New Jersey Books

There is only one full length history of Knyphausen's Raid and the engagements at Connecticut Farms and Springfield, New Jersey, and it has long been out of print. Time and again during my own research of these events, it became clear that I needed to find this book, and yesterday Interlibrary Loan delivered a much anticipated copy of Thomas Fleming's 1973 account: "The Forgotten Victory; The Battle for New Jersey" - 1780. In 1975, Fleming condensed this book into a 33 page booklet - #8 in the New Jersey's Revolutionary Experience Series entitled "The Battle of Springfield" - and I'm sorry to say that this abridged work, also out of print, is the better history of the two, for in its brevity it makes fewer errors.

Fleming is an engaging writer, a novelist and author of historical fiction as well as several excellent histories. He has gone particulalry deep in the American Revolutionary period, and for this early work he clearly did a great deal of research on an important and neglected campaign of the war. He benefited from access to a wide range of documentary sources and there is plenty of fresh information available in both "The Forgotten Victory" and "The Battle of Springfield", much of which with appropriate citation to aid the historian. Nonetheless there are nagging errors that taken individually seem nit-picky but in aggregate make one start to question the veracity of more essential points in the narrative.

Some of these errors are those only one with a vested interest in esoteric details might catch. Such, however, is the nature of the interested genealogist, and this campaign involved many of my ancestral kin.

On pg. 99 and again on pg 155, Fleming identifies Ensign Moses Ogden as the nephew of Major Aaron Ogden, who happens to be my Gr-gr-gr-great grandfather. According to The Ogden Family Elizabethtown Branch by William Ogden Wheeler (1907) pg. 85, Moses Ogden was in fact a 1st cousin. Unfortunately, Fleming actually references this work as his source for Ogden's lineage, but ended up getting it wrong more than once in print.

On page 247, Fleming describes the spectacle of the Royalists on the march to Springfield on June 23rd, making reference to "the Foot Guards gleaming in white lace. Even the sergeants wore epaulets on their right shoulders. Their drummers and fifers were in white coats lined with blue, and they wore white fur caps." While that is they way they would have looked in the garrison uniforms back in England, the Service Brigade of Guards that fought in America wore a stripped down campaign dress from the moment of their arrival in 1776 when their commander, Brigadier General Edward Mathew, made radical alterations to their uniforms, removing the lace and epaulets and cutting down their hat brims and coat lengths. They were still elite soldiers, but not the bandbox battalions described by Fleming. His source for this description was accurate for the Guards in general, but not as they appeared in America.

On page 239, Fleming notes that General Nathaniel Greene had a personal bond with Col. Israel Angell's 2nd Rhode Island Regiment but gives no further explanation for it. In fact this it quite true, for the Rhode Islander Greene had fought with these men in the defense of Fort Mercer during the Philadelphia campaign two years before, an event described by Fleming as an example of the fighting quality of the 2nd Rhode Island Continentals without ever making the connection back to Greene.

On page 244, Fleming describes Springfield's "thirty-odd houses" at the time of the battle and states; "The present-day town of Springfield is only a fraction of the colonial town's size." This would be news indeed to the present-day residents of Springfield, New Jersey, population 14,429 in the 2000 census, which may have grown in the past 35 years since Fleming wrote his book but not from a mere handful of houses in the 1970s as would have had to have been the case for Fleming's statement to be accurate. He probably meant to say the 1780-era village of Springfield was only a fraction of the present town's size: better editing should have caught this transposition.

The documentation of this campaign is full of confusing and misleading primary and secondary source material, and it is very difficult to sort out precise troop movements, let alone casualties. As often as he provides footnotes in his account, Fleming's narrative reads more like one of his novels, and I found myself wanting more documented details and less dramatization. In one of the most griping episodes in the story, the brave, forlorn stand of a lone cannon served by a doomed handful of continental artillerymen, Fleming introduces a 13-year-old boy who remains unidentified and is part of Springfield legend. He volunteers to bring water to those manning the gun who are cut down one by one. In the end, he joins Angell's men and fires on the converging British, wounding one "to his ecstatic delight." Whether this character actually was ecstatic or not is a matter of conjecture, as he was reported killed very soon thereafter by a cannonball. In a novel, ascribing emotions to characters is an appropriate devise. In a work of history it is laden with assumption, and this is not the only case when Fleming falls back on the novelist's art.

