Unmasking the Blue Hills Militia Post: Locating Plainfield’s Revolutionary War Camp, with Dr. Laramie V. Potts

About this event

CELEBRATE REVNJ & AMERICA250! During the American Revolutionary War, the military encampments hidden along New Jersey’s Watchung Mountains were vital to General George Washington’s winning strategy. Yet, while other local battlegrounds became famous national landmarks, the story of the Blue Hills Militia Post (BHMP) slowly slipped away. Though written about in local newspapers during the early 20th century, the Revolutionary War post’s exact location and historic significance have largely been neglected by mainstream history, eventually receding into commemorative obscurity. For decades, historians and residents have debated exactly where the camp stood, with previous guesses based mostly on speculation. This presentation reveals how we are finally solving the mystery. By tracking down centuries-old property lines and combining historical land deeds with cutting-edge modern mapping technology, we have pinpointed the exact parcel of land on Plainfield's historic Vermeule Plantation that hosted the militia post. Join us as we map out the BHMP in the context of present-day Plainfield and uncover the critical, long-forgotten roles this camp played in winning American independence -- the only fixed Revolutionary War militia post in New Jersey! This event is FREE and open to all. RevolutionNJ RevNJ NJ250