Hermitage Roundtable

[Albert]

Following are announcements for two upcoming programs.

At the Roundtable on April 25, 2007 (7:30 at the Hermitage) Carol Greene will talk about the 225th anniversary of Washington-Rochambeau March of 1781.

The Mahwah Historical Society is sponsoring "War Without Battles: George Washington and the Continental Army in New Jersey, 1779-1781," Monday, April 16, 2007, Ramapo Reformed Church, Mahwah, NJ, 7:30 P.M.

For details of both programs, see following:

Roundtable:  Carol W. Greene, Vice-Chair of W3R-NJ, will talk about the 225th anniversary in 2006 of the Washington-Rochambeau March of 1781. A power-point presenation, richly illustrated with photos, artwork, and maps, will highlight the following topics:

1) French involvement in America's War for Independence,

2) W3R routes across NJ, especially Ramapo Valley Rd. and Kings Hwy of 1703 (Island Rd./Franklin Tpk.); important "witness sites" (Hermitage); Bergen County's role in the march.

3) exciting interpretive artwork of David R. Wagner -- events and daily life along the 600+ mile march route,

4) America's March to Yorktown: re-enactment march through Bergen Co., Aug. 2006--a colorful photographic account; surprising extant landscapes of the route described in Rochambeau's itinerary.

5) Re-enactment march on original 18th century road section in woodland at Sun Valley Farm, Mahwah, maps showing the old route; David Wagner paintings of Bergen Co.

6) Dr. Robert Selig, national authority on French involvement in the Revolutionary War--his 900-page W3R report on NJ an original scholarly work

7) Congressional designation of W3R route as a National Heritage Trail-- the ultimate goal.

Mahwah Historical Society:  William M. Ferraro, Assistant Editor, Papers of George Washington, University of Virginia, will present "War Without Battles: George Washington and the Continental Army in New Jersey, 1779-1781," Monday,April 16, 2007, Ramapo Reformed Church, Mahwah, NJ, 7:30 P.M.

Documents now being edited for Volume 19 of the Revolutionary War Series, Papers of George Washington, show that Brigadier General William Maxwell from his post at Elizabeth Town (about thirty miles south of Mahwah) played a crucial role in steering intelligence to Washington.  Maxwell's scouts covered a wide area of northern New Jersey, and his contacts penetrated into British-held New York City.  Trying to better understand Maxwell and his network of operatives--which could have included Andrew Hopper, Mahwah farmer, tavern keeper, patriot, and reputed spy, whose home Washington used for lodging on multiple occasions--will occupy the greatest part of the presentation.

Peggy W. Norris
Joe S. Suplicki
Coordinators:  Hermitage History Roundtable
201-797-8984