Importance and Significance of Middlebrook: The Middlebrook location hosted two major encampments for General George Washington's Continental Army in the early summer of 1777 and the winter of 1778-1779. The strategic location of the encampments played a crucial role in the Middle Atlantic campaigns.
Key Encampment Periods:  1st Middlebrook Encampment: In the spring of 1777, General Washington's Continental Army relocated to Middlebrook, where they adopted the famous Fabian strategy of ‘restraint and evasion’, leading to the British withdrawal from New Jersey.  2nd Middlebrook Encampment: During the winter of 1778-1779, the American Army matured into a cohesive fighting force. At least seven brigades of infantry, including troops of Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, camped at Middlebrook. Washington and his generals such as Alexander Hamilton planned the massive Sullivan-Clinton Campaign against the Iroquois Nations at this time. 
Strategic Location: The Middlebrook encampment's ‘centralized’ location allowed the Continental Army to move in any direction to protect the state, threaten British-held areas, and reinforce vital locations like the Hudson Highlands.
First Training and Development: Before West Point NY, Middlebrook was home to the Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment, America’s first military training academy for officers and surgeons.
Refinement of Washington’s Famous Strategy: Middlebrook was a key component of General Washington's ‘Fabian strategy’, allowing him to monitor the enemy while avoiding direct engagement, thus neutralizing a numerically superior opponent. The Fabian strategy goes back to Roman times where direct confrontation with the enemy is generally avoided in favor of wearing down an opponent through a war of attrition and indirection.
Hopkinson Flag – Francis Hopkinson one of the five New Jersey signers of the Declaration of Independence is recognized as key designer of the Flag of the United States, and the journals of the Continental Congress support this. This flag is flown at the Washington Camp Ground.
Modern-Day Middlebrook: Today, much of the encampment terrain lies under highways and residential areas. Parts are managed by the Somerset County Park System and the Washington Camp Ground Association. Some tracts remain accessible such as the Washington Camp Ground located on Middlebrook Road, Bridgewater Twp NJ. 
Archeological Studies: Archeological studies have revealed much about the activities at Middlebrook validating documented accounts and dispelling misinformation about the Continental Army in 1778-1779.
Annual Commemoration: The Washington Camp Ground Association commemorates the encampment every year with an annual July 4th ceremony for the local residents, maintaining the historical significance of the site. This ceremony has been going on since 1893.
Recognition: The Middlebrook Encampment has not been widely recognized or promoted as a significant historical site, despite its importance during the Revolutionary War. The WCGA will always continue its mission to promote the historically important encampment site.
Research and Documentation: Efforts to uncover and document the history of Middlebrook have been limited, but recent archaeological studies have provided valuable insights. The WCGA continues in its mission to further research and explore for any new discoveries.
Key Facts About Middlebrook
