Col. Hand returns to Lawrence on Sunday

Annual re-enactment sensitive to exact time, date.

By: Lea Kahn
   For more than four decades, Lawrence Township history buffs have made the six-mile trek to Trenton in early January to memorialize American patriot Col. Edward Hand’s delaying tactics against the British forces.
   This year, the annual re-enactment is set to take place on the same day — Sunday, Jan. 2 — and at the same time — 12:30 p.m. — as the event that occurred 228 years ago in 1777 along the King’s Highway in Lawrence Township. It will begin at the Municipal Building.
   "Most years, we get as close to the date as possible," said Pagoda Court resident William Agress, who has been portraying Col. Hand for 23 years. But for 2005, it was decided to re-enact the historic event on its 228th anniversary, he said.
   The annual event memorializes Col. Hand and his band of Pennsylvania riflemen, who delayed the advance of British and Hessian troops on their way from Princeton to retake Trenton from the Americans during the afternoon of Jan. 2 — hours before the Second Battle of Trenton took place.
   The British and Hessian troops reached Trenton at dusk on Jan. 2, and engaged Gen. Washington and his soldiers in the Second Battle of Trenton. The Americans retreated and crossed a bridge over the Assunpink Creek. The British and Hessians tried three times to cross the bridge, but they were turned back each time.
   During the night and into the morning of Jan. 3, Gen. Washington led his soldiers around the British and Hessian encampment. The Americans followed a back road to Princeton, where they surprised British troops stationed there.
   A short program, featuring re-enactor Stacey Roth portraying Molly Pitcher, precedes the march, Mr. Agress said. The Burlington County resident will discuss what is known about Molly Pitcher and her role in the Battle of Monmouth. She also will discuss the role of women in the American Revolutionary War, he said.
   Following the presentation, the marchers — led by Col. Hand and Mayor-to-be Pam Mount, will begin the six-mile walk to Trenton. Township Council members, Township Historian Richard Graja, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, history buffs and members of the public will accompany Col. Hand.
   The marchers will stop at the sites of two skirmishes that occurred in Lawrence. A third skirmish between the Americans and the British occurred in Trenton, near the site of today’s Capital Health Systems at Fuld Hospital.
   The first skirmish between the Americans and the British occurred on the banks of Five-Mile-Run, also known as the Little Shabakunk Creek, on Lawrence Road/Route 206, near the present day Darrah Lane.
   The second skirmish took place along the banks of the Shabakunk Creek, at the site of Notre Dame High School. As they have in years past, historic re-enactor Robert Gerenser and the Coryell’s Ferry Militia will load and shoot a cannon with fake ammunition.
   The marchers will continue their trek, ending at the historic Douglass House on the corner of Front and Montgomery streets in the city of Trenton. This is where Gen. George Washington held a council of war and plotted the Battle of Princeton, which occurred Jan. 3.
   The marchers, however, will enjoy refreshments. They will be ferried back to the Municipal Building in township vans. The rain date for the march is Saturday, Jan. 8 at 10 a.m.