The Battle of Cooch's Bridge

Often, names are hard to track down when telling about certain events. I'm sure, with a certain amount of work, maybe a trip to the national archives or memorial associations could help put together a list of names of who served on a particular ship or in a particular unit from WW2 or beyond. But in some cases, that just simply isn't possible.Case in point, the Battle of Cooch's Bridge.

The battle took place on this day, September 3, 1777 near Newark, Delaware. It involved Continental Army troops led by General William Maxwell along with Pennsylvania and Delaware militia. Future supreme court justice John Marshall was among those fighting that day. They were up against a superior number of British and Hessian troops. Outnumbered not quite 2-1, the Americans fought for much of the day. Finally running out of ammunition after about seven hours, they resorted to sword and bayonet charges before finally being forced to retreat to a more defensible position closer to Washington's troops.

The Americans lost 20 men that day, the names of which are probably lost to history. I'm sure the descendants of these men know full well who they were and what they did that day. These men were part of a group that fought like no other Americans have ever fought. They were fighting for there country, like all who have followed, but these men were literally fighting for the survival of the newly created nation. If their cause had been lost, who knows how history would have turned. These men were absolutely instrumental in the forging of this great nation. We should be forever grateful for all of those who fought and died in the Revolutionary War. They set the standard for which all who have come after have fought to live up to. The blood of those patriots watered the trees of liberty that have stood from that time forward.

One other interesting thing about that battle. It is said to have been the first time the newly created American flag was hoisted in battle. This flag is not from that time, but it is one of the oldest examples of that style flag. This one is from the late 19th century.