The Log-House City: Survival and Sacrifice at Jockey Hollow
When we think of Revolutionary War suffering, our minds often drift to Valley Forge. But for the Continental Army, the winter of 1779–1780 in Morristown, New Jersey, was the true test of human endurance. It was the coldest winter in over a century, marked by twenty-eight separate snowstorms that buried the landscape and pushed the dream of American independence to the brink of collapse.
Today, Jockey Hollow, part of the Morristown National Historical Park, stands as a quiet, wooded memorial to the 12,000 men who shivered, starved, and survived in a “city” built of logs.
The Hardest Winter on Record
General George Washington chose Morristown for its strategic perfection. Protected by the natural barriers of the Watchung Mountains and the Great Swamp, it was a “fortress” just 31 miles from the British stronghold in New York City.
While Valley Forge was plagued by inexperience and poor sanitation, Morristown was plagued by the raw fury of nature.
- The Snow: Surgeon James Thacher recorded drifts up to six feet deep, “obscuring the very traces of the roads.”
- The Starvation: Private Joseph Plumb Martin famously recalled gnawing on black birch bark and watching desperate soldiers roast and eat their own shoes.
- The Resilience: Despite the brutal conditions, the army was better organized than in previous years. Of the thousands encamped here, only about 100 perished—a testament to the hard-won discipline of the Continental troops.
Building the “Log-House City”
Washington didn’t just want a camp; he ordered a “log-house city.” Over 600 acres of timber were felled to construct approximately 1,200 uniform huts.
- The Soldiers’ Quarters: Each 14×16-foot hut housed twelve men. They slept in wooden bunks, warmed only by a single stone fireplace. Initially, there were no windows; those were only cut once the spring thaw arrived.
- The Layout: Huts were arranged in precise rows, eight deep, creating a military grid in the middle of the New Jersey wilderness.
Today, you can visit five replicated huts on Sugar Loaf Hill. Originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s and reconstructed in the 1960s, these structures offer a visceral sense of the cramped, smoke-filled reality of the 1780 encampment.
The Wick House: A Command Post in a “Salt Box”
At the heart of the park is the Wick House, built around 1750 by Henry Wick. This “salt box” style home served as the headquarters for Major General Arthur St. Clair.
- The Legend of Tempe Wick: The most famous story of the house involves Henry’s daughter, Tempe. As the Pennsylvania Line mutinied in early 1781, soldiers reportedly tried to seize her horse. According to legend, Tempe escaped and hid the horse inside her bedroom for days, using a feather bed to muffle the sound of its hooves on the floorboards.
- The Restoration: In the 1930s, the National Park Service and the CCC painstakingly restored the home. They removed 19th-century alterations to reveal original soot-stained ceilings and vertical wall sheathing, returning the farmstead to its Revolutionary-era appearance.
A Double Legacy of Preservation
Jockey Hollow is a monument to two different eras of American service.
- 1779: The soldiers who held the line against the British and the elements.
- 1933: The young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps who, during the Great Depression, built the trails, performed the archaeology, and replanted the orchards we enjoy today.
In 1933, Morristown became America’s first National Historical Park, ensuring that the “Hard Winter” would never be forgotten.
If You Visit
Jockey Hollow is a sprawling park perfect for hikers, birdwatchers, and history buffs alike.
- Location: 580 Jockey Hollow Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960.
- The Visitor Center: Start here to see artifacts recovered from the hut sites and watch a film on the encampment.
- The Wick Farm: Walk the gardens and orchard to see a rare surviving example of a pre-Revolutionary New Jersey farm.
- Sugar Loaf Hill: Hike up to the soldier huts to see the “Log-House City” for yourself.
For More Information:
- Morristown National Historical Park (www.nps.gov/morr)
Leave a Reply