Your Captain has not seen a crowd at the Retreat to Victory the size and scale of 2025 before. The parking lots were packed and people were being directed to park on side streets not-a-short-distance away! About 10AM, the first of two skirmishes took place, with British forces pushing against the Continental Army over the Hackensack River before the Von Steuben House. The armies then dispersed with mingle with the visitors and a superb lunch was provided by the ladies working in the out-kitchen ("neutral ground" as one of them described the place). The Bergen County Historical Society's event is the second of a two-day weekend event, with Saturday's activities taking place at Fort Lee historic park.
The "bridge that saved a nation" is not the original bridge, but it today a key pedestrian crossing over the Hackensack. For us, it was the passage to pursue Washington's retreating army following the Fall of New York and his subsequent withdrawal to seek safety ahead of winter quarters.
In the second skirmish of the day, the 35th's King's Colours fluttered overhead as the Guards, 15th Regiment Light Infantry, 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers Grenadiers, 35th Regiment Grenadiers, and 43rd Regiment formed the regular army presence. The 4th Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers represented the provincial or loyalist troops who fought alongside the regulars. Our opposition, the 3rd New Jersey Continentals, Outwater's Militia, and others provided a stiff resistance as the Crown forces made their incursion into Bergen County.
A terrific event as always, as we look forward to 2026 which will be the 250th anniversary, and perhaps (somehow) an even bigger program.
The Bergen County Historical Society produced a press release following the event.
Our thanks to Mr. Jeff Bross for sharing his pictures below.
The "bridge that saved a nation" is not the original bridge, but it today a key pedestrian crossing over the Hackensack. For us, it was the passage to pursue Washington's retreating army following the Fall of New York and his subsequent withdrawal to seek safety ahead of winter quarters.
In the second skirmish of the day, the 35th's King's Colours fluttered overhead as the Guards, 15th Regiment Light Infantry, 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers Grenadiers, 35th Regiment Grenadiers, and 43rd Regiment formed the regular army presence. The 4th Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers represented the provincial or loyalist troops who fought alongside the regulars. Our opposition, the 3rd New Jersey Continentals, Outwater's Militia, and others provided a stiff resistance as the Crown forces made their incursion into Bergen County.
A terrific event as always, as we look forward to 2026 which will be the 250th anniversary, and perhaps (somehow) an even bigger program.
The Bergen County Historical Society produced a press release following the event.
Our thanks to Mr. Jeff Bross for sharing his pictures below.
RSS Feed