Farmer Jeremy and Howell Farm historian Larry Kidder tended to the manure pile today. The task requires strong arms and a good pitchfork, but I’ve learned from my own manure spreading days that this is a ritual that frees your mind for conversation -- educational or idle is up to you.
When I strolled by the pile this morning, conversation was of the educational variety. Larry and Jeremy were discussing the famous Battle of Trenton, in which George Washington routed the Hessian garrison and turned the tide of the American Revolution. The simple version of the story we learn in school is that Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas Day night and took the drunk, sleeping Hessians totally by surprise. What Larry had to tell Jeremy was that the true story is more complicated and more interesting too. The Continental Army and American militia had been skirmishing with Hessian patrols in the region for week’s prior, so by no means were the Hessians unaware of the threat. (Although Larry seemed to think the Hessian commander rather inept for not establishing outposts that would have warned of a coming assault.) On the fateful night, it seems that the Hessians had in fact heard rumor of an attack, and then encountered a band of American militia unrelated to Washington’s surprise. Washington was furious when informed, but his anger might have been misplaced. It may be that the Hessians thought this smaller militia was the rumored attack, and let their guard down to the real attack that would soon arrive.
Now, if I muddled any of this retelling, don’t blame Larry! As with all manure pile history recitations, he was speaking from memory and now I’m retelling from memory. But what today’s conversation reminded me is that Howell Farm and the Pleasant Valley is no static place. It is of course the year 2012, and we farm here like it’s the year 1900. But some of our buildings pre-date the American Revolution, and this part of New Jersey was the crossroads of that revolution. Layer upon layer of history has added to the intrigue of this place.
Later I was telling Farmer Rob about all this and he said he heard the Hessians had been bogged down in a huge pile of manure...
When I strolled by the pile this morning, conversation was of the educational variety. Larry and Jeremy were discussing the famous Battle of Trenton, in which George Washington routed the Hessian garrison and turned the tide of the American Revolution. The simple version of the story we learn in school is that Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas Day night and took the drunk, sleeping Hessians totally by surprise. What Larry had to tell Jeremy was that the true story is more complicated and more interesting too. The Continental Army and American militia had been skirmishing with Hessian patrols in the region for week’s prior, so by no means were the Hessians unaware of the threat. (Although Larry seemed to think the Hessian commander rather inept for not establishing outposts that would have warned of a coming assault.) On the fateful night, it seems that the Hessians had in fact heard rumor of an attack, and then encountered a band of American militia unrelated to Washington’s surprise. Washington was furious when informed, but his anger might have been misplaced. It may be that the Hessians thought this smaller militia was the rumored attack, and let their guard down to the real attack that would soon arrive.
Now, if I muddled any of this retelling, don’t blame Larry! As with all manure pile history recitations, he was speaking from memory and now I’m retelling from memory. But what today’s conversation reminded me is that Howell Farm and the Pleasant Valley is no static place. It is of course the year 2012, and we farm here like it’s the year 1900. But some of our buildings pre-date the American Revolution, and this part of New Jersey was the crossroads of that revolution. Layer upon layer of history has added to the intrigue of this place.
Later I was telling Farmer Rob about all this and he said he heard the Hessians had been bogged down in a huge pile of manure...
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