

2nd New Jersey

Captain Stout killed4

1 sgt. Killed

Colonel Shreve wounded5

2 privates wounded6

1 sergeant missing or deserted7

3 privates missing

3rd New Jersey

2 privates killed

Major Bloomfield wounded8

Lt. Ballard wounded9

1 private wounded

11 privates captured

2 privates missing

4th New Jersey

1 private wounded

1 sgt. Captured

5 privates captured

4 privates missing

Totals for Officers

Breakdown of Casualties and Enlisted Men

1 captain, 2 sergeants and 1 officer killed and

2 privates killed 3 officers wounded

1 colonel, 1 major, 1 lieutenant, 41 enlisted men killed, wounded,

and 4 privates wounded captured or missing

1 sergeant and 18 privates captured

1 sergeant missing or deserted 13 privates missing

Combined Total

(Officers and Enlisted Men)

5 killed, 7 wounded, 19 captured, 13 missing

Final Analysis, September 11, 1777

Ebenezer Elmer gives the most comprehensive total for the 2nd Regiment. According to the

surgeon's mate 2 privates killed and 5 wounded, all unnamed, must be added to the total. Though

the number of killed may have been higher and the number of wounded should probably be at least

doubled the amended total is: 7 killed, 12 wounded, 19 captured and 13 missing.

III. Germantown, 4 October 1777

Comparative Account

Elias Dayton Papers: Ogden's 1st Regt. "... about 20 men" wounded.

Field return of Dayton's 3rd. Regiment Oct. 6, 1777,

1 sgt. killed, 8 rank & file killed

1 sgt. and 12 rank & file wounded

1 sgt. and 4 rank & file missing

Brigade-Major James Witherspoon, killed

1st New Jersey

Captain McMires killed

Ensign Hurley killed

1 sgt. Killed

7 privates killed (2 privates died in October, possibly wounded at Germantown)

Captains Conway, Morrison, and Baldwin wounded

Lt. Robinson wounded10

1 cpl. wounded

1 private wounded

1 cpl. Missing

3 privates missing

1 private captured

2nd New Jersey

1 private killed

2 privates captured

1 private missing

3rd New Jersey

3 privates killed

1 sergeant wounded

Ensign Bloomfield wounded11

1 sgt. and 3 privates listed as wounded in the Sept/Oct

return, probably wounded at Germantown.

1 private "Died of his Wound" November 28, 1777, possibly wounded at Germantown.

1 sgt. missing

4 privates missing

4th New Jersey

1 private killed

Ensign Hays wounded, possibly died later.

2 privates wounded

2 privates missing

Totals for Officers

Breakdown of Casualties and Enlisted Men

1 brigade-major, 1 captain, 1 ensign, 3 officers killed and

1 sergeant and 12 privates killed 6 officers wounded

3 captains, 1 lieutenant, 2 ensigns, 40 enlisted men killed, wounded,

2 sergeants, 1 corporal and captured or missing

8 privates wounded.

(2 privates died in October, possibly of wounds)

3 privates captured

1 sergeant, 1 corporal and 10 privates missing

Combined Total

(Officers and Enlisted Men)

16 killed, 18 wounded, 3 captured, 12 missing

Final Analysis, October 4, 1777

The above total should be adjusted according to the statement and return made by Elias Dayton in

his collected papers. Thus the amended total is, 22 killed, 43 wounded, 3 captured, 12 missing.

IV. Officer Casualty List for the Campaign of 1777

(Bloomfield's Journal, 130.12

1st N.J. Regt.

Killed - Major Joseph Morris, died 1/4/78 of wounds received at Whitemarsh, 12/5/77

Capt. Andrew McMyers, 10/4/77

Ensign Patrick Hurley 10/4/77

Wounded - Capt. John Conway 10/4/77

Capt. Isaac Morrison 10/4/77

Capt. Daniel Baldwin 10/4/77

Lt. Robert Robertson (Robinson) 10/4/77

Prisoners - Capt. Elias Longstreet 12/17/76

Capt. John Flahaven 4/24/77

Lt. John Mercer 2/1/77

2nd N.J. Regt.

