Robert A. Mayers Libros

The borough of Watchung's forests, farmlands, lakes and mountain vistas have been traversed by man for thousands of years. The Leni-Lenapes settled along the banks of the Stony Brook and Watchung Lake, naming the area Wacht Unks, or "High Hills." Attracted by its abundant natural resources, European settlers began to farm the area in the seventeenth century. The citizens took up arms during the Revolutionary War, serving as minutemen in the Somerset County Militia, protecting the strategic Stony Brook Pass. The town survived an existential crisis in 1924 as the state attempted and failed to convert the region into a massive water reservoir. Local author and historian Robert A. Mayers presents fascinating tales from throughout Watchung's history.

Focusing on the often-overlooked encampments of George Washington's Continental Army in Middlebrook and Pluckemin, New Jersey, the book highlights their significance during the Revolutionary War. These strategic locations hosted two major encampments: a challenging seven-week period in the summer of 1777 and a lengthy winter stay from 1778 to 1779. Despite the American Army's nine-month presence, this pivotal site has remained largely forgotten, contributing to a gap in the understanding of the Middle Atlantic campaigns and the broader American struggle for independence.