Fighting for Freedom on Raritan Bay by John Schneider Provides a Rarely-Told Story of the Revolutionary War's Struggle on the Waters of New Jersey and New York

KEYPORT, N.J., June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In his new book, acclaimed historian John Schneider revisits a moment when independence was still a fragile idea, and Monmouth County's shores were on the verge of war.

Published by CreateAVision Media, the book tells a rarely—if ever—told story of America's war on the water: the brutal and daring conflict waged across Raritan Bay, New York Harbor, the Atlantic Ocean, the Long Island Sound, and the many associated rivers, creeks, and marshes. This forgotten maritime theater was a crucial front in the struggle for independence—yet most Americans have never heard its full story.

"History didn't just happen on battlefields," Schneider says. "It happened in rowboats, in the dead of night, on wind-swept bays and bloodied beaches. I wrote this book to immerse readers in the emotional struggles of the people who lived it—to make them feel what it meant to risk everything for freedom."

Through vivid storytelling, Schneider captures the imagination of readers and brings them into the minds and hearts of patriots, loyalists, militia leaders, and spies. Readers will discover figures like Joshua Huddy, Colonel Tye, and Nathaniel Scudder, alongside George Washington, General Sir Henry Clinton, and other major players—both celebrated and unknown.

With an innovative blend of narrative history and original research, the book explores covert raids, midnight crossings, British naval blockades, and harrowing escapes across the waterways that divided and defined the colonies.

The Deadliest Place in the American Revolution

One of the most sobering truths revealed in the book is that these same waterways led directly to what became the deadliest place in the American Revolution: the British prison ships anchored in New York Harbor.

More than 11,000 Americans perished in squalid, inhumane conditions — more than twice the number of battlefield deaths in the entire war. Many were captured in or near the very coastal regions in the Tri-State Area, making this story one of both strategic action and tragic consequences.

Schneider includes an extensive addendum featuring:

• A compelling account of how the Declaration of Independence was developed
  
  
• Biographies of "unknown patriots" who played vital roles
  
  
• Maps, rare documents, and firsthand perspectives that ground the narrative in real-life sacrifice and resistance

As a complement to the book, he has also produced a series of historical video segments, available at: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnSchneider1776 

About the Author

John Schneider is a historian, television host, educator, and the founder of CreateAVision Media. He was recently honored as one of Monmouth County's Top 50 Historians of the Last 50 Years for his contributions to preserving and promoting Revolutionary War history in New Jersey.

He has produced hundreds of historical documentaries for his weekly 30-minute television program on Comcast, making history personal and accessible to audiences throughout the region. A former executive with ABC, Mutual Broadcasting, and AT&T, Schneider blends storytelling with scholarship to bring history to life.

His published works include:

• Fighting for Freedom on Raritan Bay
  
  
• A Historical Journey Across Raritan Bay
  
  
• History of Sandy Hook
  
  
• History of Highlands, NJ
  
  
• Embracing Life's Journey

He lives in Keyport, NJ, just steps from the waters that once served as both barrier and battleground in America's earliest fight for liberty.

Availability

Fighting for Freedom on Raritan Bay is available now at https://www.CreateAVisionMedia.com, on Amazon.com, and through select bookstores and historical organizations.

Video content available at https://youtu.be/kpnhFamPLlo?si=uOBlfTxqQAQtYS4q 

SOURCE CreateAVision Media LLC