3rd PA Regiment

June 28th, 1778 near Monmouth Courthouse, NJ

Having survived the crucible that was the Valley Forge encampment, the Continental Army pursues the British through the Jerseys to engage on these fields on a smoldering hot day.
The British, having evacuated Philadelphia for New York provide Washington a irresistible target for his reborn Army to strike.
The initial phase of the battle goes poorly for the Continentals before Washington himself reorganizes his troops and personally leads them in the hot afternoon action.
The 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment would see heavy fighting in the late afternoon going musket to musket against a British Grenadier Battalion near the Personage Farm.
It wasn't until the British Grenadiers were reinforced by the 33rd Regiment, that the tired Pennsylvanians slowly withdrew.
Tactically, Monmouth was a push, strategically it was inconsequential, but what it did was settle the issue of weather or not the Continental Army was a serious threat to Clinton's Army.
They were.

It's been estimated that close to 6,800 Americans died in battle during our war for independence and upwards of 17,000 died from sickness.
Staggering numbers when you take into account the population of our 13 original states.
On this Memorial Day we remember and honor all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the struggle for the founding of our nation and also all those lost in the ensuing conflicts that have kept us free.

Artist credit:
The Nation Makers by the great Howard Pyle

Coming up next weekend, April 13‐15th, is the annual Battle Road events at Minuteman National Historic Park in Massachusetts commemorating the actions that took place on April 19th 1775.
Two members of the 3rd PA Regiment will be traveling north to participate in this most special program.
In our opinion, this event is the premiere living history program in the country for our period.
The authenticity standards set by Minuteman Park have ensured the highest quality of living historian and we are proud to participate.

Happiest of Birthdays to General Washington!

It's quite impossible to measure your greatness.

Join us next Sunday to celebrate Gen. Washington's Birthday.
A fun event for everyone and you might actually learn something.

One of our favorite kid centric events is back this month! Join us for General George Washington’s 292nd Birthday Party on Sunday, February 18 from 11 AM to 2 PM at Washington Crossing Historic Park 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

This is an event for the entire family, as there will be various fun and educational activities. At 1:45 PM in the Visitor Center, we will gather to sing “Happy Birthday” to George and watch him use his iconic sword to cut a giant cake, which has been generously donated by The Caketeria in Newtown 🎂

Children 12 and under are encouraged to bring handmade birthday cards to the party to give to the General. Awaken their inner artist by entering our Let’s Draw George Contest, more details below. Admission is free, thank you to our event sponsor, NJM Insurance Group: http://tinyurl.com/3cr4nfd3

Join us tomorrow for the Princeton reenactment.

It'll be a fine fox chase I'm sure.

Experience the Battle of Princeton 2024 Update: The Show Will Go On!

The organizers of the Experience the Battle of Princeton Reenactment and Ceremonial Wreath Laying commemorating the 247th anniversary of the pivotal American victory concluding the Ten Crucial Days Campaign are pleased to announce that the event will go on as scheduled on the morning of Sunday, January 7th.

We have been carefully monitoring several weather forecasts over the course of the past week. All current models indicate that there will be less than an inch of accumulated snow on Saturday, January 6th during the afternoon with a changeover to rain and all precipitation moving out of the Princeton area early on Sunday morning.

Please plan to join us in a few days to relive history and commemorate the sacrifice of the Continental and Crown troops who fought on this field.

In addition to the reenactment and ceremony at Princeton Battlefield State Park, the New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolution will host a commemorative wreath laying at Mill Hill Park in Trenton at 2:30 p.m.

January 3rd, 1777
"Parade with us my brave fellows! There is but a handful of the enemy and we will have them directly!"
George Washington

Following his victory at Trenton, and holding off Cornwallis along the Assumpink Creek, Washington evacuates his army under darkness at Trenton and circles around the British to march on and attack the British garrison at Princeton.
In a quick moving engagement, Washington's Army hands the British another defeat.
The "Ten Crucial Days" concludes and the revolution is reignited.

On the last day of the year, a post about one of the more forgotten campaigns of the war.
The 1775 invasion of Canada.
In September of 1775, two armies set out to invade Canada in hopes of dislodging British rule and bringing Canada into the fledgling nation.
Led by Gen. Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold, the two forces invaded Canada by separate routes.
Montgomery's force pushed up the St. Lawrence, Arnold's through the punishing Maine wilderness to the Kennebec River.
The less strategic city of Montreal fell on November 13th.
Montgomery and Arnold then bided thier time to plan an attack on the fotress city of Quebec.
They waited several weeks until December 31st, and under cover from a snowstorm launched a two prongged assault on the city in the pre dawn hours.
Arnold from the North, Montgomery from the south.
As the lead assault column trudged through deeping snow, a British cannon firing grapeshot ripped the darkness.
Montgomery, two Captains, a Sargent and a Private were killed on the spot.
Confused and discouraged, his men slowly retreated.
Arnold's assault failed as well as he was seriously wounded in the leg.
The attack on Quebec was an American disaster.
The siege of Quebec would continue well into 1776 with more disappointing results.
We remember General Richard Montgomery KIA December 31st, 1775.

P.S.
I have ordered our men to be provided with three days provisions ready cook'd, with which, and thier blankets they are to march for if we are successful which heaven grant and other circumstances favor we may push on. I shall direct every ferry and ford to be well guarded and not a soul suffered to pass without an officers going down with the permit. Do the same with you.

Post Script from a letter written by Gen. George Washington to Col. Joseph Reed, Camp above Trenton Falls, Dec 23rd, 1776

Join us tomorrow for the annual Christmas Day crossing of the Delaware, at Washington's Crossing Historic Park.

After fighting a series of skirmishes in early December in and around Whitemarsh that proved to be inconclusive, Washington's battered Continental Army struggled into Winter quarters in the rolling hills around the area known as Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Valley Forge was chosen as a strategic location as it provided a natural defense in its landscape and was close enough to monitor British movements in and around Philadelphia.
Little did the men know at the time and during the extreme hardships that would befall the army over the next several months, the rebirth of the Continental Army would begin on this day, December 19th, 1777.

October 4th, 1777
With the main British Army now occupying Philadelphia, Washington devises a bold and aggressive battle plan for attacking the outpost at the old settlement known as Germantown.
Serving in Wayne's Division, the 3rd Pennsylvania would be in the thick of battle.
Quite literally in fact as a thick fog greeted the men that early morning. It would hamper efforts throughout the day causing much confusion and ultimately proving Washington's plan unsuccessful.
Washington writing to his brother John back at Mount Vernon would say about Germantown, "In a word, it was a bloody day".

Late in the afternoon of September 11th, 1777, serving in Stirling's Division, the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment would be heavily engaged here on Birmingham Hill.
The 3rd would be part of the orderly withdraw of Washington's Army along the Nottingham Pike and encamp that evening at Chester, PA.
Today, we remember all who served at Brandywine.

Great Photos by John Hurst

Awesome photos by Molly picture studios

Great photos from Al Pochek

Join us!!

Looking for recruits, if you’re interested in joining a revolutionary war unit come check us out!!

Mrs Bella making tasty butter!!!

Awesome family.

Happy Father’s Day to all the father figures!! Keep up the amazing work

Just a quick shout out to all who attended Monmouth reenactment!!
Y’all are amazing !! Thanks to all who lended a hand with cooking, planning or making sure that everything was running smoothly ..

Met a new friend today, Rudy