A Tale Of Two Wars: Craig House

By Joseph Bordonaro · Originally published November 2016 · p. 24

Members of the 142nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Co. G, relaxing in their camp.

John Craig, Jr., inherited a farmhouse in 1758 that his grandfather, John Craig, Sr. had built on land that is now part of Monmouth Battlefield in New Jersey. He added an addition to the house in 1770. On June 28, 1778, about 10,000 British soldiers fought a battle against approximately 14,000 American soldiers in General George Washington’s Continental Army. The battle encompassed the Craig Farm, but John was away himself fighting with the local militia. His wife Ann fled the home with her three children. The battle was fought in up to 100 degrees heat, and afterward the British retreated. The Craig House somehow survived. Flash forward 83 years and the Craig House again found itself (Joe Bordonaro)

involved in military affairs. This time, the house was in use by an Army quartermaster who was using it as a headquarters. Monmouth Battlefield had been selected for use as a training facility, known as “Camp Vredenburgh,” for citizens of New Jersey who had volunteered to serve in a number of regiments that New Jersey raised and sent to the Union Army. The story of this usage can be found on the DVD “Called to Duty.” Recently, on May 21-22, a group of reenactors brought the Civil War history to life by setting up a facsimile of Camp Vredenburgh. Visitors to Monmouth Battlefield were intrigued to learn about the Civil War history of the famous Revolutionary War battlefield, and some of them were even “recruited” into the army! And so, the historic house that was involved in not one, but two of our nation’s wars still survives. Its long-term survival is at risk, however, due to a lack of funding. Hopefully, this will change in the future. You can help by visiting the park and making a donation, or by writing to your local member of Congress and requesting that funding be provided to at least stabilize the Craig House before it is too late.

John St. Pierre, a musician with the 3rd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, standing in front of the Craig House. (Joe Bordonaro)