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Battlefield

Assunpink Creek Bridge Site

Trenton, NJFeatured Site

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

  1. 1758

  2. 1776

    Fall of Fort Washington

    Johann Rall, Nathanael Greene

  3. 1776

    Continental Army Retreats Through Trenton

    George Washington, Nathanael Greene

  4. 1776

  5. 1776

    Intelligence Gathering Before the Crossing

    John Honeyman, George Washington, Johann Rall

  6. 1776

  7. 1776

  8. 1776

    Hessian Garrison Established at Trenton

    Johann Rall, Abraham Hunt, Phillis

  9. 1776

  10. 1776

    Washington Crosses the Delaware

    George Washington, John Glover, Henry Knox

  11. 1776

    Battle of Trenton

    George Washington, Johann Rall, Henry Knox

  12. 1776

  13. 1776

    Hessian Surrender at Trenton

    George Washington, Johann Rall

  14. 1776

  15. 1776

  16. 1776

  17. 1776

  18. 1776

  19. 1777

    Night March from Trenton to Princeton

    George Washington, Henry Knox

  20. 1777

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