Bill Text: NJ SR125 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Supports preserving Princeton Battlefield and honors those who fought and died there.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-06-29 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [SR125 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-SR125-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Supports preserving Princeton Battlefield and honors those who fought and died there.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution in support of preserving the Princeton Battlefield and honoring those who fought and died there.
Whereas, New Jersey played a critical role in the Revolutionary War, as more engagements were fought in New Jersey than in any other state; and
Whereas, At the battles of Trenton and Princeton, which are among the most important in American history, George Washington won his first victories over the British and gave new life to the nascent American Republic's fight for independence; and
Whereas, On the night of December 25, 1776, Washington and his commanders crossed the ice-choked Delaware River with 2,400 troops, 18 cannon, and between 50 and 75 horses in the midst of sleet, freezing rain, and flood-like conditions; and
Whereas, In the early morning on December 26, Washington and his troops marched to Trenton, attacked the garrison there, and captured approximately 900 Hessian soldiers; and
Whereas, Washington's victory at Princeton, his first against British regulars, was achieved by maneuvering his army around the flank of a superior British force on an all-night march and attacking the rear of the British army at Princeton; and
Whereas, In the Battle of Princeton, his second pitched battle in two days, Washington rallied two routed brigades, faced a British musket volley at point blank range, and led his men in a counterattack that broke the British line; and
Whereas, Many of the battlefields where the Revolution was fought in New Jersey have been lost to development; with them we lose the memory of what our forefathers wrought on the fields of battle in New Jersey; and
Whereas, The area at the very heart of the Princeton Battlefield, where Washington launched his counterattack and struck the British line, is threatened by further development; and
Whereas, As a result, the Princeton Battlefield has been designated by the National Park Service as a Level 1 priority battlefield site in recognition of the imminent threat posed to the Battlefield and the importance of the battle in American history; and
Whereas, The Princeton Battlefield has been designated as a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior and studies suggest the adjoining land, which includes a proposed development site, contains important clues that could assist in understanding the battle fought at Princeton; and
Whereas, The Princeton Battlefield was named by Preservation New Jersey as one of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2009 due to the ongoing threat of a housing development; and
Whereas, The largely unaltered natural landscape where the counterattack took place is critical to understanding the progression of the battle; and
Whereas, The Princeton Battlefield could and should be a heritage tourism center and gateway, where people from all over the nation can learn the inspiring story of this battle that turned the tide of the American Revolution and the important role New Jersey played in winning our nation's independence; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. In recognition of the importance of the Princeton Battlefield to the history of this nation, its importance to the people of the State of New Jersey, the significant role New Jersey played in America's victory in the Revolutionary War, and to honor those who fought and died there, the Senate of New Jersey hereby calls upon all political entities in the State and owners of the lands upon which the battle was fought to do all in their power to preserve the hallowed ground of the Battlefield and to stop further loss of our historic heritage.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested to by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the Governor, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the Mayor of Princeton Borough, the Mayor of Princeton Township, and the Princeton Battlefield Society.
STATEMENT
This resolution would seek to preserve the Princeton Battlefield, a key battleground in the early years of the Revolutionary War, when George Washington led American forces to an important victory over the Hessian and British garrisons at Trenton and Princeton.
The site of the Princeton Battlefield has been designated a National Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the adjacent area may contain important clues that could deepen our understanding of the battle fought at Princeton. Unfortunately, like many Revolutionary War battlefields located in New Jersey, the Princeton Battlefield is threatened by ongoing development.
To preserve the Princeton Battlefield, honor those who fought there, recognize the importance of the Trenton-Princeton campaign in turning the tide of the Revolution, and pay tribute to the significant role New Jersey played in the American victory in the Revolutionary War, this resolution urges all political entities in the State and owners of the lands upon which the battle was fought to do all in their power to preserve the hallowed ground of the Battlefield and to stop further loss of our historic heritage.
