Battle of Springfield
- When
- 1780
- Where
- Morristown, New Jersey (target of the expedition); Springfield, Union County, New Jersey; Springfield and Elizabethtown, New Jersey; Springfield, New Jersey
- Episodes
- 4
The Battle of Springfield was fought on June 23, 1780, in Union County, New Jersey, during the American Revolutionary War. After a June 7 attempt at Connecticut Farms failed, Knyphausen and Clinton launched a second expedition toward Washington's army at Morristown. Major General Nathanael Greene's Continentals and New Jersey militia barred the way at Hobart Gap, forcing the British to withdraw in a Continental victory that ended British ambitions in New Jersey.
Episodes
- Second British Expedition Decided
After Connecticut Farms foiled Knyphausen's June 7 advance, Knyphausen and Clinton decided upon a second attempt against Washington's army.
- Battle of Springfield
On June 23, 1780, British forces advanced but withdrew before newly arriving rebel forces, yielding a Continental victory at Springfield.
- Greene Bars the Path to Hobart Gap
Greene deployed 1,500 Continentals and 500 New Jersey Militia at Springfield and Elizabethtown, blocking Knyphausen's route to Hobart Gap.
- Casualties and Aftermath
British losses for the June 7–23 expedition totaled 25 killed, 234 wounded, and 48 missing; militia casualties were reported at ten killed, forty wounded, and ten prisoners.
Background and detail
Background. Following the Battle of Connecticut Farms on June 7, 1780, which foiled Lieutenant General Wilhelm, Baron von Knyphausen's expedition against General George Washington's army at Morristown, New Jersey, Knyphausen and Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander-in-chief in North America, resolved on a second attempt.
Forces and Dispositions. Major General Nathanael Greene positioned 1,500 Continental troops and 500 New Jersey Militia at Springfield and Elizabethtown, barring Knyphausen's path to Hobart Gap. His Continentals included Brigadier General William Maxwell's New Jersey Brigade, Brigadier General John Stark's under-strength brigade of the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment plus Massachusetts and Connecticut regiments, and Major Henry Lee's 2nd Partisan Corps of 400 men.
Outcome and Significance. Although the British initially advanced, newly arriving rebel forces compelled them to withdraw, producing a Continental victory. The battle was among the last major engagements of the war in the north, effectively ended British ambitions in New Jersey, and became known as the "forgotten victory" as decisive fighting moved south. Washington praised the New Jersey Militia's spirit.
People involved
- George Washington · Continental Army commander whose army at Morristown was the expedition's target
- Wilhelm, Baron von Knyphausen · Lieutenant General leading the British expedition
- Sir Henry Clinton · Lieutenant General, British commander-in-chief in North America, who decided on the second attempt
- Nathanael Greene · Major General commanding Continental troops and militia at Springfield and Elizabethtown
- William Maxwell · Brigadier General commanding the New Jersey Brigade
- John Stark · Brigadier General commanding an under-strength brigade
- Henry Lee · Major commanding the 2nd Partisan Corps, numbering 400
Sources
- Battle of Springfield Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-22
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.