2019 Battle of Princeton Reenactment
Experience the Battle of Princeton Reenactment on Memorial Day Saturday, May 25, 2019 at Princeton Battlefield State Park in Princeton, New Jersey. Celebrate Memorial Day weekend in patriotic fashion with the Princeton Battlefield Society as they present a day of encampment and the Battle of Princeton reenactment with the Second Pennsylvania Regiment. “Washington Returns!” relives Gen. Hugh Mercer’s Jan. 3 1777 attack on the British and the Red Coats’ counter-attack. The Battle of Princeton Reenactment will include pipes and drums, musket and cannon fire, marching drills, tactical formations, camps and the arrival of Gen. George Washington.
Battle of Princeton Reenactment
Abut the Battle
The battle, though small, is considered a turning point in the American Revolution. It was the culmination of the 10-day campaign that began with George Washington’s Hail Mary pass – the crossing of the Delaware. Washington had lost 90 percent of his army, but he managed to convince his men to stick around a few more weeks and at Princeton they saw the first victory over the British on a battlefield. The modest success provided the momentum that the Continental Army so desperately needed.
Playing such a pivotal role in the war, it may surprise visitors to know that, in 2012, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named the battlefield among its 11 most endangered historic places.
Reenactment Schedule (subject to change)
Schedule of Selected Events
11:30 AM – Site Opens/Muster of the Troops
11:30 AM – Battlefield Tour
11:45 AM – Artillery Firing Demonstration
12:00 AM – Understanding the Uniform & Musket
12:15 PM – Young Patriots Training Muskets & Marching
12:30 PM – General Washington Arrives
12:45 PM – Battlefield Tour
1:00 PM – Infantry and Artillery Demonstrations
2:00 PM – General Washington Answers Questions
Rain or shine
Come Early, Stay Late
While the battle is reenacted in the early afternoon and lasts only about an hour, a huge part of the fun is in coming early to visit the encampment to see hundreds of reenactors playing their parts, including cavalry and artillery demonstrations and women making preparations for battle. Your family can join a guided tour of the encampment or wander on your own, even asking questions of the reenactors.
Children’s Drill: After the Battle of Princeton Reenactment will be a children’s drill with wooden muskets. And don’t miss the recently reopened Visitors Center. New features include an animated map and introductory film about the battle, as well as interactive computer games.
Location
Princeton Battlefield State Park
500 Mercer Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-921-0074
Directions: Located on Mercer Road (Princeton Pike). 1.5 miles south of Princeton University and 3.8 miles north of Interstate 295/95.
Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the next Battle of Princeton Reenactment on Memorial Day Saturday at Princeton Battlefield State Park in Princeton, New Jersey.
Tags: Battle of Princeton Reenactment, Revolutionary War Battle Reenactments