Revolutionary War 1st New Jersey Regiment Glass Frosted Glass Beer Mug

The 1st New Jersey Regiment was the first organised militia regiment in New Jersey, formed in 1673 in Piscataway. All of New Jersey's regular organised military forces can trace their lineage to this first provincial militia unit. In 1755, the entire contingent of 500 men, known as the 'Jersey Blues', was stationed at the lightly fortified trading village of Oswego, where they constructed the first documented military hospital. By 1757, the Jersey Blues were assigned to Fort William Henry. In July, about 150 were taken as POWs while another 50 died during the battle of Sabbath Day Point. The 100 men who escaped that day returned to William Henry to join the 200 others who remained in garrison. A short few weeks later those 300 were again attacked by Montcalm, an ordeal immortalised in the book and movie "The Last of the Mohicans". Most in the general public have no idea that the New Jersey troops were even present or what they experienced. Importantly, the unit included several Native Americans from the province who experienced harsh consequences following the fort's capitulation. In 1758, the unit repelled a British force at the French Fort Carrilon, and later helped take Fort Frontenac. In 1760, the were part of the final campaign against the French in Canada. On October 9, 1775, the Continental Congress raised the 1st New Jersey Regiment, which was known as part of the famed 'Jersey Blues'. One of the Regiment's first activities was subduing and capturing Tories on Long Island. The Regiment was reorganised in January, 1777, as the 1st New Jersey Regiment, Continental Line, commanded by Matthias Ogden, who became regimental commander with the rank of Colonel, a position he held virtually until the end of the war. The Regiment saw action at the Battles of Valcour Island, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, the Sullivan Expedition, and the Battles of Springfield and Yorktown. The regiment was disbanded on November 3, 1783 at New Windsor, New York.