Washington Resumes the Offensive
The Battle of Monmouth
As the enemy withdrew their artillery and began withdrawing their infantry, Commander-in-Chief George Washington began a cautious offensive designed to boost American morale without risking the destruction of the Continental Army.
First, Washington sent two battalions of light infantry circling through the valley to your left to harass the British detachments retreating across the Sutfin Farm. Later, south of the Middle Brook, Brigadier-General Anthony Wayne attacked the British grenadiers.
For the thousands of Continentals watching from Perrine’s and Comb’s Hills, it was a glorious sight to see Continental soldiers “drive” the “Redcoats” from the field. Washington had turned a tactical stalemate into a major political victory.
sidebar: Col. Joseph Cilley of New Hampshire commanded the lead battalion on the left. In a July 22nd letter, he described the resulting skirmish with the Royal Highland Regiment:
“His excellency ordered me to take … 350 rank and file, … to see what I could do with the enemy’s right wing, which was formed in an orchard in our front. Marched on toward them until I came within about 40 rods, when I ordered my battalion to form the line of battle, … The enemy began a scattering fire. I ordered my men to advance, …. When the enemy saw that we were determined to push close …, they gave way and took post in a … wood and gave me a very heavy fire, …. I advanced within a few rods, gave them a heavy fire which put them in confusion. They run off. I killed a number on the field. Took between twenty and thirty prisoners. Should have pursued further, but the extreme heat of the weather was such that several of my men died of the heat.”
Marker can be reached from Freehold Road (County Route 522), on the left when traveling east.
Courtesy hmdb.org
