Download New Jersey in Conflict FINAL

NEWJERSEYINCONFLICT
HowardL.Green
August,2016
1
NewJerseyinConflict
ThelastbattlewagedonNewJerseysoiloccurredinJuneof1780.This
doesn’tmean,though,thatNewJerseyplayednoroleintheotherconflictsofthe
Americanpast.ThehistoryofwarfareinNewJerseyinvolvesEuropeansettlement,
militaryservice,warproduction,defensepreparedness,weaponsresearch,and
citizenactivitiesonthehomefront.Thesestoriesfindvoiceatthemanyhistoric
sites,museums,monumentsandmemorialsthatcommemorateNewJersey’s
militaryhistory.Thisessayoffersabroadlookattheplaceofwarinthehistoryof
thestateoverthecourseoffourhundredyears,highlightingmanyofthe
remarkableandsurprisingplaceswherevisitorscanexperiencethishistoryfirst
hand.
ColonytoState
TheearlycolonialyearsweremorepeacefulinwhatbecameNewJerseythan
inmostofNorthAmerica,thoughtheywerenotfreeofviolence.Insettlingthearea,
DutchandEnglishsettlersclashedwithNativeAmericans.Whilethereislittle
remainingphysicalevidenceofthesebarbarities,theartifactsandimprintofNative
Americansonthelandscapehassincebeenpreservedandisinterpretedina
numberofarcheologicalsitesandmuseums,includingtheNewJerseyStateMuseum
inTrenton.
Europeansalsofoughtoneanother.WhentheBritishoustedtheDutchfrom
NewNetherlandin1664,NewJerseywasdrawnintoacompetitionforcontrolof
NorthAmericathatfueledfourwarsbetween1689and1763.Itwasnota
battlegroundinanyofthefour,butthecoloniallegislaturedidcommitsoldiersto
Britishwareffortsinamannerthatsetapattern.Lawmakersreservedthecolony’s
militiafornearbydutiesofshortdurationwhileintimesofprolongedwarfare,they
deployedformallytrainedcompaniesknownas“JerseyBlues.”Thenamewasfirst
usedbyacompanycommissionedtomarchonMontrealduringKingGeorge’sWar
(1744-8),thethirdofthefourcolonialwars.Thenamestuck;companiesofNew
2
JerseysoldierscontinuedtousethenamethroughtheCivilWar,overonehundred
yearslater.
Thelastofthecolonialwars,knowninNorthAmericaastheFrenchand
IndianWar,beganintheOhioRivervalleyin1754.InitiallyitwentbadlyforAngloAmericanunits.ThedecimationoftheJerseyBluesin1757,duringabattleatLake
GeorgeinupstateNewYork,isimmortalizedinNewJerseynativeJamesFenimore
Cooper’s1826novelTheLastoftheMohicans.CooperwasborninBurlington.His
familyhomeisnowmaintainedbytheBurlingtonCountyHistoricalSocietyandis
openforvisitors.
DuringtheFrenchandIndianWar,NewJerseysawasmanyasonequarterof
itsnon-Quaker,fighting-agemeninuniform.Withinthecolony,muchofthefighting
withtheIndianshappenedalongtheDelawareRiverborderwithPennsylvania,
whereEuropeansettlersandlocalnativeshadlongbeenengagedinaguerillawarfare-likestruggleforcontroloftheland.Indians,alignedwiththeFrench,killed
nearly30peopleinSussexCountybeforethe1758TreatyofEastonsettledmost
nativeclaimstolandeastoftheDelawareRiver.Todefendagainsttheseskirmishes,
andfearingfurtherraidsdeeperintoNewJersey,thecolonialgovernmentcalledfor
eightfrontierfortstobebuiltalongtheDelawareRiverfromBelviderenorthinto
NewYorkState.Theacttoestablishthefortswasadopted,“toenablethe
InhabitantsofthisColony,toprotectanddefendtheirFrontiersfromany
Invasions.”NotingthatresidentsofSussexCountywere“quittingtheirhabitations
intheutmostconfusion,”itprovidedforthehiringof250mentoserveattheforts.
Mostofthefortsarenolongerevident,buttheruinsofone,ShapanakFort,isvisible
todayadjacenttoVanCampen’sInninWalpackTownship,withintheDelaware
WaterGapNationalRecreationArea.
ThemostnotableNewJerseystructureremainingfromtheFrenchand
IndianWaristheOldBarracksinTrenton,alsoalongtheborderwithPennsylvania
andnowalivinghistorymuseum.Thecolonialassemblyauthorizedits
constructionin1758toprovidequartersforhousingBritishtroops.Similarfacilities
inBordentown,NewBrunswick,PerthAmboyandPrincetonturnedsleepyhamlets
intobusygarrisontowns.ThebarracksinTrentonisthesolesurvivor.
