Monmouth Battlefield State Park preserves a splendid, rural 18th-century landscape of fields, orchards, woods and wetlands encompassing miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, picnic areas, a restored Revolutionary War farmhouse and a Visitor Center.

THE BATTLE

When the French sent part of their navy to support the Continental Army, the British occupation of Philadelphia became untenable.  June 18, 1778, the British Army—under their commander-in-chief, Sir Henry Clinton—completed evacuating the city and began marching to their main base in New York City.  The next day, the Continental Army under the command of General George Washington left Valley Forge and moved to harass the British. 

The morning of Sunday, June 28, 1778, found the British Army of 20,000 men camped along Dutch Lane and the Monmouth Courthouse-Allentown Road, while the main Continental Army of 8,500 men were camped at Manalapan Bridge, four miles west of Englishtown.  In Englishtown, General Charles Lee and an advance force of 5,000 men had orders to attack the rear of the British Army.

By Richard Wilber

As the British broke camp to continue their march, General Lee moved to encircle the British rear guard.  Lee’s men skirmished with the Queen’s Rangers and the field artillery of both sides erupted in a thunderous cannonade.  Barely in time, Lee realized that half of the British Army was returning to attack him.  As Lee retreated, Washington intercepted him and gave orders to begin a delaying action while the main Continental Army took position west of Spotswood
Middle Brook. (more)

By Jim Filipski

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This event is held
the weekend of
June 21st and 22nd.
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RELATED STRUCTURES

The Visitor Center

By Garry Stone

The visitor's center stands on top of Combs Hill, which was once commanded by the Continental Army artillery.  Inside is an interpretive display area and the park office.  Artifacts recovered in battlefield archaeology are also on display. (Open 9am to 4pm).

Old Tennent Church

(1751), which is adjacent to the battlefield; the Village Inn (1726) in Englishtown; St. Peter's Episcopal Church (1771); the Monmouth County Historical  Association Museum; the Covenhoven House (c.1752) and the Monmouth Battle Monument in the town of Freehold, which was dedicated in 1884 to commemorate the Battle of Monmouth.

The Craig House

During the battle, this farm house was the home of John and Ann Craig and their three children.  According to family tradition, the Craigs hid their silverware in the well before fleeing their farm.  During the battle, thirsty British troops drained the well and found the silver at the bottom.  The 1746 kitchen is Dutch framed, while the two-story addition is English frame with period furnishings.

Who Was Molly Pitcher
by Dr. Garry Stone

As the temperature approached 100 degrees, and a gunner collapsed from heat exhaustion, a young woman stepped forward to help work Captain Francis Proctor's field piece. The wife of gunner William Hays, memories of her heroism evolved into the myth of "Molly Pitcher." (more)