This Day in History: December 7

Sir: As the Convention Troops will have passed above you by the time this reaches you, the object of your Station at the Clove will have been effected. You will therefore be pleased to move down to Paramus with the Carolina Brigade and quarter your Men in as compact a manner as the situation of the Buildings will permit. You shall, upon my arrival at Middle Brook receive more particular instructions. I would recommend it to you, as soon as you have taken post, to make yourself acquainted with the Roads leading to the North River and have pickets established upon them at proper distances from you. You are in no danger from any other quarter. Should the Enemy move up the River in any considerable force, you are immediately to fall back to your former position at Sufferan's and send your Baggage to Pompton. Colo. Morgan furnished Mr. Erskine at Ringwood Iron Works with a guard of a serjeant and be pleased to send the like number to releive them. They are to remain there during the Winter, as Mr. Erskine will be compleating some valuable surveys for the public. [More]

Also on this day in 1941, my father turned 21. What a birthday present he received. He spent the next several years in the Pacific with the Marines, including on Guam.