3
GreatBritaindecisivelywontheFrenchandIndianWar,whichendedin
1763.Butthevictorysaddleditwithheavydebt.Toreducetheexpenseof
maintainingtheexpandingBritishEmpire,theParliamentimposednewtaxesonthe
colonists.Resistancetotheserevenuemeasuresgrewandfinallypushedthe
colonistsintorebellion.NewJerseyanswereslowtogetinvolvedasthismovement
grewintoacampaignforindependence.But,notforthelasttime,thestate’s
strategiclocationdestinedittoplayamajorroleinarmedconflict.
NewJerseyintheRevolution
NewJerseywelldeservesitsreputationasthe“CrossroadsoftheAmerican
Revolution.”NotonlydidWashington’sarmycrisscrossthestateandspendthree
wintersonNewJerseysoil,butthewaralsopivotedhere.Bothsidesbelieved
controloftheHudsonRiverValleycouldbethekeytoanearlyvictory,andboth
sidespreparedtofightforNewYorkCitybeforeindependencewasdeclaredinJuly
1776.ByNovemberthefightforNewYorkwasover.PatriotforcesfledacrossNew
JerseyasBritishtroopsnippedattheirheels.ThomasPainefamouslywroteduring
theretreatthatforsupportersofindependence,thosewere“thetimesthattry
men’ssouls.”Itwas,however,alsothemomentwhenAmericanmilitaryfortunes
reversed.
GeneralGeorgeWashington’saudacious1776ChristmasEveattackon
HessianTroopsstationedattheOldBarracksturnedthestruggletowardsthe
Patriotcause.AftercrossingtheicyDelawareRiverjustnorthofTrenton,under
coverofnight,surprisingandroutingtheHessiansstationedattheBarracks,
WashingtonwonasecondvictoryinTrentonandanotherinPrincetoninearly
January1777.Today,WashingtonCrossingStateParkandPrincetonBattlefield
StateParksharethestoriesofthesecrucialvictories,includingtheannualChristmas
DayreenactmentofWashington’sDelawareRivercrossing.
MorristownprovedtobeacentrallocationfortheContinentalArmyandits
commanders.FollowingtheBattleofPrinceton,thearmysettledthereinJanuary
1777,commandersinlocalhomes,soldiersbilletedinvariousotherstructures.
WashingtonandhisarmystayeduntilMay.WithWashingtonatMorristown,British
troopssetsailforPhiladelphia.TheiradvanceuptheDelawareRiverwasslowed,
4
butnothalted,bycolonialunitsatFortMifflinonthePennsylvaniasideandFort
MercerinNewJersey.Duringthewinterof1777-78,theRedCoatsmadecampin
PhiladelphiawhileWashingtonandtheContinentalforcesbeddeddownatValley
Forge,Pennsylvania.Thesoldiersweretired,cold,andill-equipped.Theylackedthe
trainingessentialforconsistentsuccessonthebattlefield.OnJune19,1778,afteran
arduoussix-monthencampment,thearmyemergedtopursueandsuccessfully
engageLt.Gen.SirHenryClinton'stroopsattheBattleofMonmouth.Theordered
ranks,martialappearance,revivedspirit,andfightingskilloftheAmericansoldiers
spokeofagreattransformationhavingoccurredamidstthecold,sickness,and
hardshipthatwasValleyForge.WhilethebattleatMonmouthendedinastalemate
whentheBritisharmysneakedoffundercoverofdarknesstoSandyHook,whereit
hadshipswaiting,itstillprovedtobeaturningpointforthePatriotcause.Today,
MonmouthBattlefieldStateParkhonorsandinterpretsthisimportantsitewhere
Americantroopsfirstprovedthemselvesafightingforceequaltotheenemy.
WashingtonandtheelevenbrigadesoftheContinentalforces,numbering
about10,000troopsreturnedtoMorristownandvicinityinJanuary1780,where
theyspentperhapsthecoldestwintereverrecorded.Troopsbuilt1200loghutsfor
shelterinanareaoutsidetownknownasJockeyHollow.Lackoffoodandadequate
clothing,addedtotheextremecold,causedrumblingsandmutiniesamongthe
troops.JosephPlumb,aprivateatthetime,wroteinhisjournal,“Isawseveralmen
roasttheiroldshoesandeatthem.”MorristownNationalHistoricalParklinksall
thesestoriessovisitorscanseefirsthandtheeventsthatshapedtheRevolution
fromMorristown.
WashingtonhadotherstrategiesinmindwhenhecampedinMorristown.
