The Retreat to Victory, 248th Anniversary of the Retreat to New Bridge

Background

Late November of 1776 held some of the darkest and most desperate moments of the American Revolution. The Continental Army lost most of its supplies, men, and spirit in the face of the advancing and strengthening British army. The garrison at Fort Lee evacuates under General Nathanael Greene, the retreat is in full force with the American army, or what’s left of it, [about 2,500-3,000] heading towards bridge over the Hackensack River and Washington knows he needs to cross the river quickly with the British advancing on his rear- enter New Bridge Landing. As the rearguard at Fort Lee skirmished and ran from the site, the advancing British were not going to slow. On November 20th, forces set out towards New Bridge 9.5 miles away from Fort Lee as American Troops still crossed the Hackensack. If the…