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If you’re from NJ, you might enjoy this: ~~~~~~ British invasion! Today is the 249th anniversary of the British invasion of Bergen County where 5,000 British forces scaled the Palisades to capture Fort Lee. Bolstered by the victories of driving Washington’s Army from Brooklyn and Manhattan, British General William Howe set his sights on capturing the Fort Lee. British General Charles Lord Cornwallis directed the invasion force across the Hudson to a river landing in what is today southern Alpine (at what was then known as Lower Closter Landing). The troops then began to scale a very steep primitive path up the cliff face. On the Patriot side Lieutenant John Clifford from Hunterdon County, who was likely stationed in what is today’s Englewood Cliffs was standing guard over the river with his detachment. Seeing the invasion force, he rode along the top of the cliffs to alert the garrison at Fort Lee of the impending attack. A rider sent for Washington, who was staying in Hackensack. Washington then led a quick retreat from Fort Lee. At Liberty Pole in Englewood Washington split his forces to secure the river crossings along the Hackensack River. The main body of his forces from the fort crossed at New Bridge (the home of the Steuben House). They then diss-assembled the drawbridge at New Bridge – leaving the British on the east side. Cornwallis traveling heavily, moved at a slower pace. After reaching the top of the cliffs, his army traveled down what would be called Huyler’s Landing Road (today East Madison Avenue) into today’s Cresskill. The invaders traveled south on County Road through today’s Tenafly. Reaching Liberty Pole, one hour after Washington was there, Cornwallis proceeded to capture the now empty fort. Holding the fort would keep Washinton’s artillery from shooting at British ships in the Hudson. Yes, “These are times that try men’s souls,” as Thomas Paine was inspired to later write as he stood with Washington watching the bedraggled troops cross the Hackensack. Washington escaped across New Jersey into Pennsylvania, and then had his famous Christmas crossing the Delaware - and victory at Trenton. And so, the rest is history, as they say – but the history you just read has been messed up over the years in Bergen County. And as they say – “Never let the facts get in the way of a good story!” And for your entertainment (and enlightenment) here are two of the “versions,” of the events remembered today. Despite the fact there is an abundance of documented history, these undocumented tales have persisted. First is a yarn originally published by the ‘Newark Evening News’ in 1923. In this fable, a young Closter girl named Polly Wyckoff saw the British army passing by on November 19, 1776. She first finished eating her porridge, and then – like Paul Revere – alerted the countryside. The facts: ■ Not a single record shows a Wyckoff family living in Bergen County during the Revolution. ■ The first Polly Wyckoff wasn’t born until 1792 (in Somerset County). ■ The British marched through today’s Alpine and Cresskill (not Closter) to capture Fort Lee. ■ That invasion did not take place on November 19, but rather November 20, 1776. This fictional character is the namesake of a local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. (You would think they would want to get history right!) Then there is the Closter Horseman, a story invented in the 1950s. According to the fable, on the morning of November 20, 1776, an unnamed farmer from the Borough of Closter was in northern Alpine. He saw the British ascending the cliffs from the Upper Closter Dock, and he rode through the town, and then down to Fort Lee – as Bergen County’s Paul Revere. The British then marched down what is today Closter Dock Road, through town, and then to Fort Lee. The facts: ■ In November 1776, Closter wasn’t a borough, but rather a region that extended as far south as Englewood. ■ No historical records show that the man who alerted Fort Lee was from today’s Closter. ■ None of the old Closter families have ever claimed that it was their ancestor who was the local hero. ■ Documents, maps, and even a painting (created by one of the British officers present) show that the British landed at Lower Closter (today’s southern Alpine). ■ The British marched down into today’s Cresskill and then went south to Fort Lee (the highways on the Palisades, of course, did not yet exist). ■ Documents from the National Archives show that Lieutenant John Clifford of Heard’s Brigade of New Jersey State Troops (who was from Hunterdon County) rode from his post along the Palisades, near Englewood Cliffs, to alert the garrison at Fort Lee. So yes, technically, there was a horseman. And the area was generally known as Closter. But the rider was from outside the area, and his ride went through today’s Englewood Cliffs to Fort Lee – six miles from today’s Closter. – Tim Adriance (And by the way, the photo is of reenactors as there were no cameras in 1776 – but there is a painting! https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/historic/steuben/steuben-bridge.htm And thank you to Todd Braisted for discovering the documentation concerning Lieutenant John Clifford.)