Israel Carle

1757 – 1822

I was a dedicated cavalry officer in the militia.

When the fighting at Lexington and Concord occurred, I was just 18 years old. Two months later, in June 1775, the New Jersey Provincial Congress passed a law requiring that all men between the ages of 16 and 50 sign up with their local militia company. I had grown up around horses on my father’s farm in Trenton Township, I could supply the necessary horse and equipment, so I wanted to volunteer with the cavalry. However, my county of Hunterdon did not have a troop of light horsemen in its militia, so instead I joined a troop in Middlesex County next door.

But I wanted to serve for Hunterdon, and I had confidence and ambition. Luckily, in 1777, a light horse troop was approved for my county, I jumped at the chance to lead it, and I was named captain. Even before my new role was approved, I began recruiting the forty men I would need and giving them their duties. I received my captain’s commission just six days after my 20^th birthday.

My troop served such roles as scouting out the enemy, carrying important messages and information, guarding supply wagons, and foraging cattle and horses while keeping the British from doing the same. We fought at the Battles of Monmouth and Springfield. And we served the duration of the war, and afterwards I served for ten more years, and even got to escort George Washington from Trenton to Rocky Hill as he was headed to his inauguration.

I died in 1822 and I’m buried near other Revolutionary War veterans, in Trenton, just across the road from my family farm.