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'Beware of Being Burgoyned.': Marching Toward Monmouth, Delaware River To Freehold, 18 To 27 June 1778
'Beware of Being Burgoyned.': Marching Toward Monmouth, Delaware River To Freehold, 18 To 27 June 1778
'Beware of Being Burgoyned.': Marching Toward Monmouth, Delaware River To Freehold, 18 To 27 June 1778
”
Marching Toward Monmouth, Delaware River to Freehold, 18 to 27 June 1778
John U. Rees
Originally an appendix to, “`What is this you have been about to day?’: The New Jersey Brigade at
the Battle of Monmouth,” http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthToc.htm
Artillery piece on the move, attached to limber and horse team. Detail from Phillippe Jacques
de Loutherbourg (1740-1812), “Warley Camp: The Review” (1780), Oil on canvas 121.3 x 183.5
cm, Painted for George III, RCIN 406349, The Royal Collection.
Crown forces’ strength on 28 June 1778 may be viewed at:
“CROWN FORCES 28 JUNE 1778: Return of wagoners, women and children with British,
German, and Loyalist Forces at Monmouth Courthouse, New Jersey.”
https://www.academia.edu/36671248/CROWN_FORCES_28_JUNE_1778_Return_of_wagoners_w
omen_and_children_with_British_German_and_Loyalist_Forces_at_Monmouth_Courthouse_New
_Jersey
Continental forces contending with Gen. Sir Henry Clinton’s columns consisted of:
Brig. Gen. William Maxwell’s New Jersey brigade
Total Number Levies
of Enlisted Number of in Proportion
Regiment Men * Levies to the Whole
1st Jersey 501 257 51.3%
2d Jersey 476 218 46.0%
3d Jersey 369 118 32.0%
4th Jersey 325 77 23.5%
* Non-commissioned officers and rank and file
(1,671 total rank and file, perhaps 1,200 to 1,300 fit, present)
Plus: A battery of two guns
Capt. Thomas Randall’s Company (attached to 2nd Cont. Art.:
New Jersey militia light horse: Lt. Col. Anthony W. White (4th C.L.D.)
Somerset Co. Light Horse, Capt. John Stryker
On the same date Lt. Col. Henry Dearborn, 3d New Hampshire Regiment, attached to Brig.
Gen. Scott’s detachment, noted,
25th this morning we march.d within 5 miles of the Enimy - & Halted & Drew Provision.
Sent a small Party of Horse to Reconoightir the Enimy. At 12 O Clock we ware Inform.d that
the Enimy ware on their way to Monmouth Coart House. Which is Towards Sandy Hoock.
Our main army is Near Prince Town, we are now Prepared to Harress the Enimy. Genrl. Scot
1500 men Genrl. Maxwell 1000 Colo. Morgan 500 – Genrl. Dickerson 1000 [New Jersey]
Millitia; & 200 Horse. the above Detatchmts are on the Flanks and Rear of the Enimy …
Miscellaneous Detachments
1. June 23 1778: Morgan’s Rifle Corps sent forward from the main army
(Total, circa 600)
Including:
50 men from the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard
Two light infantry companies from the North Carolina brigade
25 men (375 total) from every other brigade (fifteen) with the main army
2. June 23, 1778: Col. Stephen Moylan’s 4th Continental Light Dragoons (all effective
mounted men, perhaps 150 men), plus detachments from 1st and 3d Light Dragoon
regiment)
(Total, circa 150 men, base on the 29 August 1778 army return.)
For additional advance detachments and the composition of Maj. Gen. Charles Lee’s Advanced
Corps see, “’A Detatchment of 1500 Pick’d men was taken to Day from the army …’: Troop
Formations Detached from Washington’s Army Prior to the Battle of Monmouth, June 1778”
https://tinyurl.com/Lees-Force
_____________________
British Baggage Train on the March Across New Jersey. Regarding the Crown forces’ baggage
train, Gen. Sir Henry Clinton noted, “Under the head of the baggage was comprised, not only the
wheeled carriages of every department, but also the bat [pack] horses, a train, which as the country
admitted but of one route for carriages [the bulk of the army baggage train marched with Lt. Gen.
