Marker Logo
THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Union in Union County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
 

Colonel Elias Dayton

 
 
British Invasion Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 5, 2008
1. British Invasion Marker
This is one of a series of markers in Union, NJ telling the story of the British Invasion of 1780.
Inscription. American Colonel Elias Dayton ordered a 4 pound cannon to fire east on Morris Ave. at the advancing enemy. The British were driven back and retreated during the evening of June 7, 1780.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical date for this entry is June 7, 1962.
 
Location. 40° 42.465′ N, 74° 18.087′ W. Marker is in Union, New Jersey, in Union County. It is on Morris Avenue (County Route 82), on the right when traveling west. Marker is just east of the bridge over the Rahway River on the Union - Springfield border. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Union NJ 07083, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New Jersey’s North Jersey, in Greater Newark, and in the New York City Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At
Paid Advertisement
Click or scan to see
this page online
least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: To the memory of Colonel Israel Angell (within shouting distance of this marker); The Jersey Militia and Continental Army (within shouting distance of this marker); The Cannonball House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Battle of Springfield (approx. 0.3 miles away); Colonial Church (approx. half a mile away); Springfield (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named The Battle of Springfield (approx. half a mile away); Patriots who fell at Springfield (approx. 0.6 miles away).
 
Also see . . .  The Battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield. (Submitted on April 7, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
 
Marker at the Rahway River Bridge image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 5, 2008
2. Marker at the Rahway River Bridge
The Americans met the British / Hessian army at this bridge prior to the Battle of Springfield. After finally being defeated on June 23, 1780, the British retreated back across this bridge. The photo looks towards Springfield.
Springfield Presbyterian Church image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 5, 2008
3. Springfield Presbyterian Church
The Battle of Springfield took place around this church on June 23, 1780. The British were defeated, but they burned most of the town, including the church, before retreating.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on November 18, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,593 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on April 7, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
m=6950

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisement
Jul. 14, 2026