The Swan Historical Foundation, Inc.

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WHO WE ARE

The Swan Historical Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to encouraging and inspiring continuing knowledge and appreciation of the American Revolution for the benefit of present and future generations. The foundation is the founder and developer of the National Museum of the American Revolution.

The foundation is named for an early United States Congressman, Dr. Samuel Swan, of Somerville, N.J., who wrote the bill authorizing a pension for the widows and orphans of the first American soldiers. That legislation eventually led to the creation of the Veterans Administration. His great, great grandson, Mr. H. Kels Swan, established SHF and served as its president.

The Swan Historical Foundation is proud to be a partner and sponsor of America’s 250th Anniversary and is currently in the planning, design, and developmental process of building the National Museum of the American Revolution at Washington Crossing State Park Visitor Center, Titusville, N.J.

Board of Trustees
President, Robert H. Swan

Chairman
LTC Richard J. Kane, US Army Retired
Finance & Nominating Committees

Vice Chairman
Deborah Hvizdos
Museum Develpment, Education, Communications & Nominating Committees

Secretary-Treasurer
James C. Beachell
Finance, Property & Membership Committees

Trustees
Robert N. Fanelli
Museum, Finance, Property & Communications Committees

Anthony D. Giannascoli, ESQ.
Museum Development & Nominating Committees

Michael S. Jesberger
Education & Membership Committees

William Traubel
Museum Development, Property & Communcations Committees

Collin Zimmerman
Museum Development, Education & Property Committees

Matthew Skic

Jim Swan

Honorary Trustees
Pricilla Kim Reidinger, ESQ.
George Mason
Herbert M. Patullo
Constance Schuyler, PhD.
Ronald Mann
Founder
The Late H. Kels Swan

Interested in membership? Please send us an email

TEN CRUCIAL DAYS

At the end of 1776, the demoralized American army was on the verge of disintegration, following a series of losses in New York and New Jersey. Many of the men’s enlistments would expire at the end of December. Something needed to be done to revitalize the new nation’s military campaign. General George Washington realized that a bold stroke against his enemies might inspire his fellow countrymen to continue the struggle. Leading his army on Christmas night across the icy Delaware River from Pennsylvania, Washington launched a brilliant surprise attack against the Hessian garrison at Trenton. The move was a complete success, the Americans eliminating the enemy outpost, capturing nearly all of the enemy soldiers, and retreating back across the Delaware before the British could organize a counter strike.

At this point, the Americans decided to gamble everything on a second crossing at Trenton on January 2nd to confront the British army directly. Finding the enemy too strong to resist, the Americans soon found themselves backed up against the Delaware, once again on the verge of destruction. But the wily Washington still had a few tricks up his sleeve. Secretly abandoning his camp at night, he slipped his army out of the trap, circling around the British to march against their rear guard at Princeton. A short, sharp battle ensued, with the Americans driving the enemy from the field before their main force could come to the rescue. Marching rapidly to a new, well-defended camp at Morristown, NJ, Washington and his men were able to threaten the British army’s headquarters in New York City throughout the following winter and spring.

Seen as one of the turning points of the Revolution, the success of this lightning campaign, from December 25th to January 3rd, did indeed invigorate the army and reignited the fledgling nation’s commitment to American independence.