Warproductionwasoneofthem.FromthisvantagepointWashingtonwasalsoable
todefendtheironindustryinthehighlandstothenorthandwest,whichproduced
crucialmunitionsandothergoodsfortheContinentalArmy.Today,therestored
ironworks,includingthefurnacesatLongPondIronWorksinRingwood,Passiac
CountyandOxfordFurnaceinWarrenCounty,explainthecriticalimportanceof
ironbefore,during,andafterthewar.
5
AfterMonmouth,themaintheaterofwarmovedtothesouth.ButnotallNew
JerseyresidentsfavoredthePatriotcauseandmanyinhabitantsenduredconditions
thatresembledacivilwar.FromtheirbaseinNewYorkCity,theBritishsupported
thecounter-revolutionaryactivitiesofthelargeloyalistpopulationconcentratedin
northeasternNewJersey.PartisanwarfarerackedMonmouthandBergencounties
inparticular,butskirmishingwasstatewide.TodaytheProprietaryHouseinPerth
AmboyandtheVoughtHouseinClintonaretwoofthesitesthatrepresentthe
pointsofviewofthosewhoremainedloyaltotheirking.
Inlate1783,theContinentalCongresswasmeetingatNassauHallin
Princeton(havingfledadisruptivegroupofunpaidsoldiersinPhiladelphia)when
newsreacheditofthetreatythatformallyendedthewar.GeneralWashingtonwas
basedatnearbyRockingham,hislastwartimeheadquarters.NewJerseyhadbeen
thesceneoffivemajorbattlesandhundredsofminorencounters.Washington’s
mainarmyspentthreeofitsfivewintersand,all-told,roughlyaquarterofthewar
inthestate.NewJerseyfacedtheendoftheconflictwithadebt-ladeneconomy,a
war-ravagedcountryside,andatatteredsocialfabric.Inthehopethatastronger
centralgovernmentthanprovidedbytheArticlesofConfederationwouldhasten
recovery,NewJerseywasquicktoratifyboththeUnitedStatesConstitutionandthe
BillofRights.Today,theCrossroadsoftheAmericanRevolutionNationalHeritage
AreashowcasestheseandmanyotherhistoricsitesinNewJerseythattellthe
myriadstoriesofNewJerseys’roleinthewarforindependence.
NewJerseyandNationalExpansion
ThenexttwowarsdidnotmuchinvolveNewJersey,althoughthey
profoundlyshapedtheyoungnation’shistory.NoneoftheWarof1812’sprincipal
theatersthreatenedthestatedirectly.But,fearingthepossibilityofBritishlandings,
thestatelegislatureauthorizedfortificationsatseveralpointsalongthecoast,most
notablyatPaulusHookinJerseyCity.Alltold,roughly6000Jerseymenserved
duringtheconflict,mostlyinthemilitia,buttheysawlittleaction.DuringtheWar
of1812,however,CaptainJamesLawrence(namesakeofbothLawrencevilleand
LawrenceTownship)gavetheNavyitsbattlecry,“Don’tgiveuptheship,”whenthe
vesselhecommandedwasshottopieces(andLawrencewaskilled)byaBritish
6
warshipinBostonharbor.HisbirthplaceinBurlingtonisopentovisitorsunderthe
auspicesoftheBurlingtonCountyHistoricalSociety.
Becausetheconclusiontothewarin1815endedthethreatofmilitary
conflictwithGreatBritain,itissometimescalledthesecondwarforindependence.
Thefledglingrepublic–whichhaddoubledinsizein1803withpurchaseofthe
LouisianaTerritory–wasthenfreetodevoteitsenergiestoexpandingtothewest.
ItfacedtwoobstaclestofulfillingwhatmanybelievedwasitsGod-given“Manifest
Destiny”toexpandacrosstheentirecontinent:NativeAmericans,againstwhom
continualwarfarewaswagedthroughoutthenineteenthcentury,andMexico,which
brokefreeofSpainin1821,andagainstwhomtheUnitedStateswagedwarfrom
1845to1848.FiveNewJerseycompaniesservedintheMexicanWaratVeracruz
andMatamoros,Mexico.TwomilitaryleadersfromNewJerseyplayedaroleinthe
war;GeneralStephenW.Kearny,anativeofNewark,ledacolumnthroughNew
MexicoandontosouthernCalifornia,andCommodoreRobertF.Stocktonledthe
navalforcesthatheldMontereyandSanFrancisco.APrincetonian,andpresidentof
theDelawareandRaritanCanalCompany,Stocktoniscloselyassociatedwiththe
MorvenMuseumandGarden,aStocktonfamilyhome.
