The Battle of Cooch’s Bridge (also known as the Battle of Iron Hill) was the only Revolutionary War battle fought on Delaware soil. Although it was not a massive engagement like the Battle of Brandywine or Battle of Monmouth Courthouse, it marked the first battle of the Philadelphia Campaign and proved the American force’s willingness to strike at the British Army. Described as a “delaying action” (General Washington intended to slow the British advance), the fighting that took place around Cooch’s Bridge was fierce and a harbinger of what was to come.
History
In late summer 1777, George Washington and the Continental Army finally learned the whereabouts of the elusive British Army when an armada of over 260 ships was spotted sailing up Chesapeake Bay. On August 25, General William Howe landed his ~17,000 man army at the head of the Elk River in Maryland, about 50 miles southwest of Philadelphia.
The Continental Army was stationed near Wilmington, Delaware, approximately halfway between the Head of Elk and Philadelphia. General Washington personally reconnoitered the British positions and awaited their next move to determine the best defense of the capitol city- the Philadelphia Campaign had begun.
In order to slow down the British Army, General Washington sent forward a select group of infantry with the order to give “as much trouble as you possibly can.” This Light Infantry Corps was composed of picked Continental troops from New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia with supporting militia from Pennsylvania and Delaware. The ~800 troops of this “Special Corps” served under Brigadier General William Maxwell and spent nearly a week monitoring the movements of the British forces.
On September 2, a wing of the British Army under General Wilhelm von Knyphausen began their march. Then on the morning of September 3, General Cornwallis led the remainder of the British Army out of Head of Elk (with General Howe accompanying). In preparation for the approaching British Army, General Maxwell stationed his troops near Iron Hill, Cooch’s Bridge, and hidden on either side of the road (in Glasgow, Delaware) to ambush the British troops.
On September 3, 1777, the advance guard of General Cornwallis’ wing marched down the Glasgow-to-Newark Road into an American ambush. The Battle of Cooch’s Bridge began around 8am when Captain Johann Ewald and a contingent of Hessian dragoons were met with an eruption of fire from General Maxwell’s troops, who were hidden along the roadside. Captain Ewald immediately called forward the Hessian Jägers of the British vanguard.
American orders were to engage the enemy troops and then fall back to another defensive position; however, after the initial shock, the Jägers rallied and seized the momentum through intense hand-to-hand combat (utilizing their feared hunting swords). This fervent action drove the Americans back to another defensive position.
In response to the outbreak of fighting in his front, General Howe deployed two British light infantry battalions to reinforce the Jägers and attempt to flank the American position. The British 2nd Light Infantry found success on the American right flank at Iron Hill and the American troops were soon driven back. The battle intensified when British artillery opened fire and General Howe ordered a charge, which forced the Americans to retreat across the Christina River at Cooch’s Bridge.
After hours of desperate fighting and falling back, the American forces were badly outnumbered and low on ammunition; therefore, they withdrew and retreated towards the town of Christina. The Battle of Cooch’s Bridge ended with each side suffering around 30-40 casualties (at least 24 American dead were buried by the British on the field in unmarked graves). Following the battle, British General Cornwallis established his headquarters at the Cooch House and the British Army remained encamped in the area for five days.
Interesting Facts
- The Battle of Cooch’s Bridge is reportedly the first battle where the American flag (stars and stripes) were flown in combat
- Future Supreme Court Justice John Marshall fought in the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge
- In 1781, a combined Franco-American Army under command of French General Comte de Rochambeau encamped at Cooch Farm and the surrounding area on its march towards Yorktown, Virginia
Our Visit & Recommendations
Delaware played an important role in the American Revolution, but the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge was the only engagement fought on its soil. So of course we had to visit when we were driving through the area! While there is not a fully preserved battlefield, there are two historic sites/monuments on the grounds of the battle that can be visited today.
The first historic site is located along S Old Baltimore Pike, just before Cooch’s Bridge and the Christina River (located at this Lat/Long: 39.6398N, -75.7367W). This monument was placed on September 3, 1901 (updated in 1932) and is located on the side of a busy road, so be cautious if you decide to visit (it is also next to a private driveway). Some of the day’s fighting took place where this monument now stands, especially after the American forces retreated across the Christina River to this area.
The main monument dedicated to the battle is a short drive down the S Old Baltimore Pike and is located along Dayett Mills Road. This site marks where a majority of the fighting took place near Iron Hill on September 3, 1777 (you can put “Cooch’s Bridge Battlefield” into your GPS). This is also the area where at least 24 American dead were buried in unmarked graves.
There is ample parking and quite a few historic markers to read and gain a better understanding of the battle and the region. Other than details about the battle, the monument provides a detailed description of the Philadelphia Campaign and the role that Delaware played (specifically, the county known as Pencader Hundred). Additionally, there is a description about the important milling operations that once took place in the area (before the British left the area they destroyed the Cooch grist mill).
We thoroughly enjoyed visiting the historic sites dedicated to the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge and learning about the mostly unknown battle.
Although the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge was not a major engagement, it served as an important battle that pitted (fairly) inexperienced American troops against the brilliant minds of Generals Howe, Cornwallis, and Knyphausen. It amazes me that those American troops willingly stood up against the feared Hessians, well-trained British regulars, and the tactical minds of the British high command- right here on this ground. The Battle of Cooch’s Bridge reveals that the fight for American independence was not limited to vast battlefields, but took place in all corners of the colonies. Where these men once fought and died now stands modern roads, businesses, and neighborhoods; however, we must never forget their sacrifice.