Ambush of Geary

Ambush of Geary:US-NJ
Ambush of Geary
	Part of the American Revolutionary War
	; Cornet Francis Geary memorial site
Date	14 December 1776
Location	Amwell Township, New Jersey (now Raritan Township, New Jersey)40°27′25″N 74°51′34″W / 40.45694°N 74.85944°W
Result	American victory
Belligerents
16th (Queen's) Light Dragoons	Local Patriot militia
Commanders and leaders
Cornet Francis Geary †	Captain John Schenck
Strength
8	8
Casualties and losses
One killed	None
	Ambush site class=notpageimage\| Location within Hunterdon County, New Jersey Ambush site Ambush site (New Jersey) Ambush site Ambush site (the United States)

The Ambush of Geary, also known as the Amwell Skirmish, was a skirmish of the American Revolutionary War fought on 14 December 1776 in Amwell Township of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Cornet Francis Geary, the leader of a company of dragoons, was shot in an ambush set up by local militiamen led by Captain John Schenck.

After British forces captured New York City in the first part of the New York and New Jersey campaign, they established outposts throughout central New Jersey. Geary, the son of Admiral Sir Francis Geary, was operating from a station at Pennington when he was killed in the ambush. His body was concealed and later buried in a shallow grave, preventing its recovery by British troops. In the 19th century local historical interest led to the confirmation of his grave's location, and the establishment of markers at the site and in England.

Making a casualty of Geary was one of a number of militia actions that resulted in a reduced scope of British reconnaissance, contributing to the eventual success of George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River and victory at the Battle of Trenton.