TheMexicanWarendedin1848withtheTreatyofGuadalupeHidalgo.Asa
resultofthetreaty,theUnitedStatesacquiredmorethan500,000squaremilesof
valuableterritory,makingitnearlyaquarterlargerthanbeforethewar.The
questionofwhethertoallowslaveryintothelandtakenfromMexicosparkeda
nationaldebate,inwhichNewJerseyanstookbothsides.
Slaveryhadlongbeenacontentiousissue.NewJerseywasthelaststatein
thenorthtoabolishslavery.Agradualabolitionprocessbegunbyan1804law
movedslowly.Therewerenearly700slavesrecordedinthe1840census,for
example.Opponentsofslavery,too,wereactiveinNewJerseybeforetheMexican
War.QuakerabolitionistsinCamdenCountypurchasedlandin1840fora
communitytheycalledFreeHaven,whereescapedandmanumittedslavesand
otherAfrican-Americanscouldlivesafely.ItisnowtheBoroughofLawnside,oneof
onlyafewhistorically-black,self-governingtownsintheUnitedStates.The1845
homeofPeterMott,anAfrican-Methodist-Episcopalminister,wasawaystationon
7
theundergroundrailroad,throughwhichescapingslavesmadetheirwayto
freedom.Today,thehomeisrestoredandopentovisitors.
SoonafterAbrahamLincolnwaselectedPresidentoftheUnitedStatesona
platformthatcalledforbanningslaveryinwesternterritories,thesouthern
slaveholdersrebelled,claimingitwasthestates’andterritories’righttodetermine
whetherslaverywouldbeexpanded.Elevensouthernstatesseceded.NewJersey’s
robustresponse–itsentfourregimentstoLincoln’sfirstcallformilitia–foretold
itsbehaviorthroughoutthewar.MostNewJerseyanssupportedLincoln’seffortsto
restoretheUnion,despitemuchextremerhetoric,particularlyaroundelections.
Many,though,demurredinlate1862whenhebroadenedthewar’saimstoinclude
endingslaveryaltogether.
Over73,000men,alargemajorityofNewJersey’smenoffighting-age
servedintheCivilWar.Manyservedmultipletoursofdutyinoneofthestate’s45
units,someofwhichproudlycalledthemselves“JerseyBlues.”Theyfought
primarilyintheeasterntheater–theefforttocapturetheConfederatecapitalof
Richmond,Virginia.Additionally,nearly3000African-AmericansfromNewJersey
servedintheUnitedStatesColoredTroopsformedbyotherstatesin1864-65.
Whiletheirhusbands,brothers,andfatherstookuparms,womenfromNewJersey,
aselsewhere,aidedthewareffortinavarietyofways,manytakingonnewdutiesat
homeoncereservedformen.Somechosetoservemoredirectly,asnursesserving
thewoundedinfieldhospitals.ThemostnotablestoryofawomanfromNewJersey
isCivilWarnurseClaraBarton,aformerschoolteacherfromBordentown,who
foundedtheAmericanRedCross.TheClaraBartonSchoolinBordentown
memorializeshercontributions.
Thestate’smanufacturingindustriesalsosupportedthewareffort.TheJohn
A.RoeblingSonsCompanyinTrenton,forexample,providedwireropeforthemany
militarybridgesdesignedbyJohn’ssonWashingtonRoebling.Asthecountrysettled
intoawartimeeconomy,ordersforRoebling’swireropeforbothmilitaryand
civilianprojectsgrewinnumberandsize.TheRogersLocomotiveandMachine
WorksinPatersonbuiltalocomotivecalledTheGeneral,whichgainedfameduring
theCivilWar.InApril,1862,UnionspiesstoleitinnorthernGeorgiaanddroveit
8
northtowardChattanooga,Tennessee,enroutedoingasmuchdamageastheycould
toConfederateraillines.
Intheend,theCivilWarkilledmoreAmericansthanallthenation’sother
warscombined,includingover6200Jerseymen.Approximatelytwentymonuments
throughoutthestate,fromSussexCountytoCapeMay,honortheirservice.Most
werebuiltinthelastdecadesofthenineteenthcenturybytheGrandArmyofthe
Republic,afraternalorganizationofCivilWarveteranswhofoughtfortheunion
andmadeittheirmissiontomemorializethewaranditsfallensoldiers.Andwhile
CivilWarveteransareburiedincemeteriesaroundthestate,theFinnsPoint
NationalCemeterynearFortMottinSalemCountyisunique.Itisthefinalresting
placeofover2400Confederatesoldierswhodiedataprisonerofwarcamplocated
onanislandinDelawareBay.