There are further details that might clutter up the narrative but would have been very useful if included in an appendix. Often Fleming describes unnamed regiments when it would have been a simple matter to identify them. He says that five were left behind in Elizabethtown before the second advance on Springfield but nowhere in his book offers an order of battle. Given that he was well aware that his was to be the first comprehensive historical treatment of the campaign, it is regrettable that Fleming did not provide the details of particular interest to historians. It is still a fine popular account and a good read if you are looking to get the flavor of the events. It has two excellent maps and plenty of engaging anecdotes, but as history it falls short as the first and last word on the subject.

This is Fleming at his best. Descriptive, honest and well researched. He personalizes the story by not just describing the leaders, but by putting faces and names on the common people involved.

The book if very fair and covers both sides very even. You get the idea for how divided New Jersey was in its sentiments, the differences between the militia and the continentals and the differences between the Tories, British and the Germans.

This is an excellent book and the only one that covers the forgotten Springfield campaign in any detail. While the campaign in the end did not have any major impact to the conclusion of the war, it was the last major campaign in the north and the only major Crown offensive lead by a German commander.

This is a must for any serious student of the war and of anyone interested in the American Revolution in New Jersey.

If you don't have a clue about the former CNJ route that used to run through the bayshore area of Monmouth County, this books for you.

I thought it was a good read, and full of interesting knowledge and photos

This is a great pictoral history of the Jersey Central's Seaside Branch from Matawan, N.J. to Atlantic Highlands, N.J., site of the Sandy Hook ferries to New York City. The book abounds with pictures of locomotives, equipment (both passenger and freight), stations and stops, and, to a lesser extent, the communities served. All the photos, which are black and whte, are nicely labelled and identified. Many of the photos are of scenes along the railroad from 50 or more years ago. Considering the age of the photos, and reflecting on what photographic equipment of 50 years ago (or longer) was capable off, do not expect to see pictures of todays 35mm or digital quality. My only reason for not giving a FIVE STAR rating was the book's lack of any significant narrative history of the CRRNJ's Seaside Branch. The introduction gives a very brief, almost a timeline, history of the railroad's development, and later demise, along the shore. Additional information is gained by viewing the many pictures and their captions. The author in his introduction indicated that he lives alongside the Henry Hudson Trail, the linear park that has been built on the railroad's right-of-way, and was inspired to write the book after being approached by many trail users asking him what the park used to be. Taken in that context, I highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed Leslie's story immensely. We have several things in common. I too went to an all girl's college in Massachusetts and my husband has family that grew up in the same town as Leslie. She is a testiment to the fact that no matter what your upbringing, a hard work ethic, family support and believing in yourself will help you to succeed. I hope she will continue to inspire young adults to do the right thing.

In How Ya like Mike Now!, Leslie Morris shares her painful and joyful story of growing up poor in the 1960's. This is undoubtedly one of the best books I've read on this subject. I've often pondered why it is some children succeed and others in similar environments do not. How Ya Like Me Now!, in smooth-flowing prose, offers some explanations. More importantly though, Morris steered me from "why" to "what." What can families and communities do to enrich and shape the lives of our youth positively? Reflecting on her life experiences from her adolescent years and as a licensed psychotherapist, Morris provides insightful, practical and relevant suggestions.