Wilhelm von Knyphausen’s Second Division], extended near twelve miles.” Knyphausen himself
noted the number of wheeled vehicles, writing of the march on June 18th, “the 1st [actually 2d]
Division under my command, including the whole of the artillery and provision train of the army,
(numbering 1,500 waggons), marched to Haddonfield …”
There has been some contention over the accuracy of Clinton’s and Knyphausen’s claims.
Historian Garry Wheeler Stone has calculated the road space occupied by the British baggage train
on the day of the battle and concluded that it covered roughly 9.6 miles, from the head of the train a
mile or two before Nut Swamp back towards Monmouth Courthouse. Finding that 1,500 vehicles,
single-file (using an average of 40 feet for each wagon and team) would cover nearly 12 miles, he
discounts that number. That said, allowing 40 feet of road space for each vehicle, including draft
horses, is far too much. Given the known British predilection (after the 1776 campaign) for two-
horse vehicles, those would have predominated in the 1778 baggage train (one exception was the
forty pontoon wagons, likely pulled by four animals each). Thus, the road allowance for each
vehicle should be reduced to 30 feet. With that new template and some basic arithmetic we can get
an idea what road coverage needs were for the totality of British vehicles.
No matter what the actual size of the train, it was very large and would have covered at least five
miles of road, and possibly more. (Note: Also on the road were Knyphausen’s vanguard troops, the
wagon guards, the British rearguard troops, with some artillery.)
5 miles (5,280 feet per mile) = 26,400, divided by 30 = 880 wagons and teams.
Add one more mile of road space and you have room for almost two hundred more vehicles
6 miles (5,280 feet per mile) = 31,680, divided by 30 = 1,056 wagons and teams.
Given that troops and pack horses could march off-road or in the intervals between wagons, a
six-mile train is possible, even probable.
It is also possible that the British wagons traversed the road not in a single line, but double-file or
in a checkerboard pattern (assuming the road was wide enough), which would mean more vehicles
would require a smaller quantity of road-space.
In the end, I think it very likely the number of wheeled vehicles with Crown forces on their
march from Cooper’s Ferry to Sandy Hook was over a thousand, and perhaps as many as 1,100.
Illustration from William Tatham, Historical and Practical Essay of the Culitivation and Commerce of
Tobacco (London, 1800). Tatham was present in the James River basin area of Virginia in the 1760s
and 70s.
Image of artillery field piece and two-horse limber, from a powder horn engraving. This drawing is from
Harold L. Peterson, Round Shot and Rammers: An Introduction to Muzzle-loading Land Artillery in the
United States (South Bend, In.: South Bend Replicas, 1969), 59. Also see photograph of powder horn in
Harold L. Peterson, The Book of the Continental Soldier (Harrisburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 1968), 132.
Narrators
Continental Army/New Jersey Militia
Maj. Joseph Bloomfield, 3rd New Jersey Regiment
Maj. General Philemon Dickinson, commander, New Jersey militia
Maj. Richard Howell, 2nd New Jersey Regiment
Brig. Gen. William Maxwell, commander New Jersey Brigade
Col. Sylvanus Seely, New Jersey militia, Morris County
Pvt. James Jordan, private (nine-month levy) 2nd New Jersey Regiment
Pvt. Asa Woodward, private (nine-month levy) 2nd New Jersey Regiment
Crown Forces
Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, commander, Crown forces in America.
Lt. Gen. Wilhelm von Knyphausen, commander, British Second Division.
Maj. John Andre, aide-de-camp, Gen. Sir Henry Clinton
Capt. Johann Ewald, Hessian Field Jaeger Corps
Capt. John Peebles, 42nd Regiment of Foot
* * * *
NOTE: A forward slash ( / ) is used in some documents to delineate sentences where punctuation is
missing in the original.
__________
“They got a full fire from Capt. Ross this morning with 50 men …”
Daily Accounts of the March to Monmouth Courthouse
Colonel Israel Shreve’s 2d New Jersey Regiment marched from Valley Forge in late March
1778 to take post across the Delaware River from British-held Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Working in conjunction with the state militia, Shreve’s unit did their best to suppress local
Loyalists, stop goods from reaching the city, and observe their enemy’s motions. The 1st New
Jersey Regiment joined the 2nd Jersey near Evesham in mid-May. The 3rd and 4th Regiments soon
followed. Major Joseph Bloomfield, 3rd New Jersey, wrote of events immediately preceding the
Monmouth Campaign:
May. The latter part of this month the 3d. & 4th. Jersey Regts. With Genl. Maxwell marched to
Mount-Holly in West-Jersey where we were joined by the 1st. & 2nd. Jersey Regts. & Forman’s
Corps.
