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Biography:
Isaac Quigley lived on a farm 2 ½ miles from the drawbridge over Crosswicks Creek which empties into the Delaware River 10 miles below Trenton, New Jersey.
On the morning of the 26th of June 1778, while plowing with oxen for corn, they heard gunfire and saw smoke. He ran to the alarm post near Captain Robert Quigley's (an uncle) and received a written order to warn several other men to appear. Later, on the same day, with his fathers' consent, he enlisted as a volunteer (being but fifteen years of age) Private Soldier in Captain Robert Quigley's Company of militia On the evening of the same day, he started with the Company to march to meet the British Army, then retreating from Philadelphia toward New York. He marched a distance of 24 miles where they arrived before sunrise of the 27th. On the 27th he marched from Blackhorse to Monmouth Court House (in sight of the British) where they encamped for the night and day upon our arrival. Several skirmishes followed before retreating to Gen. Dickerson's Brigade where they were formed for action. He marched in the retreat to Monmouth Court House where they met Gen. Washington and his Army and he witnessed the famous confrontation between Gen. Washington and Gen. Lee. Gen. Washington ordered Lee to form immediately and charge the British with bayonet, which he did quickly, and opened upon them, three pieces of Artillery loaded with grape shot which stopped the enemy and they retreated, over a brook and into the woods.
At the last of October 1778, Capt Robert Quigley's Company was ordered to the Salt works on Toms River on the sea shore, to guard the citizens that were making salt for the Army. About the 10th of April 1779, he was called out in Capt Quigley's Company with the same officers to Amboy where, after three months, his company was dismissed to go home.
About the middle of October 1779, Isaac was called to march with Capt Quigley's Company to Lumberton on the Delaware River to guard the stores of the American Army until they were sent to Gen Washington's Army and about the middle March 1780 the Company was discharged and went home.
At the end of June or first of July 1781, using his father's horses and wagon, he was taking wood and hay to Trenton with many other teams. After about five weeks, he marched with Gen. Washington's Army to Baltimore, Richmond and from there to Yorktown, VA. After he got to Yorktown he was detached to making embankments and was employed every night until the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. Firing ceased about the 19th or 20th of October 1781, and in a few days the Regiment to which he belonged was disbanded and discharged by Col Randal Mitchel without pay or rations and without written discharges.
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