Killed - Capt. Joseph Stout 9/11/77

Capt. Ephraim Anderson 6/26/77

Wounded - Col. Israel Shreve 9/11/77

Ensign James Paul 6/26/77

Prisoners - Capt. James Lawry 6/26/77

Lt. Ryerson 11/16/76 (captured at Fort Washington)

3rd N.J. Regt.

Killed - 0

Wounded - Major Joseph Bloomfield 9/11/77

Capt. John Ross (date unknown)

Capt. Jeremiah Ballard 9/11/77

Capt. Cornelius Hennion 6/26/77

Lt. Clarke 10/4/77

Ensign Jervis Bloomfield 10/4/77

4th N.J. Regt.

Killed - Ensign Sprowls 6/26/77

Ensign John Hays 10/4/77

Wounded & Captured - Adjutant Joseph King 6/26/77

Wounded - Lt Jonathan Holmes, 1/2/77, Trenton

Brigade Command

Brigade-Major James Witherspoon, killed 10/4/77

Sources

1. Israel Shreve Journal, November 23, 1776 to August 14, 1777, Israel Shreve Papers, Buxton

Collection, Prescott Memorial Library, Louisiana Tech University (contains an excellent account of

the battle of Short Hills).

2. Ibid.

3. Israel Shreve to Dr. Bodo Otto, dated "Turkey Gap Sunday 29th. June 1777," Israel Shreve

Papers, Buxton Collection, Prescott Memorial Library, Louisiana Tech University. James Paul

was a volunteer serving in the position of sergeant. Immediately after the Battle of the Short

Hills, which took place on June 26, 1777, Shreve stated that among the wounded was "Ensign

James Paul in the thigh..." This rank was awarded to him immediately after the battle though it

did not become official until October of 1777. (For more on volunteers in the regiment see, John

U. Rees, "`He Come Out with us this time As a Volunteer': Soldiers Serving Without Pay in the

Second New Jersey Regiment, 1777-1780," Military Collector & Historian, vol. XLV, no. 4

(Winter 1993), 154-55. http://revwar75.com/library/rees/volunteer.htm ) "Promotions to be

made in the 2d. New Jersey Regt. Commandd By Coll. Shrieve - James Paul a Volunteer &

wounded at sho[r]t hills was promised by his Excellency a Commisn. Dated 1st July 1777...

Given in Camp at Towaminsing Township the 12th Day of Oct. 1777 Wm. Maxwell B.G.,"

Revolutionary War Rolls, National Archives Microfilm Publications, Record Group 93, M246

(Washington, D.C., 1980) roll 57, section 21-3, p. 14.

4. Ebenezer Elmer, "Extracts from the Journal of Surgeon Ebenezer Elmer of the New Jersey

Continental Line, September 11-19, 1777," Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography,

vol. 35 (1911), 103-107.

5. Ibid., 103-107.

6. John Shreve, "Personal Narrative of the Services of Lieut. John Shreve of the New Jersey Line

of the Continental Army," Magazine of American History, vol. 3, part 2 (1879), 564-578. Covers

the period 1775-1783. John Shreve was the son of Col. Israel Shreve.

7. Capt. Nathaniel Bowman’s company muster roll, November 1777, Revolutionary War Rolls,

National Archives Microfilm Publications, Record Group 93, M246 (Washington, 1980), reel 58.

8. Mark E. Lender and James Kirby Martin, eds. Citizen Soldier; The Revolutionary Journal of

Joseph Bloomfield (Newark, 1982), 127.

9. Ibid., 127.

10. Elias Dayton, "Papers of General Elias Dayton," Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical

Society, vol. 3 (1848-1849), pp. 185-186.

