Five Generals' Houses of the Middlebrook Catonment

 

 

Somerset County, New Jersey played a crucial role in the outcome of the American Revolution. During the war, George Washington and the Continental Army established two major encampments in the region—the First Middlebrook Encampment in 1777 and the Second Middlebrook Cantonment in 1778–1779. The area’s strategic location and natural defenses made it an ideal base for Washington and his army.

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During the Second Middlebrook Cantonment, General Washington and four of his senior generals established their headquarters in the region’s finest homes. Today these historic sites are known collectively as Somerset County’s Five Generals’ Houses:

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• Wallace House (General George Washington) — Somerville

• Abraham Staats House (General Friedrich Willhelm von Steuben) — South Bound Brook

• Jacobus Vanderveer House (General Henry Knox)— Bedminster

• Philip Van Horne House  (General William ALexander, also known as Lord Stirling) — Bridgewater

• Van Veghten House (Quartermaster Nathanael Greene)— Bridgewater

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Together, these preserved homes highlight Somerset County’s central role in the Revolutionary War and offer visitors a unique window into the leadership and strategy that helped shape the nation.

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Interested in learning more?  Visit Somerset County's website for more information on the Five Generals.

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