The Battle of Short Hills (also known as the Battle of Metuchen Meetinghouse and other names) is a conflict between a Continental Army force commanded by Brigadier General William Alexander ("Lord Stirling"), and an opposing British force commanded by Lieutenant General William Howe.
The battle takes place on June 26, 1777, at Scotch Plains and Metuchen, New Jersey, during the American Revolutionary War. Despite the name, no fighting occurs in modern-day Short Hills, a section of Millburn.
In mid-June General Howe marches most of his army into central New Jersey in an attempt to lure George Washington's Continental Army to a place where it might be better attacked than its defensive position in the Watchung Mountains.
When Washington refuses to abandon his position Howe returns to Amboy on June 22.
Washington's forward divisions, including that of Lord Stirling, shadow this British movement, and Washington moves his main army out of the hills.
Howe seizes this opportunity, and on June 26 marches two columns of troops out in an attempt to cut Washington off from the high ground.
These troops skirmish with Lord Stirling's troops, and eventually engage in a pitched battle in Scotch Plains.
Stirling's outnumbered force retreats, but Washington, alerted to the British movement, had by now retreated back into the hills.
