Battle of Monmouth painting shows George Washington rallying his men while an embarrassed Charles Lee waits nearby.
The Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778 saw a colonial American army under Major GeneralGeorge Washington fight a British army led by Lieutenant GeneralSir Henry Clinton. After evacuating Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 18, Clinton intended to march his 13,000-man army to New York City. Washington sent 6,400 troops commanded by Major General Charles Lee to attack the British column of march near Monmouth Court House, New Jersey. When Clinton counterattacked, Lee ordered his badly deployed troops to fall back immediately. Washington brought up 7,000 men to support Lee's withdrawing wing and held his ground against repeated British assaults. That evening Clinton retreated from the field and continued his march to Sandy Hook, where the British fleet waited to ferry his army to New York. Both armies' casualties were about even in the last major battle in the northern colonies. Lee was court martialed for his behavior during the battle.[1]
Royal Artillery Commander: Brigadier General James Pattison
Senior Engineer Officer: Captain John Montresor (Absent)
Aide-de-Camp: Major Duncan Drummond, Captains William Sutherland, Lord William Cathcart, William Crosbie, Alexander von Wilmowsky, Ernst von Munchhausen
Military Secretary: Captain John Smith
Deputy Inspector General of Provincial Forces: Captain Henry Rooke
Deputy Muster-Master of Provincial Forces: Andrew Bell
1st Division
The 1st Division was commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis and comprised 9,440 combat troops.[3]
British foot regiments each contained a company of light infantry, but during the American Revolutionary War these were detached to form the separate Light Infantry Battalion.[4]
British foot regiments each contained a company of Grenadiers, but during the American Revolutionary War these were detached to form separate Grenadier battalions.[4]
The Guards battalions were formed for service in North America by drawing fifteen men from each of the sixty-four Guards companies of the Foot Guard regiments.[5]
Number of women granted permission to accompany the army. Because many women who were supposed to have been transported from Philadelphia by sea chose to accompany the army overland, the actual number was greater.[6]
Artillery
The artillery was divided between the two divisions.[7]
Unit
Commander
Strength
Notes
Artillery
Brigadier General James Pattison
Royal Artillery
634
The British employed a mix of howitzers and 1.5-, 3-, 6-, 12- and 24-pounder guns.[8] The New Jersey Volunteers comprised four companies of matrosses.[9]
Drivers
261
2nd Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers
129
Hessian Artillery
39
Anspach Artillery
34
Noncombatants
Women
34
Number of women granted permission to accompany the army. Because many women who were supposed to have been transported from Philadelphia by sea chose to accompany the army overland, the actual number was greater.[6]
Children
3
2nd Division
Wilhelm von Knyphausen
The 2nd Division was commanded by Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen and comprised 8,229 combat troops and 1,394 noncombatants.[10] While the 1st Division fought at Monmouth Court House, the 2nd Division proceeded with the 1,500 wagons of the baggage train towards Middletown. It endured only light harassment from American militia along the way.[11]
British foot regiments each contained a company of light infantry, but during the American Revolutionary War these were detached to form the separate Light Infantry Battalion.[4]
The quantity shown for women represents the official figure of those granted permission to accompany the army. Because many women who were supposed to have been transported from Philadelphia by sea chose to accompany the army overland, the actual number was greater.[6]
Paymaster's guard and suite
10
Lieutenant Colonel Rawdon's guard and suite
3
Deputy Inspector General of Provincial Forces
Captain Henry Rooke
3
Quartermaster General Department
Sir William Erskine
494
Engineer's Department
138
Bridgemaster's Department
21
Royal Artillery Company of Conductors and Artificers
51
Surgeons etc.
19
Sick and attendants of general hospital
134
Provost Martial, guard, prisoners and criminals
57
Refugees
91
Women
318
Children
6
American order of battle
George Washington
General George Washington (est. 15,000 - 16,000)[14] {Curly Brackets indicate Brigade/Regimental/Battalion Strength}
* Lee reshuffled his troops before launching his attack on the British rearguard, and put Wayne in charge of a detachment comprising Grayson's combined Virginia regiments, Butler's battalion and Jackson's detachment. Lafayette took over command of Wayne's original detachment.[18][19]
Because of a series of miscommunications, Morgan remained at Richmond Mills, some two miles (three kilometres) to the south of Monmouth Court House, and did not participate in the battle.[21]
When the main body reached Tennent's Meeting House, some two miles (three kilometres) east of Englishtown, Washington ordered Major General Nathanael Greene to take a brigade to cover the right flank. Greene was guided to Combs Hill by Lieutenant Colonel David Rhea of the 2nd New Jersey Militia.[23]
^Lender, Mark Edward; Stone, Garry Wheeler (2016). Fatal Sunday: George Washington, the Monmouth Campaign, and the Politics of Battle. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN978-0-8061-5335-3. Pg.452
Bilby, Joseph G.; Jenkins, Katherine Bilby (2010). Monmouth Court House: The Battle That Made the American Army. Yardley, Pennsylvania: Westholme Publishing. ISBN978-1-59416-108-7.
Johnson, Curt (1975). Battles of the American Revolution. London: Rand McNally & Company. ISBN0-528-81022-7.
Lender, Mark Edward; Stone, Garry Wheeler (2016). Fatal Sunday: George Washington, the Monmouth Campaign, and the Politics of Battle. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN978-0-8061-5335-3.
Martin, David G., Millman, Leonard, Smith, Eric Lee. Battle of Monmouth: The Colonies take the Offensive war game. New York, NY: Simulations Publications, Inc., 1982.
Morrissey, Brendan (2008). Monmouth Courthouse 1778: The last great battle in the North. Long Island City, N.Y.: Osprey Publishing. ISBN978-1-84176-772-7.
McGuire, Thomas J. (2006). The Philadelphia Campaign, Volume I. Mechanicsburg, Penn.: Stackpole Books. ISBN0-8117-0178-6.
McGuire, Thomas J. (2007). The Philadelphia Campaign, Volume II. Mechanicsburg, Penn.: Stackpole Books. ISBN978-0-8117-0206-5.