About This Place
The site of the Assunpink Creek bridge in Trenton marks where the Second Battle of Trenton was fought on January 2, 1777. American forces defended the bridge and the creek fording points against repeated British assaults led by Lord Cornwallis, preventing the British from crossing and destroying Washington's army.
Revolutionary Significance
After the first Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776, Washington re-crossed the Delaware into Pennsylvania. He returned to Trenton on January 2, 1777, positioning his army behind the Assunpink Creek with the bridge as the key defensive position. That afternoon, Cornwallis attacked with approximately 5,500 troops, launching three assaults on the bridge, all of which were repulsed by American artillery and infantry fire. The Assunpink defense, sometimes called the Second Battle of Trenton, secured Washington's position and set the stage for his famous overnight march to Princeton on January 2-3, 1777.
Location
South Broad Street at the Assunpink Creek, Trenton, NJ 08608
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Events at This Location
1758
Old Barracks Built for French and Indian WarJohann Rall
1776
Fall of Fort WashingtonJohann Rall, Nathanael Greene
1776
Continental Army Retreats Through TrentonGeorge Washington, Nathanael Greene
1776
1776
Intelligence Gathering Before the CrossingJohn Honeyman, George Washington, Johann Rall
1776
1776
1776
Hessian Garrison Established at TrentonJohann Rall, Abraham Hunt, Phillis
1776
1776
Washington Crosses the DelawareGeorge Washington, John Glover, Henry Knox
1776
Battle of TrentonGeorge Washington, Johann Rall, Henry Knox
1776
1776
Hessian Surrender at TrentonGeorge Washington, Johann Rall
1776
Death of Colonel RallJohann Rall
1776
1776
Washington's Re-enlistment AppealGeorge Washington
1776
Enlistment Crisis and Re-enlistment AppealGeorge Washington
1776
1777
Night March from Trenton to PrincetonGeorge Washington, Henry Knox
1777
Cornwallis's March to TrentonGeorge Washington