MONMOUTH, Battle of, in American history, a celebrated engagement between the American and British forces, the former com manded by General Washington and the latter by Sir Henry Clinton, which took place at Free hold, Monmouth County, N. J., 28 June 1778. On 18 June Sir Henry Clinton, acting under peremptory orders from the British Ministry, evacuated Philadelphia, which had been occu pied by his army since the preceding September, and proceeded across New Jersey toward Brunswick, with a view of embarking on the Raritan. On hearing of this movement Wash ington broke up his camp at Valley Forge, and having sent forward some light troops to harass the enemy started in pursuit. Owing to exces sive heat the march of both armies was slow. At Allentown, Clinton turned to the right by a road leading through Freehold to Sandy Hook, to embark at the latter place; and Washington, who had hitherto been deterred by the advice of his officers, and particularly of Gen. Charles Lee, from attacking the enemy, determined at once to give him battle. The evening of the 27th found the main body of the enemy en camped on high ground near. Monmouth court house, while the American advance, about 4,000 strong, under Lee, was posted at Englishtown, five miles distant, with the main body about three miles in the rear. The command of the advance had originally 'been given to Lafayette, with the consent of Lee; but the latter subsequently applied for and obtained it. Early on the 28th Lee engaged the rear division of the enemy, his orders being to hold it in check until the main body under Washington could come up. The Americans were at first successful, but owing to causes which have never been satisfactorily explained, the whole body soon after fell into a confusion and commenced a disorderly re treat, closely followed by the British. Wash ington, who was advancing hastily with the main body, received' the first intimation of this movement in the crowds of fugitives who poured along the road. Exasperated at the
failure of Lee to execute his orders he rode up to that general and reprimanded him, Then he reformed them, and hastened back to bring up the main body. Lee, resuming his command, held his position, with spirit until compelled to retire and brought off his troops in good order. The main body, which had meanwhile taken a favorable position on an eminence, with a mo rass in front and a wood in the rear, opened an effective cannonade upon the British. The latter, after an ineffectual attempt to turn the American left under Lord Stirling, directed their chief efforts against the right commanded by Greene, where Wayne, under cover of an orchard was harassing their centre by a severe fire: To dislodge him Colonel Moncton ad vanced with a column of royal grenadiers, but fell at the head of his troops, who were re pulsed with considerable loss. The enemy at length fell back to the ground occupied by Lee in' the morning, whither Washington was pre paring to follow them when the approach of night and the exhaustion of his men induced him to defer the execution of his plan until the morning. During the night Clinton effected a noiseless retreat, and at daybreak was many miles away from the scene of battle. The ex cessive heat of the weather and the fatigued condition of the troops rendered a pursuit im practicable, and the royal army was suffered to proceed unmolested to the place of embark ation. The American loss in this engagement was 69 killed and 160 wounded; the British 300 killed and 100 prisoners including wounded. Their total loss by desertions and the casual ties of battle during their march through New Jersey has been estimated at 2,000. For his conduct in this battle Lee was court-martialed and suspended for one year from his command. Consult Carrington, H. B., 'Battles of the American Revolution' (New York 1876); Daw son, H. B., 'Battles of the United States' (New York 1858) ; 'Lee, C., Trial of, 4 July 1778' (New York 1864).