The British Rush the Hedgerow
The Battle of Monmouth
“Riding like a New Market Jockey,” British Commander-in-chief, Sir Henry Clinton rushed his men forward hoping to crush the Continental advance force against Spotswood Middle Brook. If he could destroy the Continental Army, he might win the war and promotion.
The British pursued Major General Charles Lee’s Continentals across the fields behind you. As they climbed the hill, Clinton rode in front “crying out ‘Charge, Grenadiers, never heed forming’.” If his men attacked quickly, they might destroy the Continental battalions before they could cross the bridge.
At first, Clinton’s tactics seemed to be working. British guardsmen, grenadiers, and dragoons smashed through the Continental defenders of a woods, and the Americans fled to the fence in front of you.
As a wild mob, the British infantry rushed the hedged fence and its 800 Continental defenders. Briefly – for 3 to 5 minutes – the charge stalled here as the two sides fired at each other at point-blank range. Then the dragoons broke through the fence. The Continentals abandoned the hedgerow and hurried for the bridge. The grenadiers plunged after them, but the Americans were quicker and escaped. Clinton’s gamble had failed, and the ground was littered with red-coated bodies.
Marker can be reached from Freehold Road (County Route 522), on the right when traveling east.
Courtesy hmdb.org
