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By examining available texts and 18th century maps, historians thought they knew where the most significant events of the
Battle of Monmouth had occurred. But metal detecting surveys proved that one of the most important areas, the site where Washington
relieved Lee of his command, had been sold to a corporation and was about to be developed. Through the work of Deep Search
Metal Detecting Club and Dr. Garry Stone, Senior Historic Preservation Specialist with the State of NJ, the site was registered
with the NJ State Museum as an archaeological site and eventually acquired by the state and incorporated into Monmouth Battlefield.
Several years of work by Dr. Garry Stone and Deep Search members, including mapping, surveying, and artifact plotting
resulted in both preserving and rewriting the history of this site.
"Point-of-Woods" was actually on
property commonly known as Belle Terre, a once privately owned dairy farm. Metal detecting surveys show that during the Battle
of Monmouth, Americans and British fought on this property twice. What follows is Dr. Stone's interpretation of the battle.
The Americans were retreating from the village toward the Division Brook. Major General Charles Lee left a few battalions
behind to slow down the British 16th Dragoons as he made his way to the hill on the east side of the brook. Finding this ground
to be indefensible, he crossed the brook to the hill. This appears to be the site at which General Washington rode up and,
seeing the troops retreating in disorder, relieved Lee of his command.
The last units to cross the brook were
hand-picked battalions under Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Ramsey and Colonel Walter Stewart. At about midday, he ordered Ramsey
and Stewart to set up a line of defense in the woods under rigadier General Anthony Wayne's command. The British Guard approached
from the north, the Grenadiers from the south and Light Dragoons out front. The Americans fired a volley while the Guards
were loading. The Guards ewre joined by the Grenadiers and charged the American position with cold steel - bayonets drawn
and fixed. Intense hand-to-hand combat ensued in the woods and the Americans were overrun. Stewart was slightly wounded but
managed to escape. Ramsey headed toward the Hedgerow but was surrounded. He hacked one of his attackers with his sword, but
was fired at by a soldier with a pistol at close range. Although not hit, he received powder burns on his face and surrendered.
Stewart returned to his command for the rest of the battle. Ramsey was returned on parole either later that day or early the
next.
Later in the afternoon, Wayne engaged the British Grenadiers and the 33rd Regiment of Foot at the parsonage
farm and orchard. Taking some losses and unable to overtake Wayne, the British turned and marched toward the village. Unwilling
to let them leave, Wayne ordered his men to pursue and fire on their rear. The British formed on the slope and returned fire.
After several exchanges of musket fire, the British retreated, leaving Wayne to once again command the Point-of-Woods.
WHAT WE'VE FOUND: Archaeological data supports the concept that the Americans camped on the field while trying to watch
the British activity in the distance that night. Kaolin smoking pipe fragments, bottle fragments, buttons, "biting bullets",
and even a brass spigot from a wine or rum cask show that the troops probably rested while surgeons tended to the wounded.
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