January 3, 1777--Stryker's Skirmish at 10-Mile Run

Today in South Brunswick History...
January 3, 1777--Stryker's Skirmish at 10-Mile Run
by Ed Belding
South Brunswick Historical Society

Hot on the heels of the American victory over the British forces at Princeton, New Jersey, another victory of sorts occurred along the King's Highway (pka--Route 27) at Ten-Mile Run (just north of the present New Road and Wells Fargo Bank) on January 3, 1777. Captain John Stryker and his militia troop of horse, numbering twenty strong, came upon two-hundred British Regulars and wagoneers who had stopped by a mill to repair a number of supply wagons, before resuming their march back to New Brunswick to catch up with General Cornwallis and the main British force. The enemy thought the way was clear because George Washington's weary forces were nowhere in sight. The Patriot forces had veered off the King's Highway at Kingston and were headed towards Pluckamin. The British at Ten-Mile Run had no clue that Stryker's men had dismounted, had crept up to their position under cover of darkness, and had set up an ambush. At Stryker's command, his men fired their muskets. This caused the British to panic--they fled up the road and left several wagons behind. The militiamen took the wagons and the bounty all the way up to Morristown where Washington's troops welcomed them. Twenty militiamen (and probably a few more folks at Ten-Mile Run) had beaten great odds that night. They had demonstrated much courage and skill. Best of all, they had not lost a man. Most history books fail to mention the success of these valiant few, but they are remembered here. Their victory might be worth commemorating annually. Here is the honor roll of the known heroes of the skirmish--Captain John Stryker, Lt. John Bennett, Sgt. David Nevius, Michael Blue, Peter Stryker, James Stryker, John Voorhees, William Wilson, Abraham Golder, Henry Kennedy, Jacob Van Dike, John Van Dike, Cornelius Van Arsdalen, Conrad Van Wagoner, "Red Kettle" Skillman, "Hob" Hoagland, "Looper" DuMott, Garrett Terhune, and Johnny Van Dine.