DuringthedecadesthatfollowedtheCivilWar,industrialcapitalismtook
command.Itcreateda“SecondIndustrialRevolution,”whichwroughtaremarkable,
ifuneven,transformationintheUnitedStates.Bytheturnofthetwentiethcentury,
theUnitedStateswastheworld’sleadingindustrialpower,withNewJerseyoneof
itsprincipalmanufacturingcenters.
NewJerseyandtheStruggleforGlobalPower
BecauseAmericancompaniesweredoingevermorebusinessglobally,policy
makersfearedthatinternationalcommercialrivalriesmightboilover.They
expandedtheNavyandmodernizedcoastaldefense.In1890,Congressprovided
fundingfordozensofshorelineforts,includingtheconstructionofFortMottonthe
DelawareRiverandupgradestoFortHancockatSandyHook.FortMottwas
disarmedin1943,butFortHancock,guardingNewYorkHarbor,continuedtoserve
andbecameananti-aircraftmissilesiteduringtheColdWar.
TheSpanish-AmericanWarof1898resultedintheseizureofCuba,Puerto
Rico,Guam,andthePhilippines,theUnitedStates’firstoverseascolonies.Thewar
lastedalloftenweeks,withdecisiveU.S.victories.TheNewJerseyNationalGuard
mobilizedduringthewar,thoughmostunitsneverdeployed.Today,theGuard’s
roleinthisandotherconflictsispreservedandhonoredattheNationalGuard
MilitiaMuseuminSeaGirt.
9
ComparedtothemillionsofsquaremilesthatGreatBritain,France,and
Germanyeachappropriatedinthelate-nineteenthcentury,Americancolonieswere
minuscule.Buttheirexistenceledtoavigorousnationaldebateabouttheroleof
imperialisminademocracy.AproudsonofPaterson,GarrettA.Hobart,theVice
PresidentoftheUnitedStatesfrom1897untilhissuddendeathin1899,believedin
exportingdemocracyandopeningmarkets.In1903,fouryearsafterhisdeath,
PatersonerectedastatueofHobartrightinfrontofCityHallnexttothestatueof
AlexanderHamilton,thecity’sfounder,whereitstillstandstoday.
WorldWarI
Inmid1914,theshakybalanceofpoweramongEuropeanempirescollapsed
andwarerupted.ThequestionofwhethertheUnitedStatesshouldintervenein
whatbecameknownasthe“GreatWar”wascomplicatedbydifferencesoverwhich
sidetotake.InNewJersey,manyimmigrantsfromIrelandandGermany(andtheir
children)supportedtheCentralPowersalliancebetweenGermanyandAustriaHungary.OthersfavoredtheEntente(orAllied)PowersofGreatBritain,France,
Russia,and,later,Italy.Atfirst,president,andformerNewJerseygovernor,
WoodrowWilsontriedtosteeraneutralcourse.Bylate1915,hisadministration
hadtippedtotheEntente,andamilitarybuildupwasunderway.Wilson
campaignedforreelectionin1916ontheslogan,“HeKeptUsOutofWar,”knowing
thatAmericanentrywasprobablynotfaroff.HisrequesttoCongressfora
declarationofwar“tomaketheworldsafefordemocracy”camelessthanamonth
afterhissecondinauguration.
Duetoitsstrategiclocationandrobustindustries,thewar’simpactonNew
Jerseywashuge.Industrialwarproductionnearlyquadrupledbetween1914and
1919.MiddlesexCountyproducedhalfthewar’scopper.ShipyardsinCamden,
Kearny,andelsewherebuiltorretrofittedthousandsofwarshipsandothervessels.
EventhemassiveSingerSewingMachineplantinElizabethconvertedtowar
production.LedbytheDuPontCorporationanditsspinoff,theHerculesPowder
Company,NewJerseybecamethenation’slargestmunitionsmanufacturer.
SouthernNewJerseywasdottedwithexplosivesproducers.InMullicaTownship,
forexample,anentirecompanytownofroughly10,000peoplesproutedupnearan
10
ordnanceplant,knownasAmatol.Abandonedsoonafterthewarended,thesitewas
laterthelocationoftheAtlanticCitySpeedway.Asiftheentirecommunityvanished
intothinair,astatepolicebarracksistheonlysurvivingbuildingfromthesite.
TheUnitedStatesdidnotmilitarilyenterthewaruntil1917,butGerman
governmentsaboteurstargetedU.S.warproductionbeforethat.NewJersey’s
ammunitiondepotsandfactorieswerethescenesofseveralsuspiciousfiresand
explosions.ThemostnotoriousexplosiontookplaceonJuly30,1916,onaHudson
RiverpierinJerseyCityknownas“BlackTom.”Theexplosion,whichshattered
windowsformilesaroundanddamagedtheStatueofLibertynearby,wasthe
equivalentofanearthquakemeasuring5.5ontheRichterScale.Theblastawakened
peopleasfarawayasMarylandandConnecticut.
