Notes from the Battlefield
The “Forage War” in New Jersey
This is Samuel Gerock’s pocket-sized almanac for the year 1777. On the blank pages of this little book, Gerock wrote notes about his experience on campaign in New Jersey in the winter of 1777. One page includes an ink sketch by Gerock of the little-known Battle of Spanktown, which occurred near Woodbridge on Feb. 23, 1777. This battle was part of the “Forage War” that took place in northern New Jersey as the British and the Revolutionaries jockeyed for supplies (firewood, livestock, food) in the wake of the battles of Trenton and Princeton. The German Regiment played an active role in this campaign as the majority of General Washington’s army camped at Morristown. On a few pages of the almanac, Gerock recorded criticisms of his superior officer, Captain George Keeports, who had rejoined the regiment in February 1777. In 1818, when Gerock applied for his veteran’s pension, he showed the judge at the courthouse this almanac as proof of his service. The judge wrote, “He has shown me an interleaved almanack of the year 1777, in the blank leaves of which, he kept a diary and recorded the services he performed, and the affairs in which he was engaged.”
Poor Will’s Pocket Almanack, For the Year 1777
Printed by Joseph Crukshank; Notes written by Samuel Gerock
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1776
Paper, Ink
Museum of the American Revolution, Gift of Nanette Reid Osborne and Dr. Robert Kent Reid, children of Virginia Gerock Reid
Samuel Gerock left Philadelphia to join the German Regiment, which was serving with Washington’s army in New Jersey. He arrived on Dec. 30, just after the famous crossing of the Delaware River and victory at Trenton.
During the Second Battle of Trenton, British and Hessian soldiers attacked Washington’s army. Washington managed to move his army to safety during the night and attacked and defeated a British force at Princeton the following morning.
Morristown, New Jersey, served as the site of the Continental Army’s winter encampment from January to May 1777.
George Keeports was the captain (commanding officer) of Samuel Gerock’s company. Keeports was absent from the company during the battles of Trenton and Princeton, leaving Gerock in command.
George Keeports returned home to Baltimore on furlough from the regiment. He did not return and resigned his commission in May 1777. Keeports took up a job as the supply officer and purchasing agent in Baltimore for the Continental Army.
Major Ludwig Weltner left the regiment on furlough, possibly to recruit more men.
These riflemen, armed with slow-to-load but more accurate weapons than the standard infantryman, came from the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment. They saw action in many of the early battles of the Continental Army and were seasoned veterans by 1777.
This refers to the 42nd Regiment of Foot. These men were recruited into the British Army from the Highlands of Scotland.
Gerock criticized Keeports for his “headstrong” leadership and for “foolishly” leading troops against a well-defended position, despite the advice of his fellow officers, at a skirmish near Quibbletown (now Piscataway, New Jersey) on Feb. 15, 1777. Gerock wrote down these notes in case Keeports faced a court martial for his conduct.
