You Are Invited to Attend

The New Jersey Conference on the American Revolution 

Saturday, November 14, 2009

based in New Providence, New Jersey

-       sponsored by American History Forum

with Richard Bellamy, Clay Craighead,

Jay Jorgensen, Arthur S. Lefkowitz

and William M. Welsch

General George Washington and the Continental Army spent almost half the American Revolution in New Jersey. From 1775 to 1783, New Jersey was home to a series of decisive events in the war for independence. Strategically located between the Continental Congress in Philadelphia and the British Army in New York, and midway between the New England colonies and the American South, New Jersey was where Patriots, Tories, British and Hessians maneuvered; where Trenton, Princeton and Monmouth witnessed dramatic American victories; and where the Continental Army endured the hardest winter of the century – at Morristown. It was at Nassau Hall at Princeton University that the Continental Congress convened in 1783. And it was in New Jersey that General George Washington delivered his farewell orders to the Continental Army.

We now inaugurate an annual conference on the American Revolution in the heritage-rich state of New Jersey. On Saturday, November 14, five excellent historians will offer presentations on the American Revolution with an emphasis, in the morning sessions, on George Washington.

In our first presentation, Rich Bellamy will address us on “George Washington's Apprenticeship - The French and Indian War.” It was not preordained that Washington would be a rebel in the Revolutionary War. If British General Braddock had not been killed during the French and Indian War, Washington might have been fighting for the British in the Revolution. This talk will assess Washington’s successes and failures in the earlier war and how his experience in it prepared him for command in the Revolution.

Next, William M. Welsch will present “Washington's Lieutenants: The Generals of the Continental Army.” Washington was arguably the indispensable man of the American Revolution but he didn't win the war by himself, being ably assisted by his subordinate commanders. We'll consider and discuss Washington's generals and their background and contributions to the American cause. We'll also review the politics of appointment and command, and assessments of his generals by Washington, his contemporaries, and modern historians. Finally, we'll offer a list of the most important generals of the revolution.

In our third presentation, “Washington’s Christmas Night Crossing and the Battle of Trenton,” Clay Craighead will bring to life the iconic episode of the Continental Army’s crossing of the icy Delaware River in crowded ferry boats, and then marching to Trenton where they attacked and defeated Hessian troops quartered in and around the village.

At that time, the situation was dire and Washington sorely needed a victory. Enlistments were soon to expire and morale was low. This episode was a major turning point that would determine whether or not the army would survive to fight another season.

In the first afternoon session, Jay Jorgensen will address us on the topic of “Jersey Men, and Women, in the American Revolution.” In large part the story of the Revolution in New Jersey is written in the lives of the residents. This talk will introduce those men, and women, on both sides of the conflict. 

We will learn of the important contributions made by the New Jersey signers of the Declaration of Independence - Abraham Clark, John Hart, Francis Hopkinson, Richard Stockton and John Witherspoon. We’ll discuss various other men who had an impact on the military fortunes of the fledgling nation. The role of influential women including Hannah Caldwell and Margaret Kemble Gage will also be discussed. We will also learn about Loyalists in New Jersey during the era – including William Franklin, Cortland Skinner and Jane McRea.

The topic of our next presentation will be “Eyewitness Images from the American Revolution” Despite the absence of photography and combat illustrators, the American Revolution was accurately recorded by a number of artists. Arthur S. Lefkowitz, author of four books about the American Revolution, will present a color slide presentation of 18^th Century artistry in the form of studio executed history paintings, portraits, illustrations and rapidly executed drawings done in the field.   

While some of the artwork presented may look familiar, Mr. Lefkowitz will provide detailed information about each image and insights about the artists who created them. The pictures in the presentation have been gathered from a variety of museum collections and, by using high quality reproductions, interesting historical details come to life – details that are frequently lost when the pictures are shown in books.  

Included in the presentation are portraits of George Washington painted from life, showing him wearing the uniform of the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.   

Our final session will be a panel discussion, featuring all five of our faculty members, on the topic of “Favorite (and not so Favorite) American Revolution Books.” And we will dedicate a portion of this session to participants’ questions on any topics pertaining to the American Revolution.

On Sunday, November 15, we will offer a tour of Morristown and Springfield led by Jay Jorgensen and Bill Welsch. Please see tour information on the adjacent post. Our headquarters for both the conference and tour will be the comfortable, full-service Best Western Murray Hill Inn in New Providence, New Jersey (near Springfield). We hope you’ll join us for our first annual New Jersey Conference on the American Revolution.  Please note below that various discounts are in effect for early enrollments.