Onthemilitaryfront,NewJerseywashometothirty-sixmilitaryfacilities,
includingthefuturefortsDixandMonmouth,whichweretraininggrounds.Fullya
quarterofthe4-millionsomeAmericantroopssenttothewarpassedthroughCamp
Merritt(namedforaCivilWarofficer)inBergenCounty.Evenmoremenboarded
trooptransportsinHoboken,whichgainedfamewhenGeneralJohnJ.Pershing,
commanderoftheAmericanExpeditionaryForce,referredtoit.Convincedthatthe
attackhewaslaunchingonGermanlinesinFrancewouldprovedecisive,asitdid,
Pershingpredictedthatdepartingtroopswouldsoonmeettheirdestinies:“heaven,
hell,orHoboken.”Between1.5and3millionsoldierspassedthroughHoboken
goingtoorcomingfromthefront.Amongthemwereapproximately130,000New
Jerseymen,mostofwhomweredraftees.Morethan3,400neverreturnedhome,
includingpoet(“IthinkthatIshallneverseeapoemlovelyasatree.”)JoyceKilmer
fromNewBrunswick.InhonorofNewJersey’sserviceinthewar,nearly60World
WarImemorialsarelocatedaroundthestate.Theearlymonumentsfeatured
allegoricalfigures.Bythemid1920s,realisticlikenessesofsoldierswerepopular,
liketheoneinCresskillatthecenteroftheformerCampMerritt.
WorldWarIIandtheColdWar
Questionsofcommunism,fascism,war,andpeacewerehotlydebatedinthe
1930s,asoldpassionsrevivedinEurope.MostNewJerseyansagreedwhen
PresidentFranklinD.RooseveltstayedneutralafterGermanyinvadedPolandin
11
August1939.WhenFrancefelltenmonthslater,FDRbegananefforttomakethe
UnitedStatesthe“greatarsenalofdemocracy,”andmanyNewJerseyindustries
benefitted.TheJapaneseattackonPearlHarborandtheGermanwardeclaration
thatfollowederasedmostdoubtsaboutthenecessityoffightingonforeignsoila
secondtime.
NewJersey’sleadingroleinthewareffortwasonceagainduetoitsstrategic
locationandmanufacturingcapacity.Industrialemploymentmorethandoubled
duringthewaryearstonearlyamillionworkers,includingtensofthousandsof
womenwhoworkedinfactoriesthatmadeaircraftenginesandmunitions,in
shipyardsthatturnedoutaircraftcarriersandbattleships,andelsewhere.New
Jerseyproducedextraordinaryamountsandkindsofmunitionsandmateriel,
sometimesinunusualtransformations.Forexample,theMaidenformfactoryin
Bayonne,birthplaceofthemodernbrassiere,re-tooledproducedsilkparachutes
andevencarrierpigeonvests.
Alltold,NewJerseyfulfilledmorethan$12billioninwar-relatedcontracts.
(Equivalenttoover$150billionin2014dollars.)Over60NewJersey
manufacturerswereawardedtheArmy-NavyEAward,whichwenttoonlyfive
percentofplantsnationwideforexcellenceinwarproduction,includingtheJohnA.
RoeblingSonsCompany,thesamecompanythathadsuppliedtheUnioncause
duringtheCivilWar.
Thestatewasalsoanimportantstagingandtrainingground.AfterCongress
enactedthenation’sfirstpeacetimedraftin1940,FortDixwasreactivated.Bywar’s
end,roughly1.3millionmenhadtrainedthere.Thearmybuiltitsmainembarkation
postinMiddlesexCounty.CampKilmersentapproximately2.3millionmentothe
Europeanfront.PilotstrainedattheNavalAirStationnearWildwood,andatthe
ArmyAirFieldinMillville.
Thethreatofanactualinvasionwasneverserious,butNewJersey’slengthy
coastlinebroughtthewarhomenonetheless.Shippingalongtheentireeastcoast,
includingNewJersey,wastargetedbyGermansubmarines.FortHancockinstalled
artillerybatteries,andtheCoastGuardsupervisedfootpatrolstopreventlandings
bysaboteurs.FortMilesaroundDelawareBayincludedfourteenfiretowers
12
stretchingfromNorthWildwoodtoBethanyBeachinDelaware.Theirtaskwasto
helpaimbatteriesofcoastalartillery.FourwerelocatedinCapeMayCounty.Fire
ControlTower#23istheonlyremainingexample.