I was impressed with Lonely Planet's guide to Texas, so I bought this one for a trip to Pennsylvania. It covers the major stuff --- Philly, Pittsburgh, Gettysburg, Hershey, Lancaster --- but doesn't have much more than these major areas. I got ahold of the Moon Handbook for Pennsylvania and was...impressed. It guided me to places I never knew existed: Covered bridges dotting southwestern Pennsylvania, non-tourist infested Amish communities in central and western PA, winieries in North East, and the hiking paradise that I found in the Black Forest area. However, LP did a good job at the places it did cover, and I used it to select accomodations. Guess I justed wanted something a little more in-depth.

Lonely Planet New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, is a great book to have if you intend to visit all three states. There information is second to none, except New York City (buy Lonely Planet's New York City Guide). The entire Pennsylvania chapter is excellent also, and the guides to specific places like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the Lake Erie region is first rate! The only problem is that they skipped Meadville, PA, which is a excellent place between Erie and Titusville, and is near places like Conneaut Lake and Pymantuning.

In Marching Home, Kevin Coyne offers a touchingly intimate and unsparing look at the lives of six small-town WWII vets. The men are presented as complete human beings, with strengths and weaknesses intact. The author avoids the cloying sentimentality and overreaching generalizations that characterize many recent works about the "greatest generation", allowing the reader to form his or her own opinions and attachments to the central characters. The affection we feel for these men and their town grows naturally as we share their struggles and triumphs. The six men are drawn with such tender honesty that we will know them as we know our own fathers, grandfathers, and uncles - many of whom we will understand more fully after reading this extraordinary book.

I grew up in Freehold and am just 2 years older than Kevin. I read his book with great anticipation. I was generally impressed by the book in the coverage of the war years and the next 25 years after the war.

However, the history from 1965 on leaves something out. I moved to Freehold in 1959 and attended St. Rose of Lima School. I left Freehold, essentially, in 1979 when I graduated college.

I was disappointed in his lack of coverage of the St. Rose parochial school since this, I believe, was one of the major factors in Freehold. I believe that St. Rose took over the Freehold Military Institute properties, but since there was no discussion of this, I found this to be a hole in the history.

His discussion of the racial tensions fails to portray Freehold in a balanced way. It seems he focused on 1/2 of the town and forgot about my half. On my side of town, we had great neighborhoods, all densely packed on 1/8 acre lots. I lived behind two black familes (a husband/wife teacher team and a blue collar family like my own). There was some initial consternation, but we found them to be just like us. One of them was a good friend of mine and we were both NY Mets fans, he more than I.

They were just as distressed during the riots because they felt they could be subject to attack from people on the "other side of town".

Also, there was much more chaos than portrayed including the famous "Shoot to kill" order given by the mayor at that time, which I still remember so vivdly.

The book fails in it description of this period and I know this from personal recollections.

You should read this book and appreciate the history up until 1965, but should not form a negative opinion of Freehold based on his description of the Freehold of the late 1960s and 1970s. It was more than he related and a lot better than that, at least from my perspective.

This is the best travel book about New Jersey that I've found in a long, long time. It contains everything I like about the state: the beaches, the trails, great places to bird watch and paddle, and more. It's also got really neat trivia -- I never knew the state had its own "tea party!" I especially like Robinson's photos because they are so evocative. My favorite one? On board the Meerwald. This is a great gift book too.

This book makes a sincere effort at covering the NJ Coastal Heritage Trail. Photography is good, kind of standard for this type of volume - you won't be blown away by the beauty of the photos - they more resemble the kinds of memory shots we all take when visiting places on vacation. Perhaps the most questionable is the omission of one of NJ's most historic lighthouses (@Sea Girt). Granted the author is following the pre-established "heritage trail" however, at least a foot note would let us know that in stopping at Allaire State Park we are only a few miles from this famous site. Throughout the book it might have helped to have commented on similar kinds of side trips along the way (even an index would do). It is hard to believe for example that she finds NOTHING between Allaire State Park in Wall and Cattus Park nr Toms River. All in all it leaves one wanting more which is probably a good thing. Hopefully there will be another attempt coming.

