Soldier Hill – Lafayette Encampment

This historical marker is situated at bottom of Soldier Hill Road at the intersection with Kinderkamack Road in Oradell.

It signifies the location of The Marquis de Lafayette’s Headquarters and site of the encampment of his troops when the Continental Army camped under the command of General George Washington along the Kinderkamack in September 1780.

At that time the entire army was camped from New Bridge Landing north to Soldier Hill Road with two purposes: to watch British forces in New York City and to await the expected arrival of the French Army under General Rochambeau. The encampment lasted from September 4 to September 20.

Only other reminder of this important encampment which would lead to the Yorktown Campaign and the end of the war is the statue of General Enoch Poor across from the Courthouse. General Poor died of disease during the encampment and his funeral held in the nearby cemetery brought together all the key Continental Army luminaries including General Washington.