Battle of Springfield

For the 1861 Civil War battle, see First Battle of Springfield. For the 1863 Civil War battle, see Second Battle of Springfield.
Battle of Springfield

"Give 'em Watts, boys!" - Presbyterian clergymen James Caldwell giving Continentals Isaac Watts' hymn books for wadding
DateJune 23, 1780
Location
Springfield Township, Essex County (present day Union County), New Jersey
Result American victory[1]
Belligerents
 United States Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain
Hesse Hesse-Kassel
Commanders and leaders
United States Nathanael Greene Hesse Wilhelm von Knyphausen
Strength
1,500,[2] reinforced by undetermined number of militia[3] 6,000[4]
Casualties and losses
Continentals
13 killed;
49 wounded;
9 missing[5]
Militia: Including June 7
10 killed;
40 wounded;
10 captured[6]		 Including June 7
25 killed
234 wounded
48 missing[7]
Battle of Springfield[8]

The Battle of Springfield was fought during the American Revolutionary War on June 23, 1780, in Union County, New Jersey. After the Battle of Connecticut Farms, on June 7, 1780, had foiled Lieutenant General Wilhelm, Baron von Knyphausen's expedition to attack General George Washington's army at Morristown, New Jersey, Knyphausen and Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton, British commander-in-chief in North America, decided upon a second attempt.[9] Although the British were initially able to advance, they were ultimately forced to withdraw in the face of newly arriving rebel forces, resulting in a Continental victory. The battle effectively ended British ambitions in New Jersey.[10]

  1. ^ Fleming, p. 232, 302
  2. ^ Fleming, pp. 231 and 238
  3. ^ Fleming, pp. 270–273
  4. ^ Fleming, p. 175
  5. ^ Barber, Francis, Return of the Killed, Wounded & Missing in the Action of the 23rd June, 1780, Springfield Archived 2011-06-04 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Fleming, p. 329
  7. ^ Atwood, p. 149
  8. ^ Lossing, Benson (1859). The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution. Harper & Brothers, Publishers. p. 322.
  9. ^ Fleming, p. 232
  10. ^ Fleming, p. 232, 302