June. We kept large commands on the lines below Haddenfield, Moores-Town &c. which were
relieved weekly. Engaged myself in Exercising the Brigade & introducing the Baron de Steubens
Instructions.
On the morning of 18 June 1778, after a nine-month occupation, General Sir Henry Clinton's
forces completed the evacuation of Philadelphia, crossing the Delaware River into New Jersey.
From their forward positions at Cooper's Creek Bridge, General Knyphausen's German regiments
led the advance, moving six miles to Haddonfield. At the same time the 15th Regiment of Foot,
stationed at Billingsport, abandoned that fort and joined the main army. It was not until afternoon
the rear of the British column reached the vicinity of Haddonfield, halting for the night.
New Jersey Continentals and militia immediately attempted to impede Clinton’s cross-country
movement. More New Jersey brigade casualties were incurred during the 20 to 27 June harassment
operations than in the campaign’s culminating battle. Acting most often in small parties, usually in
conjunction with militia, the four Jersey regiments suffered one missing, nine captured, five wounded,
two killed, and one dead, possibly of sunstroke. By comparison, Maxwell’s brigade casualties in the
28 June battle were seven (possibly eight) wounded and four missing. For details of New Jersey
brigade casualties see, John U. Rees, “’They answered him with three cheers ...’: New Jersey Brigade
Losses in the Monmouth Campaign, 17 June to 6 July 1778,” Resource Library, RevWar’75,
World Wide Web, http://revwar75.com/library/rees/NJlosses.htm.
“The British march routes from Philadelphia to Monmouth Court House, June 1778. Map by
Garry Wheeler Stone. Mark Edward Lender and Garry Wheeler Stone, Fatal Sunday: George
Washington, the Monmouth Campaign, and the Politics of Battle (Norman, Ok.: Oklahoma
University Press, 2016), 125.
“Out of the Valley” by Henry E. Kidd
20 June 1778:
Major Richard Howell (2nd New Jersey – American)
From Haddonfield, 20 June, "... before we Left our Detachment, the Genl. [Maxwell] had no
Intelligence and, being acquainted with the Country, I have procured such as was in my powr. ... The
Enemy march'd in 3 Columns, the first approached Ayres Town yesterday, the 2d [column] arriv'd at
foster town & the 3d did [not?] move. This day the 1st [column] arrived at Mt Holly, 2d at Ayres
town (perhaps at Holly) & the 3d March'd to Moor's Town. Genl. Leslie commands the advanced
Column of perhaps 2000 men, Gen. Clinton the 2d perhaps of 5000 men & Gen. Kniphauzen the Last
of 2000 also. Each of these divisions has a great many Waggons, artillery & pontoons. They have
many Deserters & move with great Caution & Slowly … Their March has been obstructed as much
as possible & their flancks harrass'd by our parties. The General is now posted at Black Horse, where
he will contend every advantageous post. The Militia are Collected & collecting, resolv'd to do great
things. P.S. The Inhabitants are villianously plundered & some Houses burnt.")
Major Andre (General staff – British)
“20th The Troops at Evesham were under arms at 4 o'clock in the morning, and at 5 marched,
proceeding through Foster Town to Mount Holly, a little way beyond Foster Town. General Leslie's
Corps joined the rear of the Column. The Rebels, supposed about 900 in number, under General
Maxwell, had quitted Mount Holly the morning before. General Knyphausen having in the evening
of the 19th moved the train across a deep ravine a mile and a half on his road from Haddonfield,
marched early the 20th to Moorestown, and on the 21st came to Mount Holly and encamped with the
remainder of the Army now assembled in one body. Colonel Allen's Corps was posted at a pass in the
rear on Rancocas Creek."
21 June 1778:
Brigadier General Maxwell (NJ Brigade – American)
21 June, "I think it is now beyond all dout that the Enemy will go through the Jersey unless they are
Burgoyned. [A scout] ... was sent down upon the Enemys right yesterday to go as far as Capt. [John]
Cummings [2nd New Jersey]. He went 4 miles below Haddonfield [and] found there a man ... who
informed him that a party went down and brought up the New Levey & Refugees yesterday from
Billings Port to Haddonfield. Cummings & the Militia had a brush with them, he did not see
Cummings. The Rear of the Enemy marched from Haddonfield this Morning. Billings Port was
Destroyed when they left it ...")
