The Nathaniel Heard Brigade's re-enactment organizational goal is to promote an understanding of the life and times of the people of the American Revolution specifically, and the 18th century in general. Also, it is their goal to promote research in order to more accurately recreate and represent the various material goods as well as aspects of military and home life during the American Revolution. The Brigade is a member organization of the Brigade of the American Revolution, a national organization of re-enactment units. Currently they have the following military and civilian membership -- two officers – a Captain & Lieutenant, two sergeants, two corporals, 47 men-at-arms, and 36 civilians - including children.

As some historical background, The New Jersey Militia participated in numerous battles and skirmishes during the American War for Independence . Militia of the State, from time to time, required that volunteers be called into service to repel raids, prevent foraging, protect the sea coast, supplement the Continental Army, and perform a variety of duties in territory which was in the area of strife.

In February 1776, the Continental Congress ordered Colonel Nathaniel Heard to take about 500 men of his New Jersey Militia through the Long Island towns of Jamaica , Hempstead , Jericho , and Oyster Bay , to disarm the loyalists. A wide assortment of weapons was confiscated, and the song “Yankee Doodle” was originally composed by the British to ridicule American troops. The British were astonished when the Americans began singing it themselves! As a result of Heard's foray through Long Island , they composed another verse to the song.... "Colonel Heard has come to town in all his pride and glory, and when he dies, he'll go to hell for robbing of the Tory."

On June 14, 1776 , New Jersey was requested to provide 3,300 militia troops for the defense of New York City . They were placed under the command of Continental General Nathaniel Greene and fought the British at Bedford Road in the Battle of Brooklyn in August. While encamped in New York City in late 1776, Colonel Heard was promoted to Brigadier General.  His Brigade was composed of 16 companies of 160 officers and 1,762 enlisted men. They participated in Washington 's evacuation of New York City on September 12, 1776 and were camped in the Kingsbridge area of the Bronx .

Before the battles of Trenton and Princeton , Brigadier General Heard's brigade consisted of 800 officers and men of the following New Jersey Militia regiments: Colonel Phillip Van Cortland's regiment, Colonel David Forman's regiment, Colonel Joseph Phillip's regiment, Colonel Ephraim Martin's regiment, and Colonel Silas Newcomb's regiment. They fought at the Battle of White Plains, NY on October 28,1776 . Ordered to help man the half completed Fort Lee , Heard's Brigade crossed the Hudson sometime after September; and it is not known whether this was before or after the Battle of White Plains. While at Fort Lee , they narrowly escaped being part of the Fort Washington disaster when, as they were preparing to reinforce the garrison, they were called back when it was learned that the Fort was surrounded.

When the NJ Assembly reconvened in February of 1777, Nathaniel Heard was permanently confirmed as Brigadier General in the NJ Militia. Heard's NJ Militia was then in Morristown and Pompton with some of his detachment seeing action at an attack on Paramus NJ and at the Battle of Short Hills on June 26,1777 .

Heard lead his Brigaded militia unit in The Battle of Monmouth on June 28,1778 , and The Battle of Minisink on July 22, 1779 , on the Delaware River (near today's Barryville , NY ). The troops were composed mostly of NY militia, but some NJ militia also participated and also fought in many more smaller actions in New Jersey . In 1780, Heard lead brigaded militia companies at the Battle of Springfield and pursued the enemy to the water's edge at Elizabethtown

In a letter dated June 12,1780 to General Heard from General Washington in the handwriting of Alexander Hamilton, Heard was ordered to remove horses and cattle within five miles of the water from Newark to Amboy and drive them inland to prevent them from falling into the hands of British foraging raids. An account of the number taken was to be kept so the owners would be paid.

Heard's Brigade was part of the rear guard that stayed east of New Bridge Landing until the main army got across the bridge. They were with Washington at Aquackinock ( Passaic ) and retreated with him till New Brunswick . There, along with the other NJ troops, their enlistments expired and they returned home.

Brigadier General Heard served until the end of the war.