This book provides the full text of the constitution, with a commentary on each section. It is aimed for general readers. The Constitutions of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Massachusetts are often studied. The 1776 Constitution of the Colony of New Jersey was a copy of the colonial charter, but did adopt the revolutionary politics of legislative supremacy (p.2). It lacked a Bill of Rights. Large landowners predominated in the government as many people were excluded from voting (p.3). The legislature appointed most state and judicial officials. The 1776 Constitution was never ratified by the people, but "used ever since as the legitimate constitution" (p.5).

While many other states revised their Constitution in the 1820s to incorporate separation of powers, and checks and balances, NJ did nothing until 1844. The 1844 Constitution placed a bill of rights at the beginning. Property requirements were eliminated for voting by white males. The governor was now elected, had veto power, and appointed judges and other officials (p.8). There was now a method for amending the constitution. No debt could be created without approval by the voters. Slavery was still legal (p.9). The 1873 Constitutional Commission recommended a long series of changes. It provided for a "thorough and efficient system of free public schools", and that property be assessed "according to its true value". The governor would appoint trial judges, they would no be elected by the people (p.10).

De Tocqueville (and others) explained that a governor could not succeed to a second term in order to limit their power. Governors lusted for more power, and criticized this ban. The book mentions "the need for a stronger governor" but provides NO FACTS to justify this! Is this another example of academic censorship? The "Edge Draft" proposed a new constitution, but it was soundly defeated; the book censors the reasons why (p.15). It also doesn't tell what pressure was used to make everyone fall into line behind Driscoll's proposal (p.16).

The voting public was unaware that the elimination of "true value" and its replacement by a "uniform standard" would create continually rising property taxes. Note how this is also censored here. The newly powerful and still unelected NJ Supreme Court claimed absolute power; there would be no legislative control on the court system (p.17)! Next the code words "uniform standard" was interpreted to create an increasingly regressive property tax system. (Was this the secret agenda behind the 1947 constitution?) In 1974 the people turned down casino gambling; in 1976 it passed. Academic censorship again fails to tell how this trick was done.

New Jersey has averaged a new constitution about every 50 years (p.18). Is it due for a new one? Will the NJ Ruling Class ever allow a more democratic constitution?

This book analyzes the history and current status of the state constitution, provides the text and a commentary on each clause, and related references. Its aim is to increase understanding. The "Foreword" says the 1947 Constitution's main change was to give the Supreme Court unprecedented control of all courts in NJ. These unelected politicians became the most powerful in the country (p. xix). He claims this court system is "the envy of practitioners and scholars all over the country", but no other state has ever copied it, and citizens have only growing contempt for this anti-democratic system. The other landmark feature was to create a royalist governor "the only state-wide elected official". No other state has ever copied that. Both of these features deny the system of "checks and balances", and a "separation of powers", common sense ideas that go back centuries. The Federal Constitution guarantees each state a republican form of government. In a royalist government the monarch appoints government officials, and that is what the 1947 Constitution does. NJ's fabled corruption from the 19th century onwards is explained on page 101: "New Jersey has never had an elected judiciary". Senatorial courtesy is a poor substitute for democracy. The Governor, Supreme Court, and Senate were made more powerful, the people and the General Assembly were the losers (p.xx). This was done for the Corporate Ruling Class: "growth of business and industry", "corporate headquarters to the state", etc. The 1844 Constitution reflected an egalitarian society. To say he does "not see any flaws in the Constitution" is to admit he does not recognize the reality of today's life for citizens.

To learn why NJ has the highest property taxes in the nation, read pages 109-111. The older law assessed property for taxes at "true value", the new law at "same standard of value". Under the old law the value for taxes was based on its selling price. (The scam for the rich was to sell property for "$1 and good will" to pay less than ordinary people.) The new law resulted in much higher taxes on older homes. This forced people to move to the suburbs to seek lower taxes. "Urban renewal" attacked older neighborhoods and the small businesses there. (You may have seen this reported on PBS TV.) Moving industry from cities to "industrial parks" was another way to create a market for Big Oil. Since nearby housing was also banned by zoning laws, everyone needed cars to work or shop, etc. This was repeated in other states. Until NJ passes a "Proposition 13" to lower property taxes (as in 1978 California) and bring more democracy to New Jersey, things will only get worse.

