This is the site of a skirmish between New
Jersey Militia and British Regulars in the town of Quinton in southern New
Jersey. The British had occupied the city of Salem, to the north.
Colonial Militia, under the command of Col. Benjamin Holmes, his in and
around the Smith House, near the Alloway Creek. The British, under
command of Major John Simcoe marched from Salem and drew the patriots into
an ambush. Seven were killed and began to retreat back over the bridge
when patriot Andrew Bacon grabbed an axe and cut away a section of the
bridge. This delayed the British advance long enough for the militia's
re-enforcements to arrive from the south, forcing the British to retreat
back to Salem.
Today this bridge sits what I
have to assume is virtually unchanged since 1939. Little evidence
remains of the Revolutionary Bridge, however. A small blue sign marks
the battle on each side of the bridge, which is also present State Route 49.
The photos were taken facing SALEM and are therefore from the perspective of
the patriots defending the bridge. The granite monument mentioned in
the guide is approximately 100 yards to the rear of the photographer, in the
side yard of the Smith house.
Skirmishes like this were not
uncommon in South Jersey, as many of the crossroads were heavily used in
moving not only goods, but troops on both sides from the Delaware River and
Bay north to Philadelphia, and then often to Burlington, then the capital of
New Jersey, and onto New York.
This is actually a very popular
fishing spot today, and it is rare that you can't find someone parked in the
pull off on Alloway Road casting a reel into the creek.