22 June 1778:
Major Bloomfield (3rd New Jersey - American)
“22. [June] Monday morning when they occupied our quarters at the Black-Horse & we moved by
way of Borden Town to Crosswicks.”
Private James Jordan (2nd New Jersey – American: 19th century pension deposition)
“the British drove us out of Mount Holly and we retreated to the Black Horse ten Miles from Mt.
Holly and there encamped … [we] went into a Quaker Meeting house for the purpose of staying all
night the whole regiment was there / about the middle of the night the British came and surrounded
the Meeting house where he and his regiment were / we retreated out of the Back door of the Meeting
house and through the grave yard to a town in New Jersey called Crossicks four miles from the Black
Horse / this retreat was performed in the night …”
23 June 1778:
Col. Daniel Morgan’s Rifle Corps and a Continental light dragoon detachment are sent forward
from the main army at Amwell, New Jersey to join the New Jersey brigade and militia contending
with the Crown forces columns.
24 June 1778:
Brig. Gen. Charles Scott’s detachment of picked men are sent forward from the main army at
Hopewell, New Jersey to join the fight against the Crown forces columns.
British light infantry advancing in a column of files. (His Majesty’s 40th Regiment of Foot
https://www.facebook.com/HM-40th-Foot-2nd-Battalion-LI-Bloodhounds-188461437850483/ )
25 June 1778:
Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne’s detachment of picked men are sent forward from the main army at
Kingston, New Jersey to join the fight against the Crown forces columns. Maj, Gen. Marie Joseph
Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette advances with them to take command of
the entire Continental Army Advanced Force.
27 June 1778:
Major Bloomfield (3rd New Jersey - American)
“Saturday. 27. June. Lay on our Arms at English-Town, waiting the motions of the Enemy.”
Private Asa Woodward (2nd New Jersey – American; 19th century pension deposition)
“… in a skirmage the day before the Battle of Monmouth in the State of New Jersey was
wounded by two Musket Balls one of which broke his left jaw bone; the other went in at his
mouth & out at the side of his neck was bayoneted in many places & received divers wounds
with swords & cutlasses & left for dead on the field that in the evening a picket of the enemy
took me a prisoner & was sent to New York where he remained near a year in a sugar house as a
prisoner …” (muster roll shows 22 June as date of capture)
Lt. Gn. Wilhelm von Knyphausen to His Serene Highness the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, 6 July
1778, from New York:
“… on the 19th [17th] of this month, by order of the Commander-in-Chief, I had to cross over to
Jersey from Philadelphia and advance [on the 18th] about three miles forwards on the road to
Haddonfield with that part of the army which had crossed over by degrees by Cooper’s Ferry and
had encamped on the bank of the Delaware. The Commander-in-Chief himself remained behind
in the town along with Lt-General Earl Cornwallis and the Light Infantry, the English
Grenadiers, 4th English Infantry Brigade and the 16th Dragoon Regiment; and next morning in
order to keep General Washington, who had heard of his intention to leave the town, still in
uncertainty, advanced before the lines, where he collected the troops garrisoning the redoubts
and then marched one Brigade after the other back to Gloucester Ferry, in order to cross over
likewise to Jersey in the flat boats moored there ready. All this happened without the enemy
harassing us in the least; they for all that at once received news of the retreat of the Commander-
in-Chief through their cavalry patrols, which had followed the former on foot and had exchanged
a few shots in the road with some Dragoons who had formed the rear-guard. The fleet had
already sailed the day before and with it many inhabitants who were on the Royal side, who were
also leaving the town on account of our withdrawal. Only the battery ship, ‘Vigilant’ and some
galleys had been left behind, which would take their departure after the Commander-in-Chief
had crossed over.
On the 18th the 1st [actually 2d] Division under my command, including the whole of the
artillery and provision train of the army, (numbering 1,500 waggons), marched to Haddonfield,
where the Commander-in-Chief with the last Division of Lt-General Earl Cornwallis also arrived
towards mid-day.
