During the winter of 1778-1779, the third major cantonment of the American Revolution in the northeastern colonies took place in the vicinity of a place called Middlebrook, New Jersey. Middlebrook does not appear on modern maps and the majority of Americans have never heard of it. Many historians accord it only passing mention in their narratives of the war for American independence, as though nothing significant took place there.
The Heritage Trail Association of New Jersey's 240th-anniversary symposium on the Middlebrook Cantonment sought to increase recognition of the scope and significance of this overlooked winter in America's fight for liberty. Archaeologists and historians weighed in on the impact of the Middlebrook winter on the development of the American army and the continuing war effort. The papers in this volume bring together updated and original scholarship for new perspectives on the Middlebrook Cantonment. They discuss its strategic significance, unique features, and the state of current archeological findings and preservation efforts. Collectively, they tell the story of the Continental Army's successful transition that winter from the fledgling rebel force at Valley Forge to a disciplined, better-trained American force able to withstand the more difficult winter at Morristown ahead and one capable of attaining eventual victory.