By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The 51st annual re-enactment of Col. Edward Hand’s delaying tactics, which held off British and Hessian troops on their way to Trenton for the Second Battle of Trenton in 1777, will kick off promptly at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Municipal Building.
And for the 32nd time, township resident William Agress will portray Col. Hand right down to the blue and buff uniform worn by the Revolutionary War officer during the annual Col. Edward Hand Historic March.
The event marks the re-enactment of the American patriots’ delaying tactics before the Second Battle of Trenton, Mr. Agress said. The event was created in 1961 by the late Robert Immordino, who was the township historian.
The real Col. Hand and his band of Pennsylvania riflemen delayed the advance of British and Hessian troops on their way from Princeton to Trenton to retake Trenton from the Americans during the afternoon of Jan. 2, 1777. The battle took place later in the day.
Before stepping off to follow in the footsteps of Col. Hand and the 1st Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, Saturday morning’s program will begin with an introduction by Col. Hand/Mr. Agress and some welcoming remarks by Mayor Jim Kownacki.
Then, the marchers led by Mayor Kownacki and Mr. Agress will step off and begin the six-mile trek to Trenton. The group will include members of Township Council, dressed in period garb, as well as former mayors, re-enactors, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other history buffs.
The band of marchers will stop at the site of two skirmishes in Lawrence Township between the First Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, commanded by Col. Hand, and the British and Hessian troops.
The first skirmish took place on the banks of the Five Mile Run, also known as the Little Shabakunk Creek, on Route 206 near Darrah Lane.
Continuing south on Route 206, the marchers also will stop at the banks of the Shabakunk Creek near Notre Dame High School the site of the second skirmish. The flag of the 1st Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment will be raised, and then the Coryell’s Ferry Militia re-enactors group will load and shoot a replica Revolutionary War cannon.
A Lawrence Township van will take the marchers back to the Municipal Building from the banks of the Shabakunk Creek, if they do not want to continue on the walk, Mr. Agress said.
”For the hale and hearty, they can continue the six-mile trek to Trenton to the Assunpink Creek,” Mr. Agress said. They will be treated to cider and doughnuts, and then climb onto the Lawrence Township van for the trip back to the Municipal Building.
Now, back to history.
Despite the delaying tactics of Col. Hand and his soldiers, the British and Hessian troops reached Trenton at dusk on Jan. 2, 1777, engaging Gen. George Washington and his soldiers in the Second Battle of Trenton. The Americans retreated and crossed a bridge over the Assunpink Creek. Their pursuers 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 in what turned out to become the Battle of Princeton and a turning point in the American Revolutionary War.

