Battle of Monmouth

The Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778 marked the end of the Philadelphia Campaign and the longest single day of combat in the American Revolution. While it was not a clear strategic victory for George Washington, he lauded the performance of his troops and officers, with one major exception, the battlefield conduct of Major General Charles Lee. As the Continental Army suffered minimal losses against larger British forces, they celebrated the British expulsion from the region. Although weakened, General Sir Henry Clinton was able to maneuver the British Army from the area to meet the Royal Navy at Sandy Hook to evacuate in order to strengthen their position in New York.

Staging the Battle of Monmouth

British forces under General Howe captured Philadelphia after the Battle of Brandywine in September of 1777, but they chose to evacuate the city the following June. While Howe successfully occupied the city, he failed to send reinforcements to British General John Burgoyne. Without additional troops, Burgoyne was defeated in the Battle of Saratoga and the British stronghold in the state of New York was compromised. Anticipating an American and French attack on New York, Howe was replaced by Clinton to evacuate Philadelphia and fortify the British position in New York deemed more desirable. Although defeated by the British in the Fall of 1777, Washington’s army was still intact and remained near Philadelphia at Valley Forge. After crucial winter of training and obtaining supplies, the Continental Army was ready to reengage with British forces. The preparedness of the Continental Army was a challenge for British forces, who would need to maneuver past them to reach Sandy Hook, New Jersey to sail to New York.

Initially, Washington proposed that the main body of the army attack the British on their way through New Jersey. Major General Charles Lee argued that it would be too difficult to confront over 17,000 British and Hessian troops. In contrast, the Marquis de Lafayette, Nathanael Greene, and Anthony Wayne urged Washington to strike at the British columns while they were strung out across the New Jersey countryside. After strategizing with military leaders, Washington decided that a 5,000 man force commanded by Lee would move ahead to harass the British rear until a larger body of 6,000 troops could join them. Initially, Washington wanted to appoint Lafayette to this role. Within this scheme, Major General Lord Stirling would command a second wing and the Marquis de Lafayette would command a reserve wing. However, this compromise still led to discontent, as Lafayette and Greene feared a more forceful approach was needed to prevent British forces from crossing through New Jersey. 

The Battle of Monmouth

A small force under the command of Major General Charles Lee with a small force ahead of the main body marched to harass the rear of the British. Lee was ordered to engage the redcoats until Washington could bring the rest of the army from Valley Forge. Although Lee attacked rear of the British formation, his miscalculation led to a formidable British counter-attack. On the particularly hot day, the attack started a long struggled. After several hours of fighting, and with the main army nowhere in sight, Lee began to retreat. However, when Washington finally met up Lee with the main body of the army at the road near Monmouth Courthouse, New Jersey, Clinton disengaged from fighting to resume marching to Sandy Hook.

Washington upset at Lee for fleeing from the British that, as General Charles Scott reported, the "leaves shook on the tree."¹ While his disgraced second headed behind the lines, Washington rode through the ranks on his white charger, inspiring the soldiers with his confidence. Lord Stirling's men were placed on the left, Greene's soldiers on the right, and part of Lee's original force were placed under the command of Wayne and located in the center. Lafayette stood in reserve with the rest of Lee's forces. The British flank led by General Charles Cornwallis, struck first at Lord Stirling. Cornwallis was then met by Greene, before attacking Wayne in the middle. By evening both sides were exhausted.

Many men had been killed or wounded, while still more had collapsed in the 100-degree weather. Washington's own horse had died in the heat. Washington wrote, “The extreme heat of the Weather—the fatigue of the Men from their march thro’ a deep sandy Country almost entirely destitute of Water, and the distance the Enemy had gained by marching in the Night, made a pursuit impracticable and fruitless.”² Noticing British campfires burning in the distance, Washington resolved to continue the fight in the morning. But at sunrise, he realized that the redcoats had kept their fires burning as a ruse and continued to their departing destination. 

Impact of the Battle of Monmouth

While the British escaped and proceeded to Sandy Hook to travel to New York, the Americans claimed victory in the Battle of Monmouth. Washington was remembered for his bravery, Lafayette later recalled, in regards to Washington’s service at Monmouth that, "I thought then as now I had never beheld so superb a man."³ Even though they managed to evacuate the region, British forces suffered the loss of soldiers, supplies, and for some morale. Additionally, hundreds of British and Hessian troops deserted to the Continental Army.⁴ The performance of the Continental Army demonstrated the advancements in training the previous winter at Valley Forge and strengthened public opinion on George Washington’s leadership. Despite celebrations among the Continental Army, Lee was court martialed for his conduct and retreat.⁵ Lee was found guilty and subsequently suspended from the army for a year. His conduct in battle disgraced his reputation and further linked him to the Conway Cabal. 

Mary Stockwell, Ph.D., revised by Zoie Horecny, Ph.D., 12 August 2025 

Notes:

1. Quoted in Edward Lengel, General George Washington: A Military Life (New York: Random House, 2005), 300.

2. “George Washington to Henry Laurens, 1 July 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives.

3. Quoted in James Flexner, George Washington in the American Revolution, 1775-1783 (Boston: Little, Brown, 1968), 305.

4. “George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 29 June 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives.

5. “George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 30 June 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives. While Washington ultimately issued his court-martial, Lee was aware of the scrutiny that would follow his actions in the Battle of Monmouth. He wrote to Washington on the same day as his court-marital requesting one, “I could wish it might be a court martial—for if the affair is drawn into length it may be difficult to collect the necessary evidences, and perhaps might bring on a paper war betwixt the adherents to both parties—which may occasion some disagreeable feuds. “Major General Charles Lee to George Washington, 30 June 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives.

Bibliography:

Atkinson, Rick. The Fate of the Day: A War for American, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780. Crown Publishing: 2025.

Chernow, Ron. Washington: A Life. New York: Penguin Press, 2010.

Griffith, William R. A Handsome Flogging: The Battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778. Savas Beatie, 2020.

Lender, Mark Edward and Gary Wheeler Stone. Fatal Sunday: George Washington, the Monmouth Campaign, and the Politics of Battle. University of Oklahoma Press, 2016.

Taaffe, Stephen R. The Philadelphia Campaign, 1777-1778. University of Michigan, 2003.