Overview
While General George Washington and the Continental Army remained at Valley Forge, both American and British forces searched New Jersey for food, horses, and other supplies. After Washington sent General Anthony Wayne out to gather provisions for the army, General William Howe responded by sending his own foraging parties out to find food and supplies and to harass Wayne.
One British expedition, commanded by Colonel Charles Mawhood and Major John Graves Simcoe, left Philadelphia on March 12, 1778, and reached Salem, New Jersey, on March 17. Its mission was to gather supplies in the area and, if possible, engage Wayne. After this expedition arrived, Wayne returned to Valley Forge and left men from the New Jersey Militia to guard the river crossings to keep the British from pursuing him.
On March 18, Mawhood and his men started their foraging operations and attacked the Americans guarding Quinton’s Bridge. The British routed the Americans and pursued them, but were stopped when Colonel Elijah Hand arrived with reinforcements.
Mawhood withdrew, returned to Salem, and then made plans to attack approximately 400 New Jersey militiamen who were defending Hancock’s Bridge and occupying the nearby village. Mawhood gave Simcoe command of the expedition, with orders to refuse any offer of surrender and eliminate the Americans.
Simcoe sailed from Salem and landed two miles from Hancock’s Bridge. From there, he divided his forces and planned to attack the village from several directions. The primary target was Judge William Hancock’s home because Simcoe believed the American officers were lodged there. Hancock happened to be a Loyalist who was rarely at home during the day due to harassment from local Patriots.
While Simcoe was sailing toward Hancock’s Bridge, all but 20-30 of the New Jersey militiamen moved to another location. Unaware of this, Simcoe launched a bayonet attack on the morning of March 21. During the attack, some of the Loyalists, including Judge Hancock and his brother, were killed, along with 20-30 New Jersey militiamen. Most of them were killed by New Jersey Loyalists, which led to outrage and accusations that Simcoe and his men were guilty of carrying out a massacre.
Following the battle, Simcoe and his men returned to Salem, and Mawhood threatened the New Jersey Militia with further attacks. The Americans responded, saying they had no intention of laying down their arms. By then, the foraging expedition had collected enough food and supplies for Mawhood to decide to return to Philadelphia.
Essential Facts
- Also Known As: Hancock House Massacre, Massacre of Hancock’s Bridge, Engagement at Hancock’s Bridge, Action at Hancock’s Bridge.
- Date: March 21, 1788.
- Location: Hancock’s Bridge, New Jersey.
- Participants: United States of America and Great Britain.
- Key American Leaders: Not identified.
- Key British Leaders: John Graves Simcoe.
- Who Won: Britain won the Battle of Hancock’s Bridge.
- Part of: Philadelphia Campaign, American Revolutionary War.
Significance
The Battle of Hancock’s Bridge is important to American History because accusations of a massacre led to an increase in New Jersey’s support for the American war effort.
History
Following the Siege of Boston, British forces evacuated the city and moved northward toward Canada. General George Washington fully expected the British, who were led by General William Howe, to set their sights on invading New York and seizing control of New York City. To prepare for this, Washington moved his army to New York City and the surrounding area, including Long Island.
In July and August of 1776, British forces arrived at Staten Island, including a large naval force under the command of Admiral Richard Howe. Then, on August 27, they invaded Long Island and easily pushed Washington’s Army into Brooklyn Heights. Although Washington’s Army was able to escape to Manhattan Island, it was eventually pushed northward to White Plains and then into New Jersey. While British forces occupied New York City, General Charles Cornwallis pursued Washington, who retreated across New Jersey, over the Delaware River, and into Pennsylvania.
By December 1776, the American war effort was in shambles. Despite Washington’s pleas for help to the members of Congress and various colonial Governors, he received very little support. Finally, reinforcements arrived in late December, giving Washington enough men to carry out bold attacks on Trenton and Princeton, which shocked the British and pushed them back toward New York City.
Washington’s Army remained at Morristown, New Jersey, for the remainder of the Winter of 1776–1777. During this time, American and British forces engaged in nearly 60 skirmishes as they fought for food and supplies.
