The British army evacuated Philadelphia in the spring of 1778 and began returning to New York City. George Washington wanted to test out his newly trained and disciplined army in combat with the British and pursued. He wanted to pick off a small piece of the army and defeat it to help gain confidence and morale. The British were unable to use the navy to transport them as France had entered the war and a fleet was on its way.
Colonists burned bridges and placed obstacles in the roads that slowed the British army under Henry Clinton. The column was vulnerable with a baggage train that was 12 miles long but Washington was unsure how to attack it. He held a council of war with his senior generals, who were divided. Some urged a partial attack, some urged just harassing the British. Washington eventually decided to hit the British with 4,000 men as their rear guard left Monmouth Court House.
Charles Lee, Washington’s second in command, was offered command of this strike force. He turned it down as he preferred just harassing the British but changed his mind when Lafayette was offered command. Lee’s orders for the attack were unclear and the attack against Charles Cornwallis, who commanded the rear guard, went off piecemeal. Cornwallis weathered the attack and counterattacked himself catching the disorganized Colonists unprepared and drove Lee’s men back.
Washington himself now arrived and began rallying Lee’s men and relieving Lee of command. This rallied force was able to hold Cornwallis back. Artillery was brought up and the longest artillery duel of the war began. Cornwallis sent the Black Watch to attack the Colonial left. It was driven back so Cornwallis tried the other flank. This assault was met by fire from a new direction.
Washington had managed to get infantry and artillery on Coomb’s Hill to the west of the battlefield under Nathanael Greene. Cornwallis’ men turned to attack it but were driven back with heavy losses, though some of this attacking force did manage to turn Anthony Wayne’s flank on the Colonial right. Now the artillery took over. The longest artillery duel of the war took over and lasted until darkness put an end to it. Cornwallis made no further effort to assault the Colonial positions and withdrew overnight.
Tactically the battle was a draw but the Colonists claimed a victory since they were left in charge of the field. Casualties vary. The battle was fought in over 100 degree weather and more men on both sides died of heatstroke than of combat wounds. Colonial casualties were somewhere between 350 and 500 and British losses were 300 and 1,100.
The most famous person to emerge from the battle was Molly Hays. She brought water to thirsty Colonial soldiers and it was later claimed manned a cannon when her husband was killed. She became forever known as Molly Pitcher. It happened but like anything has been embellished over the years. The battlefield has been preserved as Monmouth Battlefield State Historic Site.