Battlefield Archaeology
The Battle of Monmouth – 28 June 1778
Where Was Molly Hays during the Battle of Monmouth?
Documents and Archaeology provides clues.
During the Battle, Commander-in-Chief George Washington watched approvingly as Captain Francis Proctor’s artillery company cannonaded the British. Joseph Plumb Martin noted that it was a 4-pounder “which kept up a constant fire upon the enemy.”
Later, one of Washington’s subordinates, Major-General Lord Stirling, described how the British “Infantry appeared also in the Rear of Sutfin’s, some of them advanced to the front of the Orchard, these we drove back with Grape and Canister Shot.”
Battlefield archaeologists have established the precise location of the orchard. It is marked by a concentration of lead canister shot and 2-ounce iron grape shot.
You are standing at the probable location of Molly Hays’cannon. Four pieces of 2-ounce grape shot found here appear to be the remains of a cartridge broken by Proctor’s gun crew.
Marker can be reached from Freehold Road (County Route 522), on the left when traveling east.
Courtesy hmdb.org
