The Army in Town, August 1781 – 4th Annual Re-Enactment of the Continental and French Army Encampment in Trenton

The Trent House Association presents the fourth annual re-enactment of the days in late August/early September 1781 when thousands of soldiers and support personnel camped in and around Trenton. This free program of activities and talks will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2024, from 10 am to 4 pm on the Trent House Museum grounds.

Try your luck in card and dice games with soldiers of Le Régiment Bourbonnais, a French infantry unit. Hear the drum beats that guided their troops. Practice drilling with African American infantry soldiers of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment and learn about their forebearers’ critical role throughout the Revolution.

Try teas that patriotic women would have served during the Revolution instead of black tea imported from England. Learn about the tools that blacksmiths used in the 1700s and still do today.

Help the town’s doctor prepare to treat injuries by rolling bandages, one of many ways civilians assisted the Continental Army. Prepare sweet bags of herbs worn to ward off smallpox.

This family-friendly event includes crafts and activities for school-age children and a “scavenger hunt” with prizes.

Delve deeper into the critical contributions of the French to winning the war for America’s independence with Paul Larson. Hear about the diplomatic role that Lafayette played in gaining official French support and his actions on the field, as well as the military expertise and substantial troops that Rochambeau brought to the conflict. Using maps drawn by the French, follow the route through New Jersey in the summer of 1781 and trace that route on highways and roads of today.

This event is sponsored by a partnership among the Trent House Museum, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Lawrence Historical Society, and the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association-New Jersey.

The William Trent House Museum is a National Historic Landmark in the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area and on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail.