Petticoat Bridge Skirmish Site
Petticoat Bridge Skirmish Marker
Petticoat Road Bridge
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On November 19, 1776, British and Hessian forces invaded New Jersey, disembarking at Huyler's Landing in Bergen County. At the time, General George Washington and the Continental (American) army were in nearby Fort Lee. Washington's army had recently suffered a string of defeats in New York city. Upon learning of the landing of the British and Hessian troops at Alpine Landing, the Continental army began a retreat across New Jersey that ended when they crossed over the Delaware River into Pennsylvania on December 2.
While the Continental Army was on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, British and Hessian forces occupied a number of towns throughout New Jersey. Soldiers under the command of Hessian Colonel Carl von Donop occupied Bordentown at this time.
Six miles to the north of Bordentown, Hessian Troops under the command of Colonel Johann Rall occupied Trenton.
The Hessian troops at Bordentown were drawn south towards Mount Holly to engage with a small group of American troops under the command of Samuel Griffin. They fought a skirmish here at Petticoat Bridge over the Assiscunk Creek. Although the sign states that the skirmish occurred on December 23, it actually occurred on December 22. After Griffin's troops retreated to Mount Holly, the Battle of Iron Works Hill was fought in Mount Holly was fought the next day, which was December 23.
Following the Battle of Iron Works Hill, the Hessians remained in Mount Holly for several days, instead of returning to Bordentown. This placed them eighteen miles away from Trenton, rather than six miles if they had returned to Mount Holly. As a result, they were too far away from Trenton to be of any assistance to the Hessians there when Washington's troops attacked Trenton after their famous crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas night. The American victory at the Battle of Trenton helped to turn the tide of the war. [1]
