On December 27, 1782, Captain Richard Shreve of Burlington County Light Horse and Captain Edward Thomas of the Mansfield militia stopped with their men at a nearby tavern while searching for the notorious Captain John Bacon, whose band of Loyalists had committed many atrocities, including the massacre of Patriot Captain Andrew Steelman and his militiamen at Barnegat Light. Bacon and his men then surprised the Burlington militia and blocked their escape, but as the militia gained the advantage, a party of locals unexpectedly fired on the Patriots to aid Bacon and create a diversion that allowed him to escape. One Patriot was killed and four were wounded, while four Loyalists were also wounded, including Bacon.
