Princeton Battlefield Society to Usher In the Nation’s 250th Anniversary By Reenacting the Battle of Princeton Next Month

The American triumph on January 3, 1777 saved the flickering hopes for Independence

More than 40 units of reenactors will recreate Washington’s dramatic victory at Princeton Battlefield State Park

The Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) announced today that it would begin New Jersey’s celebration of the 250^th anniversary of the nation’s birthday with its annual Experience the Battle of Princeton that reenacts George Washington’s dramatic victory over the British on January 3, 1777.

The reenactment will be held on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 9:00 AM at Princeton Battlefield State Park on Princeton Pike, just south of historic Princeton. More than 40 units of men and women representing American and British units will reprise the battle that took place on the farmland between the houses of two Quaker brothers in 1777, after George Washington marched his troops all night in sub-freezing temperatures to surprise the British in Princeton.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to come out and kick off the state’s and nation’s celebration of our 250^th birthday,” PBS President Ben Strong said. “Watching the soldiers refight the battle gives us a sense of what it was like for the Americans in 1777.

“We were elated in July of 1776 when we declared independence, but we spent most of the rest of the year losing battles to the British and retreating through New York and New Jersey and by Christmas Day 1776, we’d essentially abandoned New Jersey,” Strong said. “We were in a bad spot. Then Washington dramatically crossed the Delaware, beat the Hessians in Trenton, beat the British in Trenton for a second time on January 2 and then capped off this epic 10 days to reverse American fortunes here in Princeton. They changed the future of the country and the world when our army won at Princeton.”

The January 4^th reenactment will also feature John Godzieba in the role of George Washington. Mr. Godzieba is highly regarded for his ability to project the qualities that made Washington the charismatic leader of the Americans.

“We are so pleased to welcome these units to mark this momentous battle,” said Kenneth Gavin, PBS Trustee and commander of the American forces on January 4^th. “These men and women come out in weather just as cold, march, and fight, and we are grateful for them and their willingness to bring this history to life, especially this year.”

“This is just the start of a year-long celebration of the nation, the heroes who saved it at Princeton, and will feature a series of events and new content bringing the struggle to life,” Strong said. “It’s a great story and we hope you will join us and support us as we honor America and these brave men and women.”

Participating in the reenactment for the Americans, as of November 30^th, will be the:

1^st Continental Regiment

1^st Delaware Regiment

Colonel Ogden's 1^st New Jersey Regiment

Glover’s Marblehead Regiment

1^st New York Regiment, McCracken’s Coy.

1^st Pennsylvania Regiment

1^st Rhode Island Regiment

2^nd Massachusetts Regiment

2^nd New Jersey Regiment, Helms’ Coy.

2^nd Virginia Regiment

3^rd New Jersey Regiment (The Jersey Greys)

4^th Connecticut Regiment, Bacon’s Coy.

4^th Light Dragoons, Moylan’s Troop

5^th New York Regiment

5^th Pennsylvania Regiment

6^th Connecticut Regiment

6^th Pennsylvania Regiment

7^th Virginia Regiment

9^th Pennsylvania Regiment

Acton Minutemen

Clotz’s Battalion of the Flying Camp

Knox’s Artillery

Lt. Trevet's Coy. of Marines

Mott's Artillery

Outwater's Militia

The Pennsylvania State Regiment

Schott’s Independent Coy.

Spencer's Additional Regiment

The German Regiment

The United Train of Artillery

The Washington Crossing Fife and Drum Corps

The West Jersey Artillery

Representing the Crown forces, as of November 30^th, will be:

1^st Battalion New Jersey Volunteers

16^th Light Dragoons

17^th Regiment of Foot

22^nd Regiment of Foot

33^rd Regiment of Foot

42^nd Regiment of Foot, Grenadier Coy.

43^rd Regiment of Foot

59^th Regiment of Foot

Brigade of Guards, Grenadier Coy.

About The Princeton Battlefield Society

The Princeton Battlefield Society is a national historic non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, preservation, and promotion of the Princeton Battlefield as a national treasure of the American Revolutionary War. For more information, including exhibitions and events, visit the Princeton Battlefield Society at https://PBS1777.org/

About the Princeton Battlefield

Princeton Battlefield State Park is a 681-acre state park located in Princeton. The park preserves part of the site of the Battle of Princeton and is located on Mercer Road (Princeton Pike), about 1.5 miles south of Princeton University. Highlights of the park include the Princeton Battlefield site; the Thomas Clarke House & Museum; the site of the Mercer Oak, a tree which stood in the middle of the battlefield until recent years; the Ionic Colonnade and a stone patio marking the grave of the unknown British and American soldiers killed in the battle.

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