Baylor Massacre
Occurring within thirty miles of New York City and due west of the Hudson River in present-day River Vale, the Baylor Massacre was the result of an unprepared American scouting party led by Colonel George Baylor and a stealth British foraging party led by Gen. Sir Charles Grey. The year 1778 was a busy one for the Mid-Atlantic States. With the British reeling from its loss at Saratoga the prior September, General Sir Henry Clinton’s orders were to maintain their stronghold of New York City and focus efforts on the middle and southern states with their light defense. Thus ensued the 1777 battles of Brandywine and Germantown and the June 1778 Battle of Monmouth; all British victories. General George Washington was stationed at White Plains, New York after Monmouth, waiting for a northern attack from the British that never happened.
Both American and British troops were in Bergen County during this time with a strong British foraging party pushing American troops and simultaneously scavenging for food and supplies. Colonel Baylor’s 3rd Light Dragoons were given assignment to scout and harass the British, nearly 5000 of whom landed at Paulus Hook (Jersey City) on September 24th 1778. On September 27, Baylor’s 3rd Dragoons were quartered in Haring Town, today River Rale, between American troops in Rockland County and British foraging troops quickly gaining ground in Bergen County. Between 100 and 116 officers and enlisted men were billeted in homes and barns.
British Major General Grey, while at New Bridge, heard of Baylor’s men being within miles of their camp and was ordered to execute a surprise attack. Grey was versed in surprise attacks, as his nickname of “No Flint” implies. A similar attack at the Battle of Paoli a year prior had his men go in with bayonets only and not fire a single shot. Upon arrival in the middle of the night on September 28, Col. Baylor’s sentries were easily overpowered and bayoneted. The massacre had begun. The barns and homes where Baylor’s men were quartered were silently surrounded and many bayoneted before any of the Americans knew what was going on. Those who realized tried to defend themselves without effect. Colonel Baylor, along with three other officers, attempted to climb out of a chimney. The attempt was in vain.
At least 69 of Baylor’s dragoons were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. Several who escaped were wounded and left for dead. There was 1 British casualty.
In 1967, the remains of six soldiers in three abandoned tanning vats were discovered in the Hackensack River. Upon close inspection of clothing remnants it was determined that these were American soldiers who were killed during the September 1778 massacre. The Baylor Massacre Burial Site officially became a Bergen County Park in October 1972 and the remains were reinterred within the park.