Themenand,forthefirsttime,womenofNewJerseyservedinthearmed
servicesinverylargenumbers.Over560,000stateresidentsworeuniformsduring
thewar.Theyservedoneveryfront,ineverybattleonlandandsea.Atleast10,000
NewJerseywomenservedintheWomen’sArmyCorpsortheNavy’sWomen
AcceptedforVolunteerEmergencyService,knownastheWACSandWAVES
respectively.Over13,000NewJerseyansdiedinthewar.
WhentheSecondWorldWarendedin1945,theSovietUnionoccupied
EasternEurope,andtheU.S.soondecidedonapolicyofcontainingitsformerally.
AftertheSovietsexplodedanatomicbombin1949,andcommunistforces
conqueredChina,theUnitedStateslaunchedaglobalcampaignagainstcommunism.
TherearmamentcampaignthatfollowedhadalargeinfluenceinNewJersey.
Defensecontractorssawtheirordersincrease,andthestate’smilitaryinstallations
receivedimportantmissions.FortDixbecameoneoftheArmy’slargestbasictrainingposts,whileadjacentMcGuireAirForceBasegrewtobethelargestmilitary
airportintheworld.FortMonmouthanditssub-postCampEvansandthePicatinny
Arsenalwerebothfertileresearchfacilities.CampEvansisespeciallynoteworthy
foritslonghistoryincommunicationsanddefenseresearch.Itwasoncethe1914
MarconiBelmarTrans-AtlanticWirelessstation,openedworld-widewireless
communications,playedanimportantroleinWWItrans-Atlanticcommunications,
playedakeyrolethedevelopmentofradarasaneffectiveWWIIsecretweapon,
openedspacecommunicationsin1946,wasacoldwartechnologysiteandnuclear
weaponsresearchsite.Today,theNationalHistoricLandmarksiteishometoInfoAge,dedicatedtotellingthestoryofthemenandwomenwhomadeallthe
advancementstherepossible.
TheColdWarturnedhotin1950whenNorthKoreantroopsinvadedU.S.-
alignedSouthKorea.PresidentHarryS.TrumanpromptlycommittedAmerican
troops,whowerestillstationedinJapanfollowingtheendofWorldWarII.After
13
threeyearsoffiercefightinginvolvingover2millionAmericans,includingroughly
190,000NewJerseymen,ofwhomover800died,thewarendedinconclusively.
TheUnitedStatesbeganfearingaRussianattackaftertheSovietUnion
developedjetairplanesthatcouldreachNorthAmericawithoutrefueling.Citizens
builtbombshelters,andair-raiddrills,inwhichelementary-schoolstudentshid
undertheirdesks,becameacommonpractice.In1953,thegovernmentinstalled
antiaircraftmissilesinprotectivecirclesaroundmajorcities,includingNewYork
andPhiladelphia.NikemissileswerelocatedinroughlyfifteenNewJerseylocations
incloseproximitytobothcities.BothregulararmyandNewJerseyreserveunits
staffedtheseinstallations.FortHancockatSandyHookcontinueditsroleas
strategicdefenderofNewYorkHarborasoneoftheNikemissilesitesandnow
interpretsthestoryofNewJersey’snucleardefensesystem.Butthesedefenses
werenotwithoutaccidents.In1958,attheNikebaseinMiddletown/Leonardo,a
missileinadvertentlydetonated,killingten.Andin1960,anAirForce’sBOMARC
missilecaughtfireatLakehurstNavalAirStationinOceanCounty,releasing
plutoniumintotheair.Remediationstillcontinuestoday.
AsecondinvolvementintheaffairsofadividedAsiannation,whichhadbeen
quietlyunderwayinthe1950s,grewinthe1960s.AsthewarthereinVietnam
intensified,abriefthawinrelationsbetweentheSovietUnionandtheUnitedStates
playedoutinGlassboroinJune1967,whenSovietPremierAlexeiKosyginand
PresidentLyndonB.JohnsonsatdownforthreedaysoftalksatHollybushMansion,
homeofthepresidentofwhatisnowRowanUniversity.Itproducedno
breakthroughs,andultimatelytheVietnamWarbecamethelongestinAmerican
historyuntilthewarinAfghanistanoutdistanceditin2014.Inall,theVietnamWar
tookover58,000Americanlives,1,482ofthosefromNewJersey.
NewJerseyansweredeeplydivided.Thestate’smilitaryinstallationswerein
highgear,butasthewardraggedonandthebodycountclimbed,theanti-war
movementgainedstrengtharoundthestate.Reconciliationafterthewar’sendin
1975cameslowly.NewJerseybeganplanningforaVietnamWarMemorialin
Holmdelafterthenationalmemorialdebutedin1982.ItopenedofficiallyinMay
1995,onthetwentiethanniversaryofthewar’send.
