Battle of Monmouth

The Battle of Monmouth was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, which took place on 28 June 1778. The American Continental Army under George Washington attacked the rear guard of the British army under Sir Henry Clinton, as this just left Monmouth Court House (now Freehold Borough, New Jersey).

The American General Charles Lee led the attack on the marching column of the rearguard. When he realized that the British were trying to get into his flank, he ordered the immediate withdrawal, which ended in a disorganized flight. Washington himself took over the command and reorganized the troops. Then he positioned his artillery on the Comb 's Hill and led two counter-attacks. On Washington's side and the inspector general of the Continental Army appointed Prussian officer Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben took part in the battle.

Not least because of the prevailing heat ebbed battle during the day as more and more and in the evening, both sides withdrew. The battle was the last major encounter in the northern theater of war, and the largest single-day battle of the war, in terms of volume of the soldiers involved. General Lee was later due to his actions before a court martial.

The Legend of Molly Pitcher ( Mary Ludwig, 1754-1852 ) is commonly associated with this battle. She was a housewife, who participated with her husband in the battle. When the husband had fallen, she took his place at a cannon. The story has a true background, but was always more embellished over the years.

Every year on the last weekend in June listed in Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Freehold and Manalapan, New Jersey, a reenactment of the battle.

The former battlefield of Monmouth today ( view from Comb 's Hill )

Steuben Monument in Monmouth Battlefield State Park

The Legend of Molly Pitcher in an engraving of 1859