Battle of Monmouth
The
Battle of Monmouth was an inconclusive battle of the
American Revolutionary War fought on
June 28,
1778. The main American
Continental Army under
George Washington attacked the rear of the
British Army's column led by Sir
Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court House (modern
Freehold Borough, New Jersey).
American General
Charles Lee led the advance and initiated the first attack on the column's rear. When the British turned to flank him, he ordered a general retreat without so as much as firing a shot at the enemy, and his soldiers soon became disorganized. Washington sent the dejected Lee to the rear, then personally rallied the troops and repelled two counterattacks. On a very hot day (perhaps higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit), the battle was a standoff. Both sides lost as many men to sunstroke as to the enemy. Both sides retired at nightfall.
The battle was the last major engagement of the northern theatre, and the largest one-day battle of the war when measured in terms of participants. Lee was later court-martialed for his actions.
The legend of "
Molly Pitcher" is usually associated with this battle. According to one story, she was a housewife who came to battle with her husband, and took his place at the cannon after he fell. While apparently based on a true incident, the story was greatly embellished over the years.
Each year during the last weekend in June the Battle of Monmouth is reenacted at
Monmouth Battlefield State Park in modern
Freehold and
Manalapan, NJ.
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Battle of Monmouth
