The Trent House Association presents the third annual re-enactment of the days in late August/early September 1781 when thousands of soldiers and support personnel camped in and around Trenton. In June 1781 the Continental Army under General Washington and the allied French Army under General Rochambeau began their march south from New York and Rhode Island, with the aim of laying siege to the British garrison in New York City. But by the time the two armies converged in Princeton in August 1781, plans had changed, and the goal became the defeat of British General Cornwallis in Virginia. This required that the armies cross Delaware River. The armies continued south to Trenton and set up an encampment there as they prepared to transport artillery by ferry and organized the bulk of the army and equipment for fording.

On Saturday, August 26, 2023, the Trent House Museum will host an all-day program commemorating this 1781 encampment in Trenton. The program includes re-enactors of the French Le Regiment Bourbonnais, the “Black Regiment” – the 1st Rhode Island Continental Regiment, and the Continental Lamb’s Artillery Regiment. Townspeople – the local schoolmaster, town blacksmith, doctor, and others – will also be represented. Adults and children can watch the soldiers set up camp and drill to maintain battle readiness and visit the townspeople in the marketplace on the grounds. Dr. Robert Selig, historian of the Washington-Rochambeau campaign, will give informal talks in the Visitor Center at 11 am and 3 pm on August 26th on how this major military operation was planned and executed.

For more information go to http://williamtrenthouse.org/upcoming-events