by the Bergen County Historical Society
Historic New Bridge Landing , on November 20th, 1776, five thousand British, Hessian and Loyalist troops, under command of Lt. Gen. Lord Cornwallis, scaled the Palisades at Lower Closter Dock and marched against Fort Lee. Warned by an alert officer, the American garrison escaped entrapment by safely crossing the Hackensack River at New Bridge, now known as “the Bridge That Saved a Nation,” and lived to fight another day. To mark the 245th Anniversary of the “times that try men’s souls,” the Bergen County Historical Society, along with the Brigade of the American Revolution, will co-sponsor a day of living history on Sunday, November 21st 10 am-4 pm. 1201 Main Street, River Edge NJ.
At 10:30 am, the retreating troops will arrive from Fort Lee and engage in a battle for the bridge (New Bridge) in a tactical weapons demonstration portraying the action that occurred when British troops forced the Continental Army away from the area and captured this vital crossing point over the Hackensack River.
Walk in the footsteps were history was made as you visit the state historic site, Von Steuben House which was a silent witness to the Retreat and one of the last surviving 18th structures along the Retreat Route in Bergen County. A special exhibit has been set up “New Bridge in the American Revolution: Artifacts and Maps” which includes enlargements on nine period maps and Revolutionary War artifacts from their extensive collection.
Three historic Bergen County Dutch Sandstone houses will be open along with the replica 18th century outkitchen, staffed with the Society’s trained docents. Activities will occur throughout the day, including a recreation of the raising of the loyalist unit, IV NJ Volunteers, which occurred at New Bridge following Washington’s Retreat. Will you join in and be loyal? Along with activities for young and old alike, living historians will be on site throughout the day to discuss “the times that tried men’s souls.”
– Per the state parks’ guidelines, face masks are required inside all historical buildings.
– Ticket reservations are required: $12 adults, $7 students, BCHS members free. 100% goes to our mission!
– Free parking available on site or take the train to the “New Bridge Landing” station of the Pascack Valley Line.
– Dogs are permitted on the site on a leash but not in the houses.
Tickets available here online or at the gate. Visit BergenCountyHistory.org
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Questions? – email: info@bergencountyhistory.org , or call 201-343-9492 and leave a message.
Take a look at this 4-1/2 minute video to remember the dire events of November 20-21, 1776 in Bergen County:
Historian Kevin W. Wright on “These are The Times that Try Men’s Souls.”
Filmed in the Steuben House, May 2015 by MidBergenCommunities.