11. Ibid., 185-186.

12. Lender and Martin, Citizen Soldier; Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register of Officers of the

Continental Army During the War of the Revolution - April 1775 to December 1783 (Baltimore,

1982); Revolutionary War Rolls, National Archives Microfilm Publications, Record Group 93,

M246 (Washington, 1980), reel 55 to reel 62, muster rolls of the 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th New Jersey

Regiments. Also studied though not included in the statistics was Spencer's Additional Regiment,

reels 128 and 129. Ebenezer Elmer, "Journal of Lieutenant Ebenezer Elmer of the Third Regiment

of New Jersey Troop in the Continental Service,” April 19, 1777-May 25, 1777; August 24,

1782-November 1783, Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, vol. 3 (1848-1849),

96-102. Ebenezer Elmer was appointed surgeon's mate in the 2nd New Jersey Regiment as of April

1, 1777 (page 102). Elias Dayton, "Papers of General Elias Dayton," Proceedings of the New

Jersey Historical Society, vol. 3 (1848-1849), 185-186; Daniel Agnew, "A Biographical Sketch of

Governor Richard Howell, of New Jersey," Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol.

22 (1898), 221-225; contains a good account of the 2nd Regiment’s role in the battle at Trois

Rivieres; Israel Shreve Papers, Buxton Collection, Prescott Memorial Library, Louisiana Tech

University, letter Israel Shreve to Mary Shreve, dated July 6, 1777.

See also, John U. Rees

"’I Expect to be stationed in Jersey sometime...’: An Account of the Services of the Second

New Jersey Regiment”: Part I, December 1777 to June 1778 (1994, unpublished, copy held in the collections of the

David Library of the American Revolution, Washington Crossing, Pa.), contains seventeen

appendices covering various subjects including studies of the casualties incurred by the New

Jersey Brigade (1777-1779), the uniform clothing of the New Jersey Brigade (1776-1778), the

use of the nine-month draft in 1778, and names of all the officers and enlisted men of the

regiment. Also included is a collection of pension narratives of the common soldiers of the

New Jersey Brigade: The March to Winter Quarters: 13 December to 25 December 1777

General Orders, 20 December to 25 December 1777

Countering the "depredations of the Enemy": 23 December to 28 December 1777

The Valley Forge Camp in the Waning Days of 1777

A. General Orders: 25 December to 31 December 1777

B. "I fancy we may ... Content ourselves in these Wigwams ...": 1 January to 19 March 1778

Valley Forge in the First Months of 1778

General Orders, 1 January to 19 March 1778

"I Expect to be stationed in Jersey sometime ...": 22 March to 1 April 1778

General Orders of the Army, 20 March to 28 March 1778

"The Enemy Giting intelligence of our movement ...": 4 April to 30 May 1778

General Orders of the Army, 8 April to 6 May 1778

Reinforcements and Alarms: The Actions of Brigadier General William Maxwell and

the Remainder of the Jersey Brigade, May 7 to May 24, 1778

The Institution of Nine-Month Enlistments from the New Jersey Militia, February to June 1778

Procuring Arms and Equipment for the Regiment, March to June 1778

Clothing the Men in the Spring of 1778

The Jersey Brigade is Reunited, May 28 to June 19, 1778

Appendices (partial list)

Company Strengths and Dispositions, December 1777 to May 1779

(including tables of casualties, deserters, etc.)

Monthly Regimental Strength as Taken from the Muster Rolls, December 1777 to May 1779

Listing of Field Officers, Company Officers, and Staff, December 1777 to May 1779

Company Organization, December 1777 to May 1779

A. Lineage of Companies, 1777 to 1779

B. Continuity of Company Command Through May 1779

Proportion of Men from 2nd N.J. of 1776 Who Reenlisted in 2nd N.J. of 1777

A Listing of Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates of the 2nd N.J. of 1778

Part II, June 1778 to June 1779, covers the period from the onset of the 1778

Monmouth Campaign to the unit’s departure for the 1779 expedition led by Major General

John Sullivan against the Iroquois (manuscript).