Meanwhile, Howe and British officials made plans for the 1777 campaign. Two large expeditions were approved — one led by Howe and the other by General John Burgoyne.
- Howe was tasked with capturing Philadelphia, the American capital.
- Burgoyne was tasked with capturing Albany to isolate New England from the rest of the colonies.
Howe’s forces landed at Head of Elk, Maryland, on August 25. Washington responded to this by marching southward to put his army between Howe and Philadelphia. This led to several small battles and a larger engagement at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11. The Americans were defeated and forced to retreat, which allowed Howe to capture Philadelphia on September 26.
Although fighting continued through October and November, the British eventually took control of the Delaware River. Despite this, American forces continued to harass the British, engaging them on December 7 at Whitemarsh and again on December 11 at Matson’s Ford and Black Horse Tavern.
Following the engagements on December 11, Washington tried to cross the Schuylkill River at Matson’s Ford through the use of a temporary bridge that was made out of wooden rails and nearly 40 wagons. The crossing was interrupted when a 3,500-strong British force under General Cornwallis appeared on the opposite hill while the Americans were in the middle of crossing. Washington ordered his men to retreat, destroyed the bridge, and returned to Whitemarsh.
Afterward, Washington decided that his army was in no condition to continue the campaign. After convincing a delegation from Congress that he needed to find a place for his army to spend the winter, he met with his officers, who suggested various locations around Philadelphia. At first, the plan was to take the army to Wilmington, Delaware, but Pennsylvania leaders objected, arguing that the army needed to continue operations in hopes of freeing Philadelphia from British control.
Washington countered by explaining the poor condition of his troops and pointed out that Pennsylvania had provided very little in terms of food and supplies to aid the war effort. Finally, it was decided that Washington’s Army would spend the winter at Valley Forge, roughly 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
During the winter, supply chain breakdowns led to shortages of food, clothing, and supplies at Valley Forge. By spring, some of the troops were on the verge of mutiny, and Washington decided to take action.
New Jersey Foraging Expeditions
Washington sent General Anthony Wayne into New Jersey to gather food and horses for the men who were suffering at Valley Forge. Howe responded by sending out his own foraging parties, both to stop Wayne’s efforts and to collect supplies for his troops.
- The first group included roughly 4,000 troops led by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Abercromby and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Sterling.
- The inhabitants offered little resistance, and the New Jersey Militia rarely turned out to stop the raids.
- Most of the horses and provisions in the area were seized.
British Foraging Force Reaches Salem
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood led another British expedition that included:
- Regulars from the 17th, 27th, and 46th regiments.
- 300 Loyalists from the Queen’s Rangers, who were led by Colonel John Graves Simcoe.
- The New Jersey Volunteers, who were also Loyalists, were led by General Cortlandt Skinner.
The expedition was planned to last for two weeks, so Mawhood also had artillery and provisions with him. Mawhood’s expedition was loaded onto six transports that sailed out of Philadelphia on March 12, 1778, along with the frigate Camilla, under the command of Captain Charles Phipps. The small fleet sailed down the Delaware River and arrived near Salem, New Jersey, on March 17.
Howe also instructed Mawhood to find and engage Wayne, who was at Burlington. Wayne was alerted to Mawhood’s mission and prepared to return to the American camp at Valley Forge.
- Wayne left men from the New Jersey Militia at two river crossings at Alloway Creek: Quinton’s Bridge and Hancock’s Bridge.
- He wanted to keep Mawhood from crossing the creek and following him.
- Colonel Asher Holmes and 300 militiamen guarded Quinton’s Bridge.
- Colonel Elijah Hand also gathered New Jersey Militia forces in response to Mawhood’s arrival.
About six miles from Salem, Mawhood landed Simcoe and the Queen’s Rangers. He instructed him to find enough horses for his men and then to advance to Salem, where Mawhood intended to join him.
- It was here that local Loyalists informed Mawhood that the men from the New Jersey Militia were close by.
- Mawhood planned to carry out his foraging expedition and attack the Americans defending the bridges the next day, March 18.
