Haddonfield's Revolutionary War Skirmish Returns In June

HADDONFIELD, NJ — In 1777, the New Jersey Assembly, fleeing from the British, met in session at Haddonfield’s Indian King Tavern and declared that the “Colony” of New Jersey was now the State of New Jersey.

A year later, Continental troops clashed with redcoats on the borough’s streets. And now, Haddonfield has the opportunity to celebrate its Revolutionary history with a pair of events next year.

After a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, Haddonfield’s popular Revolutionary War Reenactment returns the first weekend of June, officials announced.

The Skirmish brings history books to life with a day of Revolutionary War soldiers, horses, clashes between colonists and redcoats, family friendly programming, music, and important moments from South Jersey and Haddonfield’s history in the founding of the United States.

On June 4, 2022, the British will invade Haddonfield and be challenged by Continental troops, just as they did 244 years ago, in June 1778.

Redcoats on horseback will charge, muskets will be fired, and the Continentals will try to stop the redcoats before they head off to the Battle at Monmouth. The clash and a day-long event surrounding it takes place on and around Kings Highway, Haddonfield’s main street.

The Skirmish, an outdoor, free event, has been running since 2014.

“Back in 1778, during the British Troop evacuation of occupied Philadelphia, George Washington ordered the local militia to ‘annoy’ the redcoats,” Skirmish Committee Chair Joe Murphy said. “Both sides would Skirmish throughout South Jersey until they finally battled at Monmouth. And so on June 4, 2022, we will annoy them again. We love being able to once again share our community’s rich revolutionary war history in a fun, family-friendly way.”

On May 18, 2022, excitement for the Skirmish begins with a reenactment of a debate between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton about how the new country should be governed at the Haddon Fortnightly Building.

Both British and American forces encamped at Haddonfield or marched through it during various campaigns. Lafayette was among the leaders of the Revolution who was known to have stayed in the town during the war. In 1903, the Indian King Tavern became the first historic site purchased by the State of New Jersey. Read more on Haddonfield’s revolutionary historyhere.

The schedule of events for the Skirmish on June 4 is as follows:

• 9 a.m.: Redcoats begin “looting and pillaging” Haddonfield
• 11:00 a.m. Brief clash between Redcoats and Continentals on Kings Highway
• 2 p.m.: The Skirmish, featuring redcoats on horseback, muskets, and Revolutionary War reenactors on Kings Highway

Activities throughout the day (check the website for actual times):

• Meet character and soldier reenactors
• Yelling contest (“The British Are Coming!”)
• Colonial dancing
• Pillory prisoners
• Open house at the Indian King Tavern, where New Jersey officially became a state
• See a blacksmith at work
• Free colonial caricatures at the Farmers Market
• Visit the Queen’s Rangers and their horses at their encampment
• Fife and Drum performance
• Town criers spread the news
• Plays and Players performs songs from a show about the Indian King Tavern
• Singing pirates
• Historic exhibits
• Read the Indian King Gazette, a replica of a colonial era newspaper
• Colonial-era displays in Haddonfield shop windows
• Tour of the town’s historic buildings (charge applies)
• Learn about Colonial era arts and crafts
• Get a Colonial era “penny portrait” done by silhouette artist Ted Steussy
• Revolutionary War fire-fighting equipment at the Haddon Fire Company No. 1’s museum
• Enjoy breakfast with the Colonial Troops (charge applies)

The Skirmish is made possible thanks to support from TD Bank, Jefferson Health, The Haddonfield Foundation, Haddonfield Financial Planning, McLaughlin Asset Management, Flood Vent Installations, Dynamic Language Services, 1st Colonial Bank, Excel Roofing, The British Chip Shop, Henry Bean & Sons, PJW Restaurant Group, and Roger Jacobs.

The Skirmish is hosted byThe Friends of the Indian King, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which works to preserve and advance the Indian King Tavern Museum, the first New Jersey State historic site, and to raise public awareness of the museum and its educational programs.