Cooch's Bridge facts for kids
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Cooch's Bridge Historic District
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 Location in Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Newark, Delaware |
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| Built | 1726 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Second Empire, Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000528 97000790 (decrease) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1973 |
| Boundary decrease | December 12, 1999 |
Cooch's Bridge is a special historic area located near Newark, Delaware. This place is famous because it was the site of an important battle in 1777. While there are modern bridges in the area today, the first bridge was very old. It did not survive the American Revolution.
The Battle of Cooch's Bridge
The Battle of Cooch's Bridge took place on September 3, 1777. This battle is important for two main reasons. First, it was the only battle of the American Revolutionary War fought in Delaware. Second, it was the very first time the Stars and Stripes flag was flown in a battle.
The battle was fought between two sides. On one side were the British and Hessian troops. Hessians were German soldiers who fought for the British. Their leaders included Generals Cornwallis, Howe, and Knyphausen. On the other side were the Colonial troops, led by General Washington.
How the Battle Started
The fighting began on August 30. This was about two miles (3 km) south of the bridge. The American soldiers used special tactics. They bothered the lead British forces using guerrilla techniques. These methods were learned from Native Americans.
However, the Colonial army was much smaller. They had about 700 soldiers. They also had fewer weapons than the British. The advancing British forces pushed them back.
The Main Fight
By September 3, the Colonial soldiers had moved back to Cooch's Bridge. General William Maxwell chose 100 skilled marksmen. These sharpshooters set up a surprise attack in the nearby woods.
During the battle, the Americans fought hard. They pushed back several attacks from the British and Hessians. But soon, the Americans ran out of ammunition. They had to retreat, or pull back.
After the Battle
The British took over the property after the battle. They burned several buildings. General Cornwallis used the Cooch house as his main base. He stayed there for the next week while his troops got ready. About 30 American soldiers were hurt or killed in the battle.
Soon after, General Howe moved his troops away. On September 11, he defeated the Colonials in the Battle of Brandywine. After that, he captured Philadelphia, which was the Colonial capital city.
