The battles of Trenton and Princeton were pivotal in saving the cause for American independence at the end of 1776.
While the battles themselves are known as the Ten Crucial Days, a series of skirmishes south of Trenton in Burlington County helped set the stage for victory. The Rev War Alliance of Burlington County, a nonprofit organization that seeks to interpret and preserve local history, will host the second annual reenactment of the Battle of Petticoat Bridge on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The fighting at Petticoat Bridge on Dec. 22, 1776, between American militia and soldiers of the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment triggered a response from Hessian Col. Count Carl von Donop. The count assembled about 2,000 troops and marched on Mount Holly the following day and remained there for three days, critically out of position to reinforce the garrison at Trenton. Had Col. Donop remained at Bordentown, our history might have been very different on the morning of Dec. 26.
The re-enactment is set to take place at 1871 Jacksonville Jobstown Road in Mansfield. The event is free and open to the public and does not have a rain date. The program includes a full-scale battle reenactment between opposing forces, along with artillery demonstrations and original artifacts on display.
Guest speakers will be a Hessian Jäger discussing tactics and Noah Lewis, who portrays Pennsylvania bombardier Ned Hector. Lewis will give a brief talk on the role of African-American soldiers in the Continental Army.
The site of Petticoat Bridge is threatened with development. The Rev War Alliance of Burlington County has led the charge in raising awareness for preserving part of the property. Reenactments and historical programming help, but public turnout is what makes the difference. Please join us on a farm that existed in 1776 and saw thousands of troops running through its fields during this critical period.
