"Voices" of the Maryland Brigade Traditional Cache

These are actual soldier quotes from participants on the conditions at the Morristown encampment of 1779-80 On the 14th (of December, 1779)

"We reached this wilderness, about three miles from Morristown, where we are to build log huts for winter quarters...The ground is marked out, and the soldiers have commenced cutting down the timber of oak and walnut, of which we have a great abundance". (Dr. James Thatcher, Military Journal)>

"You will by date perceive that we are in camp, tho’ expect, if good weather, to have the men’s Hutts so far compleated (sic) that they may go into them on Sunday or Monday. The severity of the weather hath been such that the men suffer’d much without shoes and stockings, and working half leg deep in snow. Poor fellows, my heart bleeds for them as I damn my country as devoid of gratitude". (Lt. Colonel Ebenezer Huntington of Col. Samuel Webb’s Connecticut Regiment, Stark’s Brigade, December 24, 1779)

"A long and severe storm dumps feet of snow on the winter camp, (January 3- 5, 1780) and large snowdrifts on the roads prevents supplies of food entering camp. At one time it snowed the greater part of four days successively, and there fell nearly as many feet deep of snow, and here was the keystone of the arch of starvation. We were absolutely, literally starved. I do solemnly declare that I did not put a single morsel of victuals into my mouth for four days and as many nights, except a little black birch bark which I gnawed off a stick of wood, if that can be called victuals. I saw several of the men roast their old shoes and eat them, and I was afterwards informed by one of the officer’s waiters that some of the officers killed and ate a favorite little dog that belonged to them. If this was not “suffering,” I request to be informed what can pass under that name". (Nineteen-year old Private Joseph Plumb Martin, Connecticut Brigade)

"I must confess that the [soldiers] would make a better appearance had they a sufficiency of hats, but as Congress don’t seem to think that an essential ...part of uniform, they mean to leave us uniformly bare-headed—as well as bare-footed—and if they find that we can bare it tolerably well in the two extremes, perhaps they may try it in the center". (General Anthony Wayne to General William Irvine, December 14, 1779)

This geocache is approved by Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown NJ. Meeting historic and educational guidelines providing information about the American Revolution.

These educational "Jockey Hollow's Morristown National Park geocaches" are in conjunction with the upcoming "New Jersey American Revolution Geo~Trail" which will be located throughout New Jersey. The Geo trail geocaches are hidden at historic locations which have a connection to important New Jersey's American Revolutionary War history.

The Northern New Jersey Cachers, NNJC is about promoting a quality caching experience in Northern New Jersey. For information on The Northern New Jersey Cachers group you can visit: www.nnjc.org.