Feb 2004 - Revolutionary Kidneys
"One cold, dark, wintry night towards the close of the war, a [...] small party of dauntless fellows figures in an incident which illustrates the mettle and dash of the Jerseymen of '76. The ground was covered with a deep snow. Captain JOHN KIDNEY [Johannes, son of Jacobus, son of John/Jan], Captain Henry Joralemon, Jacob Garland, and Halmach Joralemon started from their homes in Bloomfield (then within the town limits of Newark) in search of adventure. A pair of swift steeds and an ordinary wood sled soon brought them into the neighborhood of Bergen Heights. Here, at the time, was stationed a British garrison. On the night in question, it happened that the officers and men of the garrison were enjoying themselves in a dancing and drinking frolic. Having dismounted from their sled, and tied the horses to a fence, the adventurous Bloomfield spirits proceeded to reconnoitre and discovered the state of affairs with the garrison. Each of the four was fully approached the schoolhouse, where were gathered the Royalist roysterers. [...] Kidney and his companions suddenly made all the noise possible. Orders were given by the Captain in a loud voice, as though he was maneuvering a large force. He then sprang to the door, forced it open, and cried out to the surprised and terror-stricken soldiers within 'Every one of you are my prisoners; surrender or you die!' Kidney's associates were behind him, so arranged with bristling bayonets that those inside could not tell but that a whole regiment was outside. Kidney ordered the red-coats to fall in line and pass out one by one. He picked out an officer first, then a refugee, and had them muffled and hurried to the sled, warning all that 'the first one who attempted to escape was a dead man.' The Captain and his daring companions next made a dash for the sled, started off at the swiftest pace, and baffled the pursuit which promptly followed. The prisoners were secured in the Morristown jail. The chagrin of the captives and the garrison on discovering how they had been so cleverly outwitted may readily be imagined."