Three Generals Meet at Cooch's Bridge 

# = photo by Ralph Nelson
* = photo by Jim Yurasek, courtesy of State of
Delaware Historical and Cultural Affairs

Return to Revolutionary Weekend


* The proceedings began with a short concert by the Glasgow High School Band.


# The allied Generals, Rochambeau and Washington, arrived in Frolic Weymouth's coach


* The Navy JROTC Color Guard from the Delaware Military Academy.


# The Delaware Continental Regiment's ceremonial unit (Delaware National Guard)


# The Fifes and Drums of the Delaware Militia


* The New Castle County Mounted Police


* Mr. Edward Cooch noted that his home had been built in 1760 by his ancestor
Thomas Cooch -- a prominent miller who was a colonel in the Delaware militia.
Ten generations of Coochs have lived in this house, which Gen. Cornwallis used
as his headquarters for a week following the Battle of Cooch'e Bridge in 1777.


* Gov. Ruth Minner welcomed the French Ambassador to Delaware and noted
Delaware's strong support for the Revolution and for the alliance with France.


* Gen. Washington recounted the local movements of the Continental Army at the time
of the Battle of Cooch's Bridge and apologized for not leaving a written report
on whether and what flag was (or flags were) used for that action.
Gen. Cornwallis (visiting from Yorktown) noted his regret that the colonists had elected
to act as "bad children" to "Mother England" and said he would do his duty to restrain them.
Gen. Rochambeau reported on his pleasure at being able to see the defensive lines in Delaware,
where more British and American troops were present in 1777 than were gathering for Yorktown.


* Col. Claude Blanchard, Commissar de Guerre (Dr. Robert Selig) spoke about the numbers
of people and animals -- equal to the fifth largest city in the colonies --
that had to be fed and watered on such a march. People from as far away as fifty miles
from the line of march (four days by ox cart) brought food and fodder to sell
to the French army for silver or to the U.S. army for IOUs or Continental dollars.


* French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte spoke about the origins of the ideals of liberty
in France and how these were shared with and tested in the United States as the army, navy,
treasury, and ambassadors of France worldwide gave support to the U.S. struggle for independence.

Return to Top of Page