On the 20th I marched to Moorstown, the 21st to Mount Holly, the 22nd to Blackhorse, the 23rd
to Rackles Town, the 24th to Emlis Town, the 25th via Vaughl’s Mill to Freehold Township, to
within five miles of Monmouth Courthouse, to which place we marched on the 26th and halted
there on the 27th. The Commander-in-Chief with Lt-General Earl Cornwallis’ Division had
marched all these days on the left of my men, but joined me here on the same route, and came to
the ‘Rising Sun,’ the headquarters, about a mile behind Monmouth Courthouse.
On the 28th my Division moved off first on the road to Middletown, and the Commander-in-
Chief followed with Lt-General Earl Cornwallis’ Division on the same route. General
Washington had sent General Lee with a corps over the Delaware to Trentown … and had then
followed himself with the remainder of his army. Under the impression that we should march
through Princetown and Brunswick to Amboy he had blocked up the road for a considerable
distance with barriers of trees, in order to delay us and harass our march; but as we had left this
road and gone more to the right, he also advanced with his army towards us.
Up to now we had only come across some troops of militia here and there, which General
Maxwell, who was said to be in our neighbourhood with a corps of 2,000 men belonging to these
troops, had detached; but they always withdrew without waiting for us. On the other hand a
strong detachment of the enemy fell upon the picket of the two combined Battalions and
compelled them to withdraw somewhat, but were repulsed by a few shots, so that the picket took
up its position again.
On the 28th, when my Division had advanced nearly to Nutswamp and the Commander-in-
Chief as far as Monmouth Courthouse, the rear-guard of the latter was attacked by a strong corps
of the enemy, whereupon the Commander-in-Chief ordered the English and Hessian Grenadiers,
the Light Infantry and Dragoons to advance upon them. A sharp engagement ensued, during
which 4 Officers and 198 men were killed, and 15 Officers and 109 men wounded on our side,
and 62 men succumbed to the intense heat. 24 Dragoon Horses were also shot dead.
The Hessian Grenadiers did not come to close quarters and only lost a few men by gunshots.
… The enemy was repulsed after a resistance lasting three hours, when, in order to secure a safe
passage for the baggage and train of artillery with my Division, the Commander-in-Chief
pursued them as far as his last camping-place, where he remained the night with the whole
Division and rejoined me the following day, the 29th, at Nutswamp, where I had pitched our
camp. I then marched on to Middle Town, whither the Commander-in-Chief also went in person,
leaving Lt-General Earl Cornwallis behind at Nutswamp with his Division. Lt-General Earl
Cornwallis’ Division followed, and on the morning of the 1st July the army encamped on these
heights along the water’s edge. The fleet approached, and on the 2nd the embarcation of the
baggage and train of artillery was commenced. The marches just completed, although short, were
very laborious on account of the burning heat and frequent scarcity of water, especially for my
Division, encumbered as it was by the heavy train. … Your Serene Highness will see from the
enclosed list how small the loss in killed and wounded among the Hessian troops has been during
the march through the Jerseys.
The number of deserters, however, is alas! much more considerable and amounts as per list,
likewise enclosed, to 236 men. The reason for it, as far as I can guess, is that printed slips of
paper were secretly distributed among the men by the rebels, in which it was promised to each
one who would go over to their side and settle down in this country, that he should receive a
large piece of land, two horses, one cow, and other forms of help; and then those who have
stopped among the rebels in imprisonment have given such glowing descriptions of the country
yonder and have recounted how well that were treated, that I believe this had also had something
to do with it; and this is all the more likely, as the desertions have been most numerous in
proportion among the three Regiments that were taken prisoners, and in mine especially, to
which most men returning from imprisonment belong. The English troops have also suffered
severely in the same way.
… I respectfully notified to Your Serene Highness in my last that the exchange of the imprisoned
Non-Commissioned Officers and men was settled and that their arrival in Philadelphia was daily
expected. It has not, however, taken place before our departure; the reason for this, so I hear, is
said to have been that the Dragoons employed by General Washington for the purpose have not
been able to collect the prisoners so quickly together, as they …”
Having left the 28th June battlefield late that night, Sir Henry Clinton’s troops and large wagon train
continued toward the coast. Captain John Peebles, 42nd Regiment, described he events leading to
embarkation at Sandy Hook.
