Battle of Monmouth

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Battle of Monmouth

Image:BattleofMonmouth.jpg
Washington Rallying the Troops at Monmouth
by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze

Date	June 28, 1778
Location	Monmouth Court House, New Jersey
Result	Inconclusive

Combatants

Commanders

Strength

13,462

13,059

Casualties

152 killed
300 wounded
Total 452

190 killed
390 wounded
576 captured
Total 1,156

Philadelphia campaign 1777–1778
Brandywine – Paoli – Germantown – White Marsh – Matson's Ford – Valley Forge – Crooked Billet – Barren Hill – Monmouth

The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778, that was a turning point of the American Revolution. The main 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).

1 Battle
2 Aftermath
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Battle

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 referred to as "Washington's Advance". On a very hot day, the battle was a standoff. Both sides lost as many men to hyperthermia as to the enemy. Both sides retired at nightfall.

[edit] Aftermath

The battle was the last major engagement of the northern theater, 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. Based on a true incident, the story idea is embellished and has become a legend over the years. Two places on the battlefield are marked as sites of the Molly Pitcher Spring.<ref name=NPS>Monmouth Battlefield: Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings, accessed November 3, 2006</ref>

Although never accorded formal preservation, Monmouth Battlefield is one of the best preserved of the Revolutionary War battlefields.<ref name=NPS/> Each year during the last weekend in June, the Battle of Monmouth is reenacted at Monmouth Battlefield State Park in modern Freehold Township and Manalapan.