Princeton NJ Family Events Calendar

Historical Re-enactment, Trent House Association

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Saturday August 27, 2022
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

The Trent House Association presents a free all-day re-enactment of the days at the end of August and beginning of September 1781 when troops of General Washington and French ally General Rochambeau camped in Trenton on the march to Yorktown and victory over the British. This free event takes place on the grounds of the William Trent House Museum from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, August 27, 2022.

Soldiers of Le Régiment Bourbonnais will erect tents on site and will relive camp life including cooking over a fire pit. Members of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment will recount stories of African American soldiers who formed about one-quarter of Washington's army. Both regiments will demonstrate military drills with children encouraged to learn commands in English and French. Ned Hector, a free Black man who was teamster and bombardier in Washington's army, will engage all ages in conversation about his life and service. Injury and disease were an enemy as much as the British, and an army surgeon and an apothecary will demonstrate the tools and practices of medical care of the time. Informal talks will be given throughout the day by local experts on maps created during the 1781 march and Dr. Robert Selig, noted historian of the Washington-Rochambeau march, will discuss Trenton's role in this historic period. Children and adults can try on items of French uniforms for photographs and children can take part in a scavenger hunt as they tour the grounds, with books as prizes. For more information, see the Trent House website at https://williamtrenthouse.org/upcoming-events.