MUTINY IN THE NEW JERSEY LINE AT POMPTON

Mutiny in the New Jersey Line at Pompton

In the bitter winter of the Revolutionary War, soldiers of the New Jersey Line encamped near Pompton reached the breaking point over unpaid wages, expiring enlistments, and miserable living conditions. Inspired in part by the recent and much larger mutiny in the Pennsylvania Line, the New Jersey troops turned on their officers and marched to demand redress. Their grievances reflected the broader strain on the Continental Army, which struggled to keep men fed, clothed, and paid while the war dragged on. This time, however, George Washington chose a far harder response, ordering loyal troops to surround the mutineers and force their surrender. A few ringleaders were tried and executed as an example. The episode underscored how fragile the army’s cohesion had become, yet it also showed Washington’s determination to reassert discipline before the revolution unraveled.