A Guide to New Jersey's Revolutionary War Trail: for Families and History Buffs [Paperback]

Mark Di Ionno (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A wonderful guide through New Jersey, the 'cockpit of the Revolution." -- Thomas H. Kean, former governor of New Jersey

"This is a book New Jersey has long needed. It opens our eyes to the rich Revolutionary War Legacy that surrounds us." -- Former congressman Dick Zimmer

From the Back Cover

Listing more than 350 historic sites throughout the state, this book is the most complete guide ever to the Revolutionary War in the Garden State.

New Jersey's role in the Revolutionary War is widely overlooked. Every school kid learns about the Boston Tea Party but not the Greenwich tea burning and about the miserable winter at Valley Forge but not the two winter encampments at Jockey Hollow. To find history in New Jersey, all you need is Mark Di Ionno as your guide. His easy-to-read volume helps residents and visitors explore the towns and the countryside from Bergen County to Cape May to find out exactly what happened throughout the state during the Revolutionary War.

While previous publications center on the highlights- the fall of Fort Lee and Washington's retreat across the state, the crossing of the Delaware, the brutal winter encampments at Jockey Hollow, and the battle of Monmouth- Di Ionno fills in the blanks. Battlefields, churches, homes of the famous and infamous, cemeteries, parks, taverns, creeks, museums, lighthouses, historical societies, walking trails, monuments- if it played a part in or commemorates the Revolutionary War in New Jersey, Di Ionno tells you what happened there, the personalities involved, and how to find it for yourself.

The sites are conveniently listed by county, with a helpful summary of the area's war history beginning each chapter. Each entry lists the town and directions to each site, and where appropriate, a complete address, telephone numbers, and hours of operation. Both public and private sites are described, and Di Ionno advises readers at which private sites tours can be arranged.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813527708
• ISBN-13: 978-0813527703
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #831,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Treat for New Jersey history buffs., July 6, 2001

By 

Nino Ippolito (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Guide to New Jersey's Revolutionary War Trail: for Families and History Buffs (Paperback)

New Jersey has been called the great "Crossroads of the American Revolution" because of its important strategic location between New York and Philadelphia, a fact well recognized by George Washington when he based his military headquarters in Morristown. This significance is superbly portrayed in DiIonno's Guide by numerous and fascinating vignettes detailing the locations, some now forgotten, of the events that shaped our country's history. For American Revolution history buffs, especially those interested in New Jersey history, this book is a real page turner.

As a kid growing up in New Jersey I had only been taught the basics of what happened here during the Revolution. I had heard the names and stories of famous places like Trenton, Princeton, or Morristown. But these were only the tip of the iceberg. After reading the guide I was surprised to discover that New Jersey is filled with countless places, events, and people connected to the Revolution that have somehow been forgotten by the history books.

For example, does anyone today know about the Battle of Springfield from which the classic image of Patriots skirmishing with Redcoats comes from? Or about the infamous Baylor massacre? Or the retreat of the American Army through Bergen County that inspired Thomas Paine? And what about names like Erskine, Lord Stirling, and Reverend Caldwell? And lets not forget George Washington's Secret Weapon!

These stories are here in this book and they make for a great read. After reading several pages I was inspired to seek out these places and view them firsthand. Exact locations are provided in the guide. In fact, I learned that several of them were right in my own backyard. Down the street from where I live are places once occupied by Washington, Lafayette, and Cornwallis.

The book is also the perfect reference guide for a family or school fieldtrip. Seems to me like a great way to get kids interested in American History... or anyone else for that matter.

So go buy a copy and "Give em the Watts boys!"

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book - Who Knew?, August 7, 2006

By 

Joel F. Sarapin (East Brunswick, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Guide to New Jersey's Revolutionary War Trail For Families and History Buffs (Hardcover)

First off, I am not History Buff nor do I have kids, but this book is very cool anyway...

When you think of the revolutionary war, you think of Virginia, Massachusetts and Philadelphia. But New Jersey is just as important and in many ways more important than those states, however because it is so corporate and developed, you would never know this.

The author does a great job of telling the story of the "unsung hero" of the revolutionary war (NJ).

Whereever you are in NJ, there is a good chance there is a piece of history not too far - in fact, I live in Franklin Park and work in Warren and there are many places covered in his book that I had no idea existed that are a stones throw from both my office and my home.
For example there is a house that dates back to the early 1700's that is at the end of a road right across from the National Starch and Chemical world HQ's that is at the end of an industrial road. Seeing it is very surreal - this is the only second place in his book I have gone to see so far, but I plan on going to many more (and hopefully dragging my fiance as well).

Overall anyone who is interested in american history and who lives in or around NJ, this book is no doubt a must have.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book., August 19, 2009

By 

Patrick K. Miller "Keeper of Nothing" (Wall Township, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Guide to New Jersey's Revolutionary War Trail For Families and History Buffs (Hardcover)

Found this book a bit light in the history section, and a bit light in the specific locations, but it really is one of a kind book. I was very surprised that the local areas are mentioned, but only in a brief way, which had me constantly looking up for more information on a site that interested me.
Overall, a good book, not great and I would recommend if you would like a more personal look at NJ and the Revolutionary War and sites of interest.