Battle of Monmouth

The Battle of Monmouth raged in the scorching 96 degree heat on June 28, 1778. This moving battle covered a distance of about 20 linear miles, beginning in Freehold Courthouse and continuing into Middletown, NJ. Of the approximately 30,000 troops engaged in battle, about 501 died, half of which succumbed to heat stroke.

The main portion of the battle took place on what is now Monmouth Battlefield State Park, which contains approximately 1900 acres of battlefield property. Back in 1778, portions of the property were being farmed, including the sites of the John Sutfin house and the parsonage.

The foundations for this long, bloody battle began early in June of 1778, when British Commander-in-Chief Sir Henry Clinton withdrew his troops from Philadelphia and headed toward New York City. He decided to take his 20,000 men across "the Jersies", along with a baggage train of about 1,500 wagons containing provisions, munitions, and equipment. When George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, found out about this move, he planned to intersect the British.

Even before daybreak on June 28 the British army began moving out of Freehold. Approaching from Englishtown (3 miles west) were 5,000 American troops under Major General Charles Lee, Second-in-Command of the Continental Line. At the same time, Washington was advancing with 8,000 men from Manalapan Bridge, 6 miles west.

As Lee's troops approached the "great plain" circling toward the British rear guard, they did not remain concealed in the woods. British Grenadiers witnessed them, and before long the Continental Army saw a dust cloud caused by 9,000 crack British and Hessian troops, who had doubled back to attack Lee's approaching men. The attacking Grenadiers, Brigade of Guards and three Brigades of British Foot formed a half-mile wide double line as they approached the Continentals.

Against Washington's direct orders to attack the British, Lee ordered his men to retreat, causing confusion which resulted in an extremely disorderly withdrawal. While seeking a defensive position Lee lost communication with two large detachments: William Maxwell's New Jersey Brigade and Charles Scott's light infantry of 1,500 men. Incorrect information led Lee to believe Scott and Maxwell had already withdrawn, leaving Lee with only 2,500 men against Clinton's forces of 10,000.

Lee's withdrawal left several Continental units stranded in the woods. While some were able to escape, four battalions were cut off by the rapid advance of the British. All of the battalions eventually joined Washington, who ordered Lee to delay the British advance long enough for Washington to get his main army in position.

Rather than discouraging the British, the new American formations made the British strengthen their efforts. Once in position, Clinton led an attack against the Continentals and in minutes, the British took most of Lee's positions. But as two Continental battalions fled with Grenadiers in pursuit, a sudden attack of grapeshot from Continental guns killed the leader of the battalion and the British advance collapsed.

To try to silence the Continental artillery, Clinton brought 16 field pieces to the hedgerow and bombarded American positions with solid shot and shell for hours, with American guns responding in kind. But because the distance of two-thirds of a mile between the opposing forces was too great, damage was minimal. By mid-afternoon Clinton reluctantly ordered his flanking columns to withdraw, but gunfire from a Continental brigade blocked their position, forcing Clinton to withdraw his artillery. Without the support of their artillery, retreating British columns were left vulnerable.

This was Washington's chance to mount his planned offensive. Dispatching some of Scott's men along with Anthony Wayne and three of his Pennsylvania regiments, the retreating Third Brigade and the rear of the British First Division were confronted. Wayne's attack on the First Division provoked a brutal firefight that raged around the hedgerow and parsonage buildings until the British were forced to withdraw. By then it was late afternoon and both armies were exhausted, ending the Battle of Monmouth. Clinton withdrew his troops toward Freehold and lit decoy campfires, escaping with his troops during the night.

As soon as the British withdrew, a political battle erupted in the Continental Army. The second-in-command of the Army, Major-General Charles Lee, wanted Washington's job. Lee's reputed battlefield failures gave Washington's supporters an opportunity to attack Lee. They began spreading rumors that Lee was an incompetent coward. To clear his name, Lee requested a court-martial. The trial essentially gave the Continental Army officer corps the opportunity to vote on their commander-in-chief, and they supported Washington.