14
TheTurnoftheCenturyandtheMid-EastConflicts
TheUnitedStates’attentionpivotedfromAsiatotheMid-Eastbeginningin
the1980s.DuringtheFirstGulfWarin1990-91,threeNationalGuardunitsfrom
NewJerseyplayedkeyrolesintheairwar.GeneralH.NormanSchwarzkopf,a
Trentonnative,ledthecoalitionforces.
Tenyearslater,theunprecedentedattacksontheWorldTradeCenterand
thePentagononSeptember11,2001killedover700NewJerseyans.Memorials
aroundthestate,includingtheoneatLibertyStateParkentitled“EmptySky,”
remembertheirloss.Followingtheattack,PresidentGeorgeW.Bushannounceda
“globalwaronterrorism,”andlaunchedwarsinAfghanistanandIraq.Thousandsof
NewJerseyansenlistedandmanyNationalGuardunitsdeployed,someformultiple
tours.FormerGovernorofNewJersey,ThomasH.Kean,tookonthechallengeof
investigatingthecausesoftheattackandprovidingguidanceformovingforwardby
co-chairingtheSeptember11Commission.Thereportcalledfor“abalanced
strategy…toattackterroristsandpreventtheirranksfromswellingwhileatthe
sametimeprotectingourcountryagainstfutureattacks.”Effortstoseekthat
balancedstrategycontinuetoday.
Thequestionofhowwewagewarorseekpeaceisperhapsthemostcrucial
oneanationfaces.TheNewJerseyhistoricsitesandlandscapesthatpreserveand
interpretthehistoryofconflict-thereasonsandstrategies,tensionsandresolutions,
innovation,sacrifice,loveofcountryandcause–offeramultitudeofopportunities
forvisitorstoexperiencefirsthandthemomentousmeaningofwagingwar.
15
Amongthesourcesconsultedforthisessay,thefollowingshouldprovemost
usefulforfurtherreading.
General
Anderson,FredandAndrewCayton.TheDominionofWar:EmpireandLibertyin
NorthAmerica,1500-2000.(PenguinBooks,2005)
Ferling,John.AlmostaMiracle:TheAmericanVictoryintheWarofIndependence.
(OxfordUniversityPress,2007.)
Kennedy,David.FreedomfromFear:TheAmericanPeopleinDepressionandWar,
1929-1945.(OxfordUniversityPress,1999.)
LaFeber,Walter.TheAmericanAge:U.S.ForeignPolicyatHomeandAbroad,1750to
thePresent.(Norton,1994.2nded.)
Millett,AllanR.,PeterMaslowski,andWilliamB.Feis.FortheCommonDefense:A
MilitaryHistoryoftheUnitedStatesfrom1607to2012.(FreePress,2012.3rd
ed.)
NewJersey
Bilby,JosephG.,ed.NewJerseyGoestoWar:Biographiesof150NewJerseyansCaught
UpintheStruggleofCivilWar.(NewJerseyCivilWarHeritageAssociation,
2010)
Bilby,JosephG.,JamesM.Madden,andHarryZiegler.HiddenHistoryofNewJerseyat
War.(HistoryPress,2014.)
Bill,AlfredHoyt.NewJerseyandtheRevolutionaryWar.(RutgersUniversityPress,
1992.originallypublished,1964.)
Bzdak,MeredithArms.PublicSculptureinNewJersey:MonumentstoCollective
Identity.(RutgersUniversityPress,1999.)
Cunningham,JohnT.NewJersey:America’sMainRoad.(AftonPublishing,1976,
revisededition.)
Gigantino,JamesJ.ii.,ed.TheAmericanRevolutioninNewJersey:WhereBattlefront
MeetstheHomeFront.(RutgersUniversityPress,2015.)
Lender,MarkEdward.OneStateinArms:AShortMilitaryHistoryofNewJersey.(NJ
HistoricalCommission,1991.)
16
Lundin,Leonard.CockpitoftheRevolution:TheWarforIndependenceinNewJersey.
(OctagonBooks,1972;originallypublished,1940.)
Lurie,MaxineandRichardVeit.,eds.NewJersey:AHistoryoftheGardenState.
(RutgersUniversityPress,2015.)
Mitnick,BarbaraJ.(ed.)NewJerseyintheAmericanRevolution.(RivergateBooks,
2005.)
Petriello,David.MilitaryHistoryofNewJersey.(HistoryPress,2014.)
17