First Battle of Trenton (full version); Reenactment

Every year around Christmas the city of Trenton, New Jersey reenacts several key battles from the American Revolutionary War. This 10 minute clip is part of the reenactment of the FIRST Battle of Trenton (December 26, 1776) that took place a few days after General Washington crossed the Delaware River with his troops on Christmas Eve.

The reenactment starts with cannon fire at the Battle Monument in North Trenton (out of sight of the camera). Washington's Continental Army is marching into the city out of the North (right to left on the street in front of me). The British redcoats and Hessian mercenaries are being pushed back towards Front Street and eventually into Mill Hill Park.

Because the sound of drums can carry much further that people yelling, that was how military commanders communicated with their men. In this clip the soldiers are marching in formation to the beating of drums. They form skirmish lines and fire muskets at each other. Cannons are wheeled inbetween the lines of the Continentals and when its their turn, they also fire at the Redcoats/Hessians.

I was at the corner of Warren and Perry when the Continentals fired a cannon right in front of me. This video does not do the cannon justice. The cannon was only about 25 feet to my front. When it went off...that thing was LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Battle ends in Mill Hill Park with the Redcoats/Hessians backed up against the Assumpink Bridge. At the Park you can hear a guide narrating the action as it is happening.

The clip ends with a mess call at the Masonic Temple, where the reenactors were treated to a luncheon.

Video taken December 2008.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• reenactment
• first
• battle
• trenton
• american
• revolutionary
• war
• continentals
• british
• redcoats
• hessian
• mercenaries
• hessians
• general
• george
• washington
• delaware
• river
• christmas
• new
• jersey

[XxGREATxBRITAINxX]

No one is actuall droping to the floor after the volley's >_> ....

[SCZim]

LOL - very true. Somewhere in the video (I think its in the park) you can hear remarks stating the same thing.

[USMarineRifleman0311]

wait a minute.....I dont remember those traffic lights being there in 1776

[planetrockford]

Great, really great.

[lulubell322]

were you guy's alive during the war of trenton and if you were that is really cool!!! is it the real thing or just a reanactment?? *shelby*

[generalalex6]

Two reasons why no one fell.

1. Not enough hessian/British Reenactors.

2. Not enough casualties for the patriots.

and if anyone is interested go to a reenactment find the camp of the side you want to join and go find a Reenactor ask him how you join he will probably take you to the commander of the unit and he'll help you out.

Reenacting is extremely fun and if you have the resources and the interest I would highly advise you participate.

[thestarsandbars]

i think i see general washingtons command car!