Van Harlingen Historical Society Presents: Bring on the Revolution, the Story of Middlebrook at Montgomery's Library

By Candy Willis for The Montgomery News | September 9, 2026

The Revolutionary War was a cat and mouse game involving pursuit, evasion, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and constantly shifting strategy.

Because New Jersey was centrally located between New York City and Philadelphia, it was a coveted geographical location to control. It’s no surprise that more skirmishes and battles were fought here than in any other colony.

The 13-star U.S. flag, known as the Betsy Ross Flag, is flown at the Middlebrook Camp Ground each day to commemorate Washington's Army having encamped in the area June 14, 1777. The period of encampment extended to July 2.

Photo from The Washington Camp Ground Association WCGA.US.

George Washington and his troops had to live somewhere while away from home. Depending on how long they planned to remain in a particular area, sometimes they pitched tents (an encampment) and sometimes they built huts (a cantonment) at strategic locations. The goal was to keep an eye on the British.

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At the risk of oversimplifying the situation, after those ten crucial days from December 25, 1776 to January 3, 1777 involving the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, Washington and his men encamped for the winter in Morristown, establishing outposts at various key locations to detect/monitor British movement. The British, headquartered in New Brunswick, decided to launch a surprise attack on one such outpost in Bound Brook but, because they had to ford the Raritan River, they could not do so until the winter had passed.

But then, in April, attack they did! It was 4000 British against 500 Continentals! The Continentals escaped via an unguarded exit. Washington took immediate action, sending troops to Bound Brook and moving his camp from Morristown to a place called Middle Brook (as it was originally spelled), in the Watchung Mountains, to keep a closer eye on the enemy.

Author Linda Barth will pick up the story from here.

Learn the story of Middlebrook presented by Linda Barth, author and co-chair of the Middlebrook Symposium Committee at Somerset County Library System's Montgomery Branch on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 6 pm. Add to Calendar.

The Van Harlingen Historical Society and the Somerset County Library System is proud to host this program in collaboration. 

On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Act, designating an official national flag with 13

white stars and 13 alternating red and white stripes, but without specifying further details. George Washington, on that very same day, hoisted Betsy Ross’s flag at his Middlebrook camp. It was not until 1877, 100 years later, that the nation commemorated the event.

Image from PhilaCarta on Etsy.

Bedensville Schoolhouse Open House

The 1853 Bedensville Schoolhouse will be open to the public on Saturday, September 12, from 1 pm until 3 pm. If you’ve never experienced the charm of a 19th century fully furnished one-room schoolhouse, this is your chance. Van Harlingen Historical Society members will show you around. ■

Candy Willis is the Van Harlingen Historical Society Gulick House librarian.

Web: vanharlingen.org.