MORRISTOWN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK _A Military Capital of the American Revolution_ [Illustration: {candlestick and letter}] _by Melvin J. Weig, with assistance from Vera B. Craig_ NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HISTORICAL HANDBOOK SERIES No. 7 WASHINGTON 25, D. C., 1950 [Illustration: {DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR · March 3, 1949}] UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Oscar L. Chapman, _Secretary_ NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Newton B. Drury, _Director_ _HISTORICAL HANDBOOK NUMBER SEVEN_ This publication is one of a series of handbooks describing the historical and archeological areas in the National Park System administered by the National Park Service of the United States Department of the Interior. It is printed by the Government Printing Office and may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington 25, D. C. Price 20¢. _Contents_ _Page_ THE FIRST WINTER ENCAMPMENT IN MORRIS COUNTY 1 Situation: January 1777 1 From Princeton to Morristown 2 The New Base of American Operations 3 Winter Quarters for Officers and Men 5 Instability of the Army 6 Food and Clothing Shortages 7 Recruitment Gets Under Way 7 Sickness and Death 8 Washington Tightens His Grip on New Jersey 9 The Prospect Brightens 10 End of the 1777 Encampment 11 JOCKEY HOLLOW: THE “HARD” WINTER OF 1779-80 11 Intermission: War in Deadlock 11 Morristown Again Becomes the Military Capital 12 Building the “Log-house city” 12 Terrible Severity of the Winter 16 Lack of Adequate Clothing 17 Shortage of Provisions and Forage 17 Money Troubles and Their Consequences 18 Guarding the Lines 18 The Staten Island Expedition 19 Sidelights on the Pattern of Army Life 22 Luzerne and Miralles 23 The Committee at Headquarters 24