AHC Notes
- The New Jersey troops were from Cumberland County and Salem County.
- Quinton’s Bridge was located at a peninsula formed by Salem Creek and Alloway Creek.
- Mawhood had a total of 1,200 to 1,300 men, including some Hessians and Hessian cavalry, known as “Hussars.”
Battle of Quinton’s Bridge
On March 18, 1778, Mawhood sent most of his men to start the foraging expedition, and he took the rest to attack the Americans at Quinton’s Bridge. Upon arrival, he devised a plan to trick the Americans into replacing the bridge planks and to then draw them into an ambush. He deployed some of his troops along the sides of a creek and in a nearby tavern, while keeping Simcoe and the Rangers hidden in the woods. Then Mawhood sent a contingent of troops out into the open, toward the bridge.
- When the Americans saw the British approaching, they replaced the planks, crossed the bridge, and pursued them.
- The British quickly fell back, leading the Americans into the trap.
- The British emerged from their hiding place and attacked, scattering the Americans and blocking the escape route over the bridge.
- Many of the Americans tried to escape by swimming across Alloway Creek.
American reinforcements under the command of Colonel Elijah Hand arrived with artillery and stopped the British advance, allowing the Americans to maintain control of the bridge. Mawhood and his men withdrew and made their way to the base at Salem, New Jersey.
In the aftermath of the battle, news spread that New Jersey Loyalists were responsible for the deaths of many New Jersey militiamen. This led to accusations that Mawhood, Simcoe, and their men were guilty of committing a massacre.
British Preparations for Hancock’s Bridge
Next, Mawhood planned an expedition to attack the Americans at Hancock’s Bridge, five miles south of Salem. He sent Simcoe with the Queen’s Rangers, New Jersey Loyalists, and British regulars to carry out the mission.
Village and Geography
At the time, Hancock’s Bridge was a small country village with only a few houses. The main building was a large, two-story brick house owned by Judge William Hancock, a well-known Loyalist. Because Hancock had angered the local Patriots, he stayed away from his home during the day, only returning at night.
- Alloway Creek was in front of the village.
- Behind it were low meadows and marshes, divided in places by dikes that kept the land from flooding.
American Forces at Hancock’s Bridge
A large group of New Jersey Militia occupied the area because of Mawhood’s foraging parties that were carrying out raids in the area. To keep them from crossing Hancock’s Bridge, the militia had removed the planks.
- Mawhood was told that 400 militia were stationed at Hancock’s Bridge.
- He expected a major victory, which he thought would convince large numbers of the New Jersey Militia to lay down their arms and abandon the American war effort.
On the evening of March 19, most of the militia moved to another position, likely Quinton’s Bridge. Only 20-30 men remained at Hancock’s Bridge to guard the crossing. As the British prepared to attack, they were unaware of this development.
- Before leaving, Mawhood told Simcoe that he was to give “no quarter,” meaning his men were to ignore any Americans who offered to surrender.
Simcoe’s Advance and Plan
On the evening of March 20, Simcoe and his men boarded transports that sailed to an inlet on the Delaware River, roughly seven miles south of the mouth of Alloway Creek.
According to the plan, after landing Simcoe and his men, the boats were to return to Salem, and Simcoe planned to divide his troops and attack the Americans simultaneously from the rear and the front.
- Simcoe’s force would use a private road to cross the marshes and approach Hancock’s Bridge from the rear.
- At the same time, Major Mitchell and the 27th Regiment of British regulars would advance from the front.
This plan required precise timing, which was immediately delayed when the strong current of the Delaware River slowed the transports. Realizing he would not reach the landing point until midday, Simcoe altered his plan. By this time, it was the morning of March 21, 1778.
- Simcoe landed his men on the marshes near the mouth of Alloway Creek.
- They then marched two miles through mud and water to Hancock’s Bridge.
After reaching the high ground over the village, Simcoe organized his troops and prepared them for the attack, fully expecting that there were still 400 New Jersey militiamen defending the town.
