Monmouth, New Jersey

Overview

The Battle of Monmouth was a significant engagement that took place during the American Revolutionary War on June 28, 1778, near Monmouth Court House in New Jersey. The battle was fought between the Continental Army, commanded by General George Washington, and the British Army, led by General Sir Henry Clinton. The clash was notable for its intense heat and the prominent role played by women, including Molly Pitcher, who bravely took up her husband’s position at a cannon after he fell in battle.

The Battle of Monmouth marked a turning point in the Revolutionary War, as it demonstrated the improving capabilities and resilience of the Continental Army. Despite encountering initial difficulties due to miscommunication and tactical errors, Washington’s troops rallied and successfully engaged the British forces. The battle ended inconclusively, with both sides claiming victory. However, the British eventually retreated during the night, leaving the field to the Americans. The Battle of Monmouth bolstered the morale of the Continental Army. It solidified Washington’s position as a capable military leader, setting the stage for future American victories in the war for independence.

Diaries and Memoirs

Martin, Joseph Plumb. A Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier: Some of the Adventures, Dangers, and Sufferings of Joseph Plumb Martin. New York: Signet Classics, 2010.

In his diary, Martin describes that he was on detached duties during the Monmouth campaign. He marched to Short Hills, NJ, to observe the British troop movements. He spent more time marching and waiting than fighting. He does not comment on the outcome of the battle or the leadership dispute between Generals Washington and Lee during the heat of the battle. His concerns were that of a typical soldier. Most vociferously, he complains about the lack of food and clothing before and after the Battle of Monmouth. It was a very tough duty under trying circumstances.

Muenchhausen, Levin Friedrich Ernst. At General Howe’s Side 1776-1778. Edited by Ernst Kipping and Samuel Stelle Smith. Monmouth Beach, N.J: Philip Freneau Press, 1974.

Other Primary Sources

Ryan, Dennis P., and Daughters of the Cincinnati, eds. A Salute to Courage: The American Revolution as Seen through Wartime Writings of Officers of the Continental Army and Navy. New York: Columbia University Press, 1979.

The Salute to Courage contains several passages from Diaries and Memoirs of soldiers who participated in the Battle of Monmouth, including Joseph Clark and James McHenry. Additionally, entries from Archilaus Lewis’s orderly book and Joseph Cilley and Thomas Clark’s letters are reproduced.

Secondary Sources

Bilby, Joseph G., and Katherine Bilby Jenkins. Monmouth Court House: The Battle That Made the American Army. Yardley, Pa: Westholme, 2010.

Gilman, Col. C. Malcolm B. Monmouth Road to Glory. Red Bank, NJ: Arlington Laboratory for Clinical and Historical Research, 1964.

King, Charles. “The Battle of Monmouth Court House.” Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, 1, 4–5 (51 1849): 125–47.

Lender, Mark Edward, and Garry Wheeler Stone. Fatal Sunday: George Washington, the Monmouth Campaign, and the Politics of Battle. Campaigns and Commanders, volume 54. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2016.

For a book review, see:

Monmouth; More than a Battle, a Lesson in Leadership

McBurney, Christian M. George Washington’s Nemesis: The Outrageous Treason and Unfair Court-Martial of Major General Charles Lee during the Revolutionary War. California: Savas Beatie, 2019.

Myers, William Starr. The Battle of Monmouth. Port Washington, N.Y: Kennikat Press, 1927.

Stempel, Jim. Valley Forge to Monmouth: Six Transformative Months of the American Revolution. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2020.

Stryker, Gen. William S. “Lee’s Conduct at the Battle of Monmouth.” Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, 3, 1–2 (July 1896): 95–99.

Stryker, W.S. The Battle of Monmouth. Friends of Monmouth Battlefield, Incorporated, by arr. with Princeton University Press, 1999. https://books.google.com/books?id=lk_HngEACAAJ.

Thayer, Theodore. The Making of a Scapegoat: Washington and Lee at Monmouth. Series in American Studies. Port Washington, N.Y: Kennikat Press, 1976.

Battlefield Images