Before the 1947 NJ Constitution there were no sales or income taxes, no toll roads, plenty of farmland, and healthy cities with prosperous manufacturing. This all changed in the decades that followed. Increasing property taxes drove people into the suburbs for better living conditions. Then came sales taxes (1965) and income taxes (1976) and a lowered quality of life. You can compare the results to all other states which have a more representative form of government (no "strong governor"). The 1947 Constitution changed the "Garden State" into the Paved-Over state.

If you like reading about domestic history, you'll like this book, even if you don't care about tomatoes or tomato soup. Well researched, well written, it's clear the author had a good, if exhausitve time writing it. Writing about wars and battles is all very well, but to me, this gives more insight about American history than any thing I've read in a long time.

Smith's Souper Tomatoes is exactly what you would expect: 178 pp (+ references and index) on every aspect of the history of tomatoes and soup. Chapters cover the origin of soups, the origins of tomatoes, the tomato canning industry, the tomato soup industry and finally a collection of historical recipes. The tomato originated in South America and was brought to Europe in the 16th century. New Jersey proved to have the ideal climate and was the early center of the industry. Tomato canning began about the time of the Civil War. Initially most work was done by hand, but processing and canning were mechanized by turn of the century. California displaced NJ as the leader in tomato growing owing to a longer growing season and larger fields better suited to mechanical harvesting. Major efforts were made over the years to develop new tomato strains, especially the Rutgers tomato, and later California strains.

Initially all tomato products were produced and canned whenever the crop was ripe. Today ripe tomatoes are processed to juice concentrate. Soup, juice and related tomato products are made from concentrate all year round. The various processes are described in detail, but are not overly technical. More illustrations would have been helpful.

Souper Tomatoes is Smith's third book on the subject. Earlier ones include The Tomato in America, 1994 and Pure Ketchup, 1996.

For those who really want to know about this esoteric subject, Souper Tomatoes is a great read.

This fold out laminated map is very good for seeing the major cities through New Jersey. It is compact but it's not exactly pocket sized.

it's made of solid... paperboard? plastic? carfboard? well whatever it is, it's good quality. it's got a lot of detail. very useful.

After publishing two books on forgotten towns of southern New Jersey (mainly in the Pine Barrens) and one on the central part of the state, Henry Charlton Beck finally got around to writing a book dealing with the northern part. The word "Tales" enters the title of this work (rather than just "Forgotten Towns" as with the southern NJ books), and rightly so, since much more emphasis on the stories and people of the region is made here than in the earlier books. The earlier works, especially the two on southern NJ, were more specific and sharper in focus than this book, and after reading them one had a very strong feeling for place and geography, of truly "forgotten towns." That's not so much the case here. Perhaps the least interesting chapter is the first, about an eccentric character of Johnsonburg known as The Pig Drover, which gets the book off to a shaky start. Other chapters are much improved, and the ones on Waterloo before its reconstruction, Wantage, Snufftown (Stockholm), and the Shades of Death Road west of Allamuchy (an article on this road appeared in "Weird NJ" a while ago) are especially good. Fr. Beck resided on a farm near Robbinsville and had a special love for the Mullica River region, which might explain why this northern NJ book is missing the verve and enthusiasm found the his earlier southern NJ books. It's not a bad book and certainly is interesting (Beck never lost the ability to inspire readers to get out and explore for themselves), just not as interesting as what came before.

Henry Charlton Beck tells folklore and legends about the small towns in Northern New Jersey. Although not an official account of our history, Beck toured small towns, researched local resources, and had conversations with the locals. Highly recommended for someone who has an interest in local history.