- Captain John Saunders was sent ahead to set an ambush and destroy a bridge on a dike. This bridge allowed people to cross the marshes and reach Quinton’s Bridge. Destroying the bridge was intended to cut off one of the American escape routes.
- Captain Dunlop and his company were sent to the rear of Hancock’s house, where Simcoe believed the American officers were staying. Dunlop was ordered to enter from the back at the same time the light infantry entered from the front by the road. Simcoe wanted him to barricade the doors and windows and occupy the house.
- A third group was ordered to replace the planks on Hancock’s Bridge.
- Simcoe sent the rest of his men to attack the other buildings in the village, with orders to gather at Hancock’s house after they routed the Americans.
The British Advance
Simcoe’s force advanced toward the village with orders to use bayonets and not to fire their weapons. Gunshots would alert the Americans in the village and possibly at nearby outposts, which could lead to the arrival of reinforcements.
- Many of the men who were preparing to carry out the bayonet attack were Loyalists from nearby towns and villages.
- Some of them were even neighbors or relatives of the New Jersey militiamen they were preparing to attack.
- Simcoe passed along the order to give no quarter, meaning they were not supposed to spare anyone who surrendered.
It was still dark when the British approached the village. From a distance, they saw two American sentries, who were pacing back and forth at their posts, keeping an eye out for any disturbances.
- Simcoe sent two infantrymen to follow them, approach without making noise, and bayonet them when they turned around.
- The order was carried out without alerting the village to the presence of the British force.
By this time, it was daybreak, and the various contingents of Simcoe’s troops moved forward, led by local guides, to attack their assigned targets. Although the surprise was complete, the attackers almost found no militia; however, there were about 20 of them inside Hancock’s house.
The Massacre at Hancock’s Bridge
Dunlop and his men stormed into Hancock’s house, where they surprised the New Jersey militiamen, along with Hancock, his family, and other Loyalists who had taken refuge there. Dunlop’s men were ruthless and killed everyone they found.
Another group of Simcoe’s men, which included the New Jersey Loyalists, found a handful of militiamen sleeping in another building. Simcoe’s men entered quietly, which woke most of the Americans, who immediately recognized their attackers but did not understand their intentions.
According to various accounts, the Americans greeted the Loyalists and were trying to shake their hands when the Loyalists attacked with their bayonets and killed them.
Finally, an American patrol was seen along the creek, near Hancock’s Bridge. The British attacked and routed them.
Afterward, Simcoe considered marching to Quinton’s Bridge and attacking the Americans who were stationed there. However, his men were exhausted, and he withdrew and returned to Salem.
AHC Notes
- Regarding the Loyalists who were killed at Hancock’s House, Simcoe said: “Events like these are the real miseries of war.”
- Most accounts suggest that Simcoe and his men carried out their orders and killed everyone, but some suggest that prisoners were taken.
New Jersey Outrage
News of the massacre spread quickly and was met with outrage among both Patriots and Loyalists. Despite the victory, the brutal attack had the opposite effect of what Mawhood had hoped for, as more men from New Jersey joined the American war effort, while targeting the New Jersey Loyalists.
Mawhood Returns to Philadelphia
Mawhood sent a message to Colonel Elijah Hand at Quinton’s Bridge, asking for the New Jersey Militia to lay down their arms; otherwise, he would “attack all the militia wearing arms, burn their houses, and reduce them, their unfortunate wives, and their children to beggary and distress.”
Hand rejected this, saying, “Your proposal, we absolutely reject. We have taken up arms to maintain our rights, and we will not lay them down until success has crowned them, or we have met an honourable death. Your plan of arming the Tories we have no objection to, for it will fill our arsenals with arms. Your threat to ‘burn and destroy, induces me to imagine that I am reading the orders of a barbarous Attila, and not of a gentleman, brave, generous, and polished. If executed, it can only render our people desperate, and increase your foes and the American army.”
By this time, Mawhood’s foraging expedition had successfully seized enough food and supplies that he felt it was unnecessary to engage the Americans further. He loaded the food, supplies, and troops onto transports and sailed back to Philadelphia.
