Washington-Rochambeau Trail History

In 1781, American and French forces joined together in a decisive campaign of the Revolutionary War. Under General George Washington and French General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, allied troops marched south toward Virginia. 

Their march through New Jersey was part of a larger strategy that led to the Siege of Yorktown. There, in October 1781, American and French forces defeated the British Army under General Charles Cornwallis. This victory marked the last major battle of the American Revolution and secured independence for the United States.

In August 1781, thousands of American and French troops marched through Middlesex County along key routes that included present-day Edison, South Plainfield, Piscataway, and New Brunswick. The allied route entered the county along Old Raritan Road, crossed the Raritan River, and passed through New Brunswick on August 28, 1781 before continuing south along what is now Route 27 through North Brunswick and South Brunswick.

This is one of many Revolutionary War events that occurred in Middlesex County. To learn more about other events, including battles, skirmishes and encampments, please visit the Revolutionary War Throughout Middlesex County, New Jersey GIS map below.

Visit the two Middlesex County historic sites, Historic Raritan Village and the Cornelius Low House, located along the Washington-Rochambeau Trail.

The Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail preserves the story of the American and French alliance and the path to American independence. For more information, click here.