With the army augmented by reinforcements from Europe, General Howe captured New York City and forced Washington to retreat all the way across New Jersey.

At the end of 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware River and defeated Hessian forces at the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776, and eventually regained control of most of New Jersey.

The constant skirmishing throughout the winter had taken its toll on his troops stationed in New Jersey, and even a major attack on the Continental Army outpost at Bound Brook in April had not been entirely successful.

David Martin calls it "Flat Hills" or "Metuchen Meeting House,"[3] and one British regimental history refers to it by "Westfield".

[9] Washington's intelligence reports indicated that Howe had left behind equipment needed for crossing the Delaware River and was unlikely to be heading for Philadelphia.

[14] After refusing to fall for Howe's trap, Washington followed the retreating British, brought his army down from Middlebrook to Quibbletown, and sent a strong forward detachment under Brigadier General William Alexander also known as "Lord Stirling," to the Scotch Plains area north of New Brunswick, to cover his left flank and to harass the British.

As the two columns moved on roughly parallel paths through the Short Hills area, they came into contact with Stirling's guards, and a running skirmish began, with the Americans firing on the British from the underbrush as they fell back.

[21] The retreating Americans led both of the armies into the Ash Swamp and Scotch Plains areas,[10] where Stirling prepared a defensive position.

[3][22] Because Stirling's resistance may have provided Washington with enough time to manage his withdrawal to more secure ground, the battle is considered a strategic victory for the Americans.

The British, after spending the night at Westfield, returned to their post at Perth Amboy and had completely evacuated New Jersey by June 30.

[16] Colonel Israel Shreve, the commander of the 2nd New Jersey Regiment wrote on July 6, 1777 that Maxwell's Brigade "had 12 killed and about 20 wounded and as many taken prisoners...." He also noted in his journal, "We had between 20 & 30 Wounded... mostly slightly Except 3 or 4...." Two officers are recorded as having been lost in the 2nd New Jersey: Captain Ephraim Anderson was killed and Captain James Lawrie captured.

[26] An area of the battlefield, encompassing about 300 acres (120 ha) in Edison Township, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.