In giving an account of this affair we shall first copy a brief statement from Have's Collections the editor of which visited the place in 1842 in search of historical information relating to olden times in old Monmouth:

"In the American Revolution, a rude fort or blockhouse was erected a short distance north of the bridge, at the village of Toms River, on a hill about a hundred yards east of the road to Freehold, on land now belonging to the heirs of Elijah Robbins, deceased. In the latter part of the war, this blockhouse was attacked by a superior force of the enemy. Its commander, Captain Joshua Huddy, most gallantly defended it until his ammunition was expended and no alternative l>u< surrender left. After the brave little garrison was in their power, it is said they deliberately murdered five men asking for quarter. From thence Captain Huddy, Justice Randolph, and the remaining prisoners were taken to New York, where, suffering the various progressions of barbarity inflicted upon those destined to a violent or lingering death, these two gentlemen, with a Mr. Fleming were put into the hold of a vessel. Captain Huddy was ironed hand and foot, and shortly after barbarously hanged on the shore of the Highlands of Navesink."

The tory organ, Rivington's Royal Gazette, of New York, gave the following account of the battle:

"On Wednesday, the 20th inst. (March, 1782,) Lieutenant Blanchard, of the armed whale boats, and about eighty men belonging to them, with Captain Thomas and Lieutenant Roberts, both of the late Bucks County Volunteers, and between thirty and forty other Refugee loyalists, the whole under the command of Lieutenant Blanchard, proceeded to Sandy Hook under the convoy of Captain Stewart Ross, in the armed brig 'Arrogant,' where they were detained by unfavorable winds until the 23d. About 12 o'clock on that night the party landed near the mouth of Toms River and marched to the Block House at the town of Dover (now Toms River), and reached it just at daylight. On their way they were challenged and fired upon, and when they came to the works they found the rebels, consisting of twenty-five or twenty-six twelve months' men and militia, apprized of their coming and prepared for defence.

"The post into which the rebels had thrown themselves was six or seven feet high, made with large logs, with loop-holes between and a number of brass swivels on the top, which was entirely open, nor was there any way of entering but by climbing over. They had, besides swivels, muskets with bayonets and long pikes for their defence. Lieutenant Blanchard summoned them to surrender, which they not only refused, but bid the party defiance; on which he immediately ordered the place to be stormed, which was accordingly done, and though defended with obstinacy, was soon carried. The rebels had nine men killed in the assault, and twelve made prisoners, two of whom are wounded. The rest made their escape in the confusion. Among the killed was a Major of the militia, two Captains and one Lieutenant. The Captain of the twelve months' men stationed there is among the prisoners, who are all brought safe to town. On our side two were killed - Lieutenant Iredell, of the armed boatmen, and Lieutenant Inslee, of the Loyalists, both very brave officers, who distinguished themselves on the attack, and whose loss is much lamented. Lieutenant Roberts and five others are wounded, but it is thought none of them are in a dangerous way.

"The Town, as it is called, consisting of about a dozen houses, in which none but a piratical set of banditti resided, together with a grist and saw-mill, were, with the Block House burned to the ground, and an iron cannon spiked and thrown into the river. A fine large barge (called Hyler's barge,) and another boat in which the rebels used to make their excursions on the coast, were brought off. Some other attempts were intended to have been made, but the appearance of bad weather, and the situation of the wounded, being without either surgeon or medicines, induced the party to return to New York where they arrived on the 25th."

The attack on Toms River was made on Sunday morning, March 24th, 1782. No Tory or Tory sympathizer was tolerated in the village of Toms River, which was the only reason that caused Rivington's Royal Gazette to call its people "banditti."

Upon the approach of the British, the Americans opened fire so effectually that the British account acknowledges that seven were killed or wounded, though the damage inflicted upon them must have been greater. A negro Refugee killed, was left by them outside of the fort for the Americans to bury.

What a terrible day to the inhabitants of Toms River was that memorable Sabbath! Probably not less than a hundred women and children were rendered homeless; the killed and wounded demanded immediate attention; husbands and fathers were carried away captives, their household goods, provisions - their all destroyed. Some families were entirely broken up, the heads killed, mothers and children scattered, never as families meeting again.