In May 1777, General George Washington moved his army from Morristown to the Watchung Mountains above Bound Brook as the British Army under Sir William Howe reinforced its base at New Brunswick and hoped to draw the Americans into a decisive battle that would end the war. From the rock, Washington had an unobstructed view of British bases in Perth Amboy and New Brunswick, as well as fleet movements in the lower New York Harbor. His objective was to prevent Howe from moving south through New Jersey to attack Philadelphia while remaining in position to flank the British if they moved into the Hudson. Control of the mountains, which served as a natural fort, gave Washington’s army the advantage of setting the terms of potential engagements.
