By Anne Levin

Among those who fought at the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1776, were at least 14 Black soldiers from different states. Little has been known about these men, who marched from Trenton to Princeton in the freezing weather, wearing threadbare coats — and no shoes.

A joint project of the Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) and Foundation Academies of Trenton aims to honor these unsung patriots by researching just who they were, and the contributions they made. The partnership is part of the PBS “Men Without Shoes” research project. Leading up to next year’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, scholars from the school’s Black Student Union, who are in grades 9-12, will begin work on the project in the fall.

“We’ll explore the lives and contributions of the African American soldiers, focusing on the battles of Trenton and Princeton,” said Isiah Jones, who teaches social studies at Foundation Academies and will advise the students on research. “Especially with the American Revolution, the more commonly known information [about Black soldiers] is about people like Crispus Attucks, who was shot in the Boston Massacre. But history doesn’t tell us about the history of African Americans who fought in Trenton and Princeton. It’s important to tell these stories now, especially when our country is so divided.”

The first stop for the students will likely be pension records. Mark Herr, a member of the PBS and its spokesman, said the project began, in part, when he tried to find out about the 30 men who were killed at the Battle of Princeton.

“I could find the names of 10 — all officers,” he said. “What about the enlisted men? No one knew.”

Herr asked a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution to delve into the research. “She came up with about 500 names of guys. They found 14 Black names,” Herr said. “I’m a supporter of Foundation Academies, so I reached out to them. They were very interested in doing a research project for the 250th. This is a sort of natural partnership — the kids get to do an interesting, relevant history project, and tell us these stories. The American Revolution belongs to all of us.”

The “Men Without Shoes” project focuses not only on Black soldiers, but on all who fought with George Washington to help secure independence.

“All of these men — Black, white — they were all patriots,” said PBS President Ben Strong, in a press release. “As part of our program to mark the 250th anniversaries of the founding of the United States, the state of New Jersey, and the Battle of Princeton, we wanted to showcase these forgotten soldiers to share their stories.”

Foundation Academies’ CEO Sheria McRae said the partnership “is more than a history lesson — it’s a powerful journey of discovery and identity. Partnering with the Princeton Battlefield Society allows us to bring to light the courage and contributions of African American patriots often left out of traditional narratives. Members of our Black Student Union will honor their legacy by ensuring these stories are told with pride and purpose.”

The students’ research is expected to be completed for a special Black History Month presentation in February 2026. Scholars plan to share their findings at an event in Princeton and during the school’s annual Black History Month celebration. The results of their work will be featured on the PBS website (pbs1777.org), and the school’s website (foundationacademies.org).

“We’re going to also try and mount a physical exhibition in the Clarke House,” said Herr. “All of this is to get people to think about the need for a visitors center at the Battlefield. We need one. Ultimately, what we’d really love to do is make the Princeton Battlefield the definitive source for all things American Revolution in New Jersey. Because this is where independence was won.”