The 250th anniversary of America is just under a week away, and Rutgers, being one of the few colleges established before the revolution, has a lot of historical connections to the event that you might not know about. Situated between the major cities of Philadelphia and New York, New Jersey is known as the crossroads of the American Revolution, with Rutgers being situated on one of the major corridors between the two cities. So let’s go back in time and talk about Rutgers and its connection to the American Revolution.
First of all, Rutgers got its name from a Revolutionary War hero who donated a significant amount of money (and a Bell) to help save the college when it was struggling in the early 1800’s. Colonel Henry Rutgers saw combat early on in the Revolutionary War, serving as a lieutenant in the Continental Army during the Battle of White Plains, before moving on to administrative roles later on, such as Deputy Muster Master and later Deputy Commissary General of Musters for the Continental Army.
According to an article on the university’s website titled “Rutgers History, Revolutionary History,” Kirkpatrick Chapel on the College Avenue Campus was the site where, on December 1, 1776, Alexander Hamilton commanded his troops to fire on British soldiers across the Raritan River, which allowed George Washington’s Army to escape. That opening would eventually lead to Washington famously crossing the Delaware River later that month.
In addition, several Rutgers alumni played a significant role during the Revolutionary War. Simeon DeWitt served as Washington’s geographer during the Revolutionary War and played a major role in the victory at Yorktown. It was also noted that several unnamed Rutgers graduates served in the Continental Army during the time that classes were suspended for the war.
If there is anything that I missed or any interesting facts that tie Rutgers to the Revolutionary War, feel free to discuss in the comments below!