Faculty

Richard Bellamy is an experienced tour guide of American Revolutionary War sites, and a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park.  

Clay Craighead began his career in historic preservation as a seasonal interpreter at Washington Crossing Historic Park in Pennsylvania. For the past 21 years he has served as Historian/Curator at Washington Crossing State Park in New Jersey. He is the author of several articles on Revolutionary War topics and served as a historical advisor for the New Jersey Public Television & Radio (NJN) production of Ten Crucial Days: The Road to Liberty.

Jay Jorgensen is an experienced tour guide of American Revolutionary War sites and Civil War battlefields. He is the author of many articles on the Revolution and several books on the Civil War including Gettysburg’s Bloody Wheatfield.

Arthur S. Lefkowitz is the author of The Long Retreat, the story of the 1776 British invasion of New Jersey, considered the definitive work on the events leading up to Washington’s Christmas night raid on Trenton. His other books are George Washington’s Indispensable Men, the first history of the 32 men (mostly lawyers) who served as aides-de-camp to Washington during the Revolution; Benedict Arnold’s Army and the 1775 American Invasion of Canada: and Bushnell’s Submarine: The Best Kept Secret of the American Revolution.

William M. Welsch is an experienced tour guide of American Revolutionary War sites with special expertise on New Jersey sites. He is the founding and current president of the American Revolution Round Table of Richmond, Virginia.

Program Schedule - Saturday, November 14

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM      George Washington's Apprenticeship

- The French and Indian War – Richard Bellamy

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM    Washington's Lieutenants: The Generals of the Continental Army 

                                      - William M. Welsch

11:00 AM - 12:00 N      Washington’s Christmas Night Crossing and the Battle of Trenton

                                      - Clay Craighead

12:00 N – 1:00 PM        Group Lunch

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM        Jersey Men, and Women, in the American Revolution

- Jay Jorgensen

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM       Eyewitness Images from the American Revolution

– Arthur S. Lefkowitz

3:45 PM – 4:30 PM       Favorite (and not so Favorite) Books on the American Revolution

and Q & A Forum

– a Panel Discussion featuring all five faculty members

Registration Fees per Person (lodging not included):

·        Before August 14 - $165

·        Before September 14 - $175

·        Before October 14 - $185

·        After October 14 - $195

Please Note: If You Must Cancel, Your registration fee will be 100% refunded.

What is Included in your Registration:

·        the services of expert historians chosen for their knowledge and experience 

·        Saturday lunch    

·        refreshments during the conference 

Base Location & Lodging: Our program will be based at the Best Western Murray Hill Inn, 535 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974 (near Springfield, NJ) where we have reserved a block of sleeping rooms at the special nightly rate of $95.00 – Single or Double. To reserve a room under our block, call 908-665-9200 and identify yourself as a registrant for the American History Forum tour. A complimentary continental breakfast is offered to all hotel registrants.

Directions:

·        From: Newark: International Airport and Route 78 Westbound Take Route 78 to Exit 43 onto Diamond Hill Road. At the second stoplight, turn right onto Mountain Avenue. Turn left at third light, South Street. The hotel is on the left, after next stoplight on the corner of South Street and Central Avenue.

·        From: Route 78 Eastbound. Take Exit 44 to traffic light. Turn left onto Glenside Avenue Proceed to the next left turn under Route 78 toward New Providence, as the road becomes South Street. Continue to the second light. The hotel will be on the left side of road on the corner of South Street and Central Avenue.

·        From: New Jersey Turnpike. Take Exit 14, stay to the left through the toll. Follow signs for Route 78 - Express Westbound. Take Route 78 to Exit 43 onto Diamond Hill Road. At the second stoplight, turn right onto Mountain Avenue. Turn left at third light, South Street. The hotel is on the left, after next stoplight on the corner of South Street and Central Avenue.

·        From: Garden State Parkway. Take Exit 142 and follow the signs for Route 78 West. Those traveling from the south will make a U-turn at the Hillside-Irvington exit. Enter express lanes at first opportunity. Take Route 78 to Exit 43 onto Diamond Hill Road. At the second stoplight, turn right onto Mountain Avenue. Turn left at third light, South Street. The hotel is on the left, after next stoplight on the corner of South Street and Central Avenue.