Highlanders Decline Combat
The Battle of Monmouth
“What a pity it is to throw away such men as these” Captain – Lieutenant John Peebles, Royal Highland Regiment
Here, in what was Derick Sutfin’s cider orchard, 300 Royal Highlanders found themselves in an awkward position. Over 700 Continental infantry were approaching their right flank (up the hill behind you), while a Continental cannon fired round after round into the treetops above their heads. Should they stay and fight?
The hardy, brave Scots were too valuable to waste in a needless firefight. Wisely, their commander decided not to fight here. Instead, he led his men south along the fence looking for a good position from which to assail the Continentals.
as the Continentals advanced, they found their way blocked by an orchard fence (no longer standing). Colonel Cilley sent a platoon to skirmish with the Highlanders and slow them down while the rest of the battalion took down the fence. One of the skirmishers, Joseph Martin, later remembered that “we pursued without order. As I passed through the orchard, I saw a number of the enemy killed by our field piece.”
The Scots withdrew through the fields, stopping twice to fire upon the pursuing Continentals. Then the Scots forded the brook and rejoined Clinton’s army.
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Archaeology confirms Highlanders’ Position
While in Sutfin’s orchard, the Scots had been sniped at by American rifle and musket men and bombarded with lead canister and 2-ounce grape shot from Captain Proctor’s 4-pounder field piece. Many of these projectiles remained in the ground until 1990 when archaeologists began to excavate the site. Careful computer analysis of the data revealed the location of the Royal Highlanders.
Archaeology by BRAVO (Battlefield & Archaeological Volunteer Organization)
Marker can be reached from Freehold Road (County Route 522), on the left when traveling east.
Courtesy hmdb.org
