A minor skirmish near Bonhamtown, NJ, during the Forage War, notable because General Howe was unknowingly present and nearly captured.
Key Facts
- Date
- March 8, 1777
- British force size
- Approximately 3,000 regulars
- British killed
- At least 4
- British captured
- 3 prisoners
- Part of
- Forage War, American Revolutionary War
- Notable near-miss
- General Howe was present at Bonhamtown unbeknownst to Americans
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
In March 1777, approximately 3,000 British regulars departed Amboy on what appeared to be a foraging expedition into the Punk Hill area of New Jersey. General William Maxwell observed the movement from a nearby hill and organized both a harassing detachment on the left flank and a larger flanking force toward Bonhamtown, drawing on Pennsylvania militia under Col. Cook and New England troops under Col. Thacher.
Cook's and Thacher's combined detachments engaged a substantial British advance party roughly half a mile out. Maxwell sent Col. Martin and Lt. Col. Lindley as reinforcements. A separate American regiment cut off British reinforcements, triggering confusion and a general panic that turned the engagement into a rout. Americans pursued the fleeing British as far as Bonhamtown and Metuchen before lack of numbers and cover forced them to halt.
The British suffered at least four killed and three taken prisoner. One captive revealed after the battle that General Howe had been present at Bonhamtown during the engagement. Had Maxwell possessed this intelligence beforehand, the battle might have resulted in the capture of the British commander, potentially altering the course of the war significantly.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
General William Maxwell, Col. Cook, Col. Thacher, Col. Martin.
Side B
1 belligerent
General William Howe.