How New Jersey’s Worst Winter Almost Killed Washington’s Army in 1779

Jockey Hollow, New Jersey

The winter of 1779-1780 was so brutal that New York Harbor froze solid and British soldiers could march on ice from Manhattan to Staten Island.

Meanwhile, Washington’s 10,000-strong army built a mini city of wooden huts at Jockey Hollow to wait out the cold. Here’s their story, told through the park where you can walk their old camp roads.

When 28 Blizzards Hit In One Winter

From December to April, 28 major snowstorms pounded Jockey Hollow and the surrounding area. Early January brought a two-day blizzard that left four feet of snow on the ground.

The cold was brutal. Temperatures stayed below freezing for weeks at a time. This made life dangerous for soldiers who had poor clothing and basic shelters. This winter was even worse than the famous Valley Forge winter two years before. Huge snowdrifts blocked roads and trapped soldiers in their huts.

14 Days to Build a Thousand Huts

Soldiers built over 1,200 log huts soon after they arrived. Each hut had to be exactly 14 feet wide, 16 feet long, and 6.5 feet high to the roof. The army gave out tools like axes, saws, and planes for the work.

Soldiers had learned from past winters how to build quickly in bad weather. Working in teams, the men cut trees, stripped bark, shaped logs, and put up walls. Despite snow and cold, most finished their huts within two weeks.

The Timber That Sheltered An Army

Soldiers cut down about 600 acres of trees on Henry Wick’s land alone. In total, they cleared about 2,000 acres of forest to build and heat the camp. Wick’s farm had 1,400 acres of woodland and fields, making it perfect for the army’s needs.

Colonel Adeel told General Greene that the trees were 8 to 12 inches thick, just right for building huts. Half the wood became shelters. The rest was burned for cooking and warmth. By spring, hills that once had thick forests stood bare.

Twelve Men In One Small Hut

Each small log hut packed in twelve soldiers who slept side by side on wooden bunks. One fireplace in each hut provided heat and a place to cook meals. The men made dirt floors by packing the ground hard.

They built simple furniture like tables, benches, and bed frames from leftover wood. They put straw on their bunks for padding. Many lacked blankets, forcing them to sleep in their clothes and huddle together for warmth during the coldest nights.

How The Hut Camp Was Organized

The camp followed a strict plan with huts placed just 2 to 3 feet apart. Each regiment had three rows of eight huts, forming neat “neighborhoods” in the larger camp. Troops were grouped by their home states.

The Pennsylvania Line built on one hill while Connecticut, Maryland, and New York units had their own sections. The New Jersey Brigade set up south of the main army. This layout kept units together and made it easier for officers to maintain order and run daily drills.

Officers Who Lived In Comfort While Soldiers Suffered

General Washington stayed at the Ford Mansion in Morristown, six miles from the main camp. This large house gave him and his staff comfortable rooms away from the worst conditions.

Major General St. Clair and his aides lived in Henry Wick’s farmhouse. By rule, officers’ huts were built only after the regular soldiers had shelter. Unlike the strict plans for soldier huts, officers had better quarters with private rooms and better protection from the weather. Many also had servants to cook and clean for them.

Five Months Without Pay Or Food

By mid-December, Washington told Congress his army had been on half rations for six weeks. They had less than three days of bread left and no new supplies coming in. Soldiers went five months without pay.

When money finally came, it was nearly worthless due to inflation. Most merchants refused to accept it. Daily food, when available, was tiny portions of salted meat, beans, and flour. Supply wagons couldn’t reach the camp through deep snow and frozen rivers.

When Soldiers Ate Tree Bark To Survive

Private Joseph Martin wrote in his diary about going four days without any food. Driven by hunger, he chewed bark from birch trees to ease his stomach pains. When food finally came, Martin got only half a pound of beef and half a cup of wheat.

Soldiers hunted nearby animals but soon ran out of game. Some men became so desperate they killed and ate horses. Cooks made soup from whatever they could find, sometimes boiling leather from old shoes for sustenance.

Soldiers Without Blankets Or Clothes

A quarter of the men had no blankets during the coldest months. An army doctor described soldiers as barefoot and nearly naked while working in snow and ice. Uniforms fell apart from constant wear with no replacements.

Some men traded uniform pieces to local farmers for food, though officers later stopped this practice. Many suffered frostbite, especially those standing guard or gathering firewood. Some wrapped their feet in rags that froze solid during marches or night watch.

The Connecticut Brigade Mutiny

By spring, hunger and missing pay pushed soldiers to the breaking point. The Connecticut Line staged a mutiny, refusing orders and demanding food and wages. After five months without pay and on starvation rations, even loyal soldiers lost patience.

Officers acted quickly to stop the rebellion before it spread to other units. Washington stepped in, admitting their complaints were fair while restoring order. He begged Congress for help, warning the whole army might quit without supplies.

Visiting Jockey Hollow at Morristown National Historical Park

You’ll find Jockey Hollow Visitor Center at 586 Tempe Wick Road in Morristown, New Jersey (07960).

The visitor center features a replica soldier hut display and a 16-minute film about the encampment. The 1,200-acre park includes a 3-mile tour road and 27 miles of hiking trails, and you can also see reconstructed soldier huts on Sugar Loaf hill.

For the full experience, visit both Jockey Hollow and Washington’s Headquarters at Ford Mansion, located 6 miles away in downtown Morristown.

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