My family and I made it out to the Annual Battle of Bound Brook Living History Weekend. It’s held each year in South Bound Brook to commemorate the Battle of Bound Brook, which took place on April 13, 1777, during the Revolutionary War. This was our first time attending the event—which lasts all weekend—and also our first visit to the Abraham Staats House. There were multiple events taking place throughout the area over the course of the weekend.
The Abraham Staats House
We arrived at the Abraham Staats House property at about 11 a.m., where several displays were set up across the grounds. We received a guided tour of the house, which was fascinating. The house was originally built in 1740 and sat on approximately 300 acres of land. It remained in the Staats family for almost 200 years. It began as a modest Dutch colonial farmhouse. Over the course of the 1800s, the house was expanded, with additional rooms reflecting the growing prosperity of the family and changing architectural styles. Today, the house preserves much of its original structure, including rooms with original floors dating back to 1740.
The house also played a significant role during the American Revolution, serving as the headquarters of Baron von Steuben, the Prussian drillmaster who helped shape the Continental Army into a more disciplined and effective fighting force, most famously during the winter at Valley Forge in early 1778. Von Steuben stayed at the Staats House during the Middlebrook encampment of 1778–1779 and continued to serve the Continental Army for the remainder of the war.
After our tour, we grabbed lunch from a food truck on the property and then walked down Main Street to where the battle reenactment was scheduled to take place at 1:30 p.m. Before getting into the reenactment, here is some historical context:
The Battle of Boundbrook Reenactment
The Battle of Bound Brook took place on April 13, 1777, and was a surprise British attack on an American outpost stationed along the Raritan River. British and Hessian forces, under the command of General William Howe, marched out of New Brunswick to launch an early morning assault intended to encircle and capture the American garrison. The Americans, led by Major General Benjamin Lincoln, were caught off guard and forced to retreat. Most of the Continental soldiers managed to escape across the river. The Battle of Bound Brook is remembered as part of the larger “Forage War,” a series of raids and skirmishes that defined the struggle for control in New Jersey.
My family and I arrived along Main Street for the reenactment, and it was fascinating to watch from the sidewalk as both sides fired in the middle of the street. You really felt like you were right in the action. The battle moved down Main Street, back in the direction of the Staats House, and continued for about 30 minutes. The crowd followed along the sidewalk as the action progressed. Eventually, the troops returned to the Staats House, where they formed lines and continued firing their muskets. The grounds of the Staats House became a revolutionary encampment. While the battle was taking place, I recorded several videos, so be sure to check out my reels of the reenactment on Instagram and Facebook.
My family and I had a great time. This was our first experience at a historical event in South Bound Brook, and there are many other historic homes in Somerset County that we need to visit—many of which served as headquarters for various generals during the Middlebrook encampment. We were lucky to have beautiful weather, and it made for a great day overall. Be sure to check out the site below for further information:
For videos of the reenactment check out my Instagram and Facebook.
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