Caleb Caleb Carman of Bordentown, who figured so conspicuously in revolutionary history in what was known as "The Battle of the Kegs," and which was made the subject of the very humorous and popular ballad written by Hon. Frances Hopkinson of Bordentown, one of the signers of the "Declaration of Independence."(*)

The idea of the kegs was first conceived by Mr. Carman and they were manufactured in the cooper shop of Col. Joseph Borden, which was located just in the rear of Mr. Hopkinson's mansion. Mr. Carman called to his assistance Joseph Plowman, a pin maker, and a gunsmith named Jackaway and they constructed a spring lock, which they attached to the kegs in such a manner that if they came in contact with an object and rubbed against it the keg would explode. The kegs were fastened together with ropes, two by two, so that if they struck the bow or stern of a vessel they would swing around on each side and blow a hole through it. Everything being in readiness, the kegs were filled with powder, and the fleet [of kegs] which was destined to spread such terror and consternation among the British sailors at Philadelphia was launched in the Delaware just below the present outlet lock of the Delaware and Raritan canal.

The kegs were submerged, but the buoys which floated them were visible, making it the strangest war fleet ever heard of in the annals of naval warfare. Caleb Carman, who is referred to in history as "one of the patriots who never tired of serving his country," volunteered to undertake the hazardous task of piloting them down the river to Philadelphia, were the British war vessels lay in the middle of the stream opposite the city. He started on the evening of January 6, 1778, and cut loose from them about daylight the next morning just above the city. It so happened that the vessels which had laid out in the middle of the river for several weeks had been ordered into the docks the day before, to avoid the effects of the ice which was soon expected to form, and the kegs floated by the city without doing any damage except to destroy a small barge, killing four sailors and wounding a few others. This unexpected explosion caused the greatest consternation among the British sailors and alarm guns were fired immediately, which brought out not only the British soldiers, but a throng of people who stationed themselves on the tops of the houses in order to witness a novel battle with an invisible foe.

The wharves were lined with soldiers who were under orders to open fire on every chip or stick they saw afloat, and this singular battle continued at intervals until darkness brought it to a close. The inventors of the "formidable engines," which were constructed for the purpose of destroying the whole British fleet, were greatly chagrined and disappointed that their fleet had come so far short of fulfilling their expectations, but they were entitled to the gratitude of all the patriots of the country, on both sides of the river below Bordentown, as they had made the attempt with the laudable purpose of clearing the river of the British war vessels, which had, for several months, been a constant source of terror to the inhabitants along the river front. The famous "Battle of the Kegs" is given a place in history as one of the notable events of that very eventful period, and served to immortalize the inventors, if they were not as effective as our modern torpedoes.  (*)A portion of this old ballad which was set to the tune Yankee Doodle, and sung by the revolutionary soldiers and the patriots of that period, is to be found in "Barber's Historical Collections of New Jersey," page 102. + See Evarts and Peck History of Burlington County, page 463.

The Battle of the Kegs

Francis Hopkinson, 1778.

( read to the beat of " Yankee Doodle Dandy" )

Gallants, attend, and hear a friend

Trill forth harmonious ditty.

Strange things I'll tell, which late befell

In Philadelphia city.

'Twas early day, as poets say,

Just when the sun was rising.

'A soldier stood on a log of wood

And saw a thing surprising.

As in amaze he stood to gaze.

The truth can't be denied, sir

He spied a score of kegs or more

Come floating down the tide, sir.

A sailor, too, in jerkin blue,

This strange appearance viewing,

First damned his eyes, in great surprise,

Then said, "Some mischief's brewing.

"These kegs, I'm told, the rebels hold,

Packed up like pickled herring,

And they're come down t'attack the town

In this new way of ferrying."

The soldier flew, the sailor too,

And scared almost to death, sir,

Wore out their shoes to spread the news,

And ran till out of breath, sir....

Sir William, he, snug as a flea,

Lay all this time a-snoring;

Nor dreamed of harm, as he lay

In bed with Mrs. [Loring].

Now in a fright, he starts upright,

Awaked by such a clatter;

He rubs his eyes and boldly cries,

"For God's sake, what's the matter?"

At his bedside, he then espied

Sir Erskine at command, sir;

Upon one foot he had one boot,

And tither in his hand, sir.

"Arise! arise!" Sir Erskine cries.

"The rebels more's the pity

Without a boat are all afloat

And ranged before the city.

"The motley crew, in vessels new,

With Satan for their guide, sir,

Packed up in bags, or wooden kegs,

Come driving down the tide, sir.

"Therefore prepare for bloody war;

These kegs must all be routed,

Or surely we despised shall be,

And British courage doubted."

The royal band now ready stand,

All ranged in dread array, sir,

With stomach stout, to see it out

And make a bloody day, sir.

The cannons roar from shore to shore,

The small arms make a rattle;

Since wars began, I'm sure no man

Ere saw so strange a battle....

The kegs, 'tis said, though strongly made

Of rebel staves and hoops, sir,

Could not oppose their powerful foes,

The conquering British troops, sir.

From morn till night, these men of might

Displayed amazing courage;

And when the sun was fairly down,

Retired to sup their porridge.

An hundred men, with each a pen,

Or more, upon my word, sir,

It is most true would be too few

Their valor to record, sir.

Such feats did they perform that day

Against those wicked kegs, sir,

That years to come, if they get home,

They'll make their boasts and brags, sir.