AP US History
Definition
Battle of Hancock’s Bridge (March 21, 1778) — The Battle of Hancock’s Bridge was fought during the Philadelphia Campaign, after a British expedition landed at Salem, New Jersey, seeking to gather food and supplies and to engage American forces. On March 21, Major John Graves Simcoe led an attack on Hancock’s Bridge, where he expected to find 400 militiamen; however, most of the Americans had abandoned the village on March 20. Unaware of this, Simcoe carried out his attack with orders to provide “no quarter” to anyone who surrendered. The British surprised the village but killed both Americans and Loyalists in the process, leading to accusations of a massacre.
Alignment
The Battle of Hancock’s Bridge is part of the following units, topics, and chapters in the AP US History curriculum:
Appendix
Simcoe’s Eyewitness Account
AHC Note — This account of the battle was written by John Graves Simcoe and was printed in Historical Collections of New Jersey: Past and Present (1868) by John W. Barber.
The rebels still occupying the posts at Quintin and Hancock’s bridge, and probably accumulating, Colonel Mawhood determined to attack them at the latter, where, from all reports, they were assembled to near four hundred men. He intrusted the enterprise to Major Simcoe, and went with him and a patrole opposite to the place; the Major ascended a tree, and made a rough sketch of the buildings, which, by conversing with the guides, he improved into a tolerable plan of the place, and formed his mode of attack accordingly.
He embarked on the 20th, at night, on board the flatboats; he was to be landed at an inlet, seven miles below Aloes creek, when the boats were immediately to be returned, and by a private road he was to reach Hancock’s bridge, opposite to which, Major Mitchell was detached with the 27th regiment, to co-operate with him. Major Simcoe foresaw the difficulties and dangers, but he kept them to himself: every thing depended upon surprise.
The enemy were nearly double his numbers; and his retreat, by the absolute orders to send back the boats, was cut off; but he had just confidence in the silence, attention, and spirit of the corps.
By some strange error in the naval department, when the boats arrived off Aloes creek, the tide set so strong against them that, in the opinion of the officer of the navy, they could not reach the place of their destination till mid-day.
Major Simcoe determined not to return, but to land on the marshes at the mouth of the Aloes creek; there were good guides with him: they found out a landing place, and after a march of two miles through marshes, up to the knees in mud and water, labors rendered more fatiguing by the carriage of the first wooden planks they met with, to form bridges with them over the ditches, they at length arrived at a wood upon dry land.
Here the corps was formed for the attack. There was no public road which led to Hancock’s bridge, but that which the Rangers were now in possession of; a bank, on which there was a footway, led from Hancock’s to Quintin’s bridge. Hancock’s house was a large brick house; there were many storehouses round it, and some few cottages.
Captain Saunders was detached to ambuscade the dyke that led to Quintin’s bridge, about half a mile from the quarters, and to take up a small bridge which was upon it, as the enemy would probably fly that way, and if not pursued too closely, would be more easily defeated.
Captain Dunlop was detached to the rear of Hancock’s house, in which it was presumed the rebel officers quartered; directed to force it, occupy and barricade it, as it commanded the passage of the bridge.
Different detachments were allotted to the houses supposed to be the enemy’s quarters, which having mastered, they were ordered to assemble at Hancock’s; a party was appropriated to relay the bridge.
On approaching the place, two sentries were discovered; two men of the light infantry followed them, and, as they turned about, bayoneted them; the companies rushed in, and each, with proper guides, forced the quarters allotted to it.
No resistance being made, the light infantry, who were in reserve, reached Hancock’s house by the road, and forced the front door, at the same time that Captain Dunlop, by a more difficult way, entered the back door; as it was very dark, these companies had nearly attacked each other.
The surprise was complete, and would have been so, had the whole of the enemy’s force been present, but, fortunately for them, they had quitted it the evening before, leaving a detachment of twenty or thirty men, all of whom were killed.
Some very unfortunate circumstances happened here. Among the killed was a friend of government, then a prisoner with the rebels, old Hancock, the owner of the house, and his brother. Major Simcoe had made particular inquiry, and was informed that he did not live at home, since the rebels had occupied the bridge. The information was partly true; he was not there in the day-time, but unfortunately returned home at night. Events like these are the real miseries of war.
The roads which lead to the country were immediately ambuscaded; and Lieutenant Whitlock was detached to surprise a patrole of seven men who had been sent down the creek; this he effected completely. On their refusal to surrender, he fired on them. Only one escaped.
This firing gave the first notice of the success of the enterprise to the 27th regiment; with so much silence it had hitherto been conducted. The bridge was now laid; and Major Simcoe communicated to Colonel Mitchell that the enemy were at Quintin’s bridge; that he had good guides to conduct them thither by a private road, and that the possession of Hancock’s house secured a retreat.
Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell said that his regiment was much fatigued by the cold, and that he would return to Salem as soon as the troops joined. The ambuscades were of course withdrawn, and the Queen’s Rangers were forming to pass the bridge, when a rebel patroll passed where an ambuscade had been, and discovering the corps, gallopped back. Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell, finding his men in high spirits, had returned, purposing to march to Quintin’s bridge; but being informed of the enemy’s patroll, it was thought best to return.
Colonel Mawhood, in public orders, “returned his best thanks to Major Simcoe and his corps, for their spirited and good conduct in the surprise of the rebel posts.”
Two days after, the Queen’s Rangers patrolled to Thompson’s bridge; the enemy, who had been posted there, were alarmed at the approach of a cow the night before, fired at it, wounded it, and then fled; they also abandoned Quintin’s bridge, and retired to a creek, sixteen miles from Aloes creek.
Major Simcoe, making a patrole with the Huzzars, took a circuit towards the rear of one of the parties sent out to protect the foragers; a party of the enemy had been watching them the whole day, and unluckily, the forage being completed, the detachment had just left its ground and was moving off; the enemy doing the like, met the patrole; were pursued, and escaped by the passage which the foragers had just left open. One only was taken, being pursued into a bog, which the Huzzars attempted in vain to cross, and were much mortified to see above a dozen of the enemy, who had passed round it in safety, within a few yards; they consisted of all the field officers and committee-men of the district. The prisoner was their adjutant.
The enemy, who were assembled at Cohansey, might easily have been surprised; but Colonel Mawhood judged, that having completed his forage with such success, his business was to return, which he effected. The troops embarked without any accident, and sailed for Philadelphia.
Narrative of the Battle of Hancock’s Bridge
AHC Note — This narrative of the battle is taken from The History of New Jersey, from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time (1854) by William Henry Carpenter.
Late in the evening of the next day [March 20], a party of Tories and regular troops, under the conduct of Simcoe, was despatched to surprise a small body of Americans stationed at Hancock’s Bridge, about two miles below Quinton’s. The success of this expedition was complete and sanguinary. Wearied out, and unsuspicious of danger, the Americans were sound asleep. A few only woke in time to escape. The remainder, between twenty and thirty in number, some yet asleep, others half aroused, and none offering resistance, were bayoneted in cold blood.
But a few hours after this massacre, Mawhood addressed a note to [Elijah] Hand, now in command at Quinton’s Bridge, summoning him to lay down his arms and surrender. In case of refusal, he threatened to arm the Tories, and to “attack all the militia wearing arms, burn their houses, and reduce them, their unfortunate wives, and their children to beggary and distress.”
“Your proposal,” was the American colonel’s spirited reply, “we absolutely reject. We have taken up arms to maintain our rights, and we will not lay them down until success has crowned them, or we have met an honourable death. Your plan of arming the Tories we have no objection to, for it will fill our arsenals with arms. Your threat to burn and destroy induces me to imagine that I am reading the orders of a barbarous Attila, and not of a gentleman, brave, generous, and polished. If executed, it can only render our people desperate, and increase your foes and the American army.”
Not choosing to risk another engagement, Mawhood now turned his whole attention to plundering the neighbouring farmers. Having thus collected an immense store of hay, grain, cattle, horses, and other articles, he soon after embarked in his transports, and returned without molestation to Philadelphia.