Sunday 28th June … it was thought improper to advance any farther upon the Enemy who were
strongly posted, & the Troops were accordingly order’d to retire to cover the Village of Monmouth
where the Wounded & Sick were brought to in the Evening – where we remained till near 12 oclock
at night, & leaving those of the wounded that were too ill to remove, with a Surgeon & flag we march’d
forwards to join the other division of the Army whom we overtook near to Middletown about 9 o’clock
of the morng. of the 29th. in this action the Grenrs. suffer’d considerably having 13 officers killed &
wounded and about 150 men killed wounded & missing Colo: Monckton among the slain – The Guards
likewise lost above 40 – and the several other Corps that came up lost some men either by the Enemy
or the heat & fatigue of the day, which was very distressing – The total of killed wounded & missing
[was] near 400 – 358 The line of Baggage was likewise attack’d by a small party about 10 or 12 miles
from Monmouth, & had a few men kill’d & wounded. The last night’s march about 14 miles NE thro’
a thick wood & a sandy road almost the whole way, cross’d a creek about 5 miles from Middleton,
march’d two miles further & halted till next morng. The face of the Country now changed from level
to hilly –
Monday 29th. … Genl. Kniphausens Division moved on to Middletown, with the Provision &
baggage train -- & wounded
Tuesday 30th. The 1st. Division (still so call’d tho’ in the rear) march’d at day light thro’ a hilly strong
Country & came to Middleton about 3 miles, in the Environs of which the army Encamp’d – This little
Village surrounded with hills is about two or 3 miles from Rariton Bay, and about 12 miles to the light
house [at Sandy Hook] – from the Hills you have a fine view of the Bay, the Hook, the Fleet, Long
Island, Staten Island & Amboy – In the afternoon the heavy division moved a few miles towards
Neversink and about 10 o’clock at night the first Division followed, creeping & halting on a crooked
road till 2 oclock of the morng. when we stopp’d & took a nap whh. was much wanted –
Wednesday 1st. July The army Encamp’d in a strong position, occupying the Hills from 2 to 4
miles eastward of Middleton & making a communication with the Bay in which the Fleet are lying
within the Hook … the Enemy may be expected, who are still hovering about us, showing themselves
in different places in our front & right, some popping shots, now & then …
Thursday 2d. … Employed in Embarking the stores & heavy Baggage of the army – The wounded
& sick sent on board yesterday …
Friday 3d. it rained some last night, and almost all this day … The officers Baggage all sent off,
except what their servts. can carry on their backs – The waggons & yr. horses gone –
Saturday 4th. the weather clear’d up towards noon – all the officers horses sent off … great expedition
this in Embarking our things so fast, -- hear’d a great deal of firing in the Eveng. Of Cannon & Small
arms at a distance which we suppose is the Americans rejoicing on the anniversary of ye.
Independence. The firing seems to be somewhere about Brunswick … orders to be ready to move at
break of day –
Sunday 5th. July every thing embark’d but the Troops & a few horses. The army march’d between
5 & 6 from yr. respective ground by different roads to the point of the Highland that joins the Hook,
& there is a Gut of water across the low Sandy part next the main, a Bridge of flat boats was made for
the Troops to pass some embark’d on board of flat boats & rode off to their ships but the greatest part
of the army crossed at the Bridge & march’d along the Hook towards the Light House & went off in
flat boats to their ships in the afternoon; it was night before the whole got on board. – a great number
of horses on Sandy Hook yet not embark’d into the Vessels that are to carry ym. up – the day cool,
march about 6 miles in the woods before we came to the point & about 3 or 4 miles on Sandy Hook,
deep sand – provision drawn on board a very irregular & ill managed Embarkation.1
The Monmouth Campaign was over, but there were lasting repercussions. On the American side
Charles Lee’s court martial resulted in disgrace for the formerly much-respected officer. From that
time on Washington would have no serious rivals. On the British side, not all were happy with the
campaign or their commander. Captain Peebles commented cryptically on July 5th, “This abrupt
Reduction of the flanks Corps [i.e., light infantry and grenadier battalions] not relish’d.” Grenadier
Lieutenant Hale made clear Peeble’s statement, and complained of other matters in a 14 July
letter, “The General [Clinton] by his rashness in the last action has totally lost the confidence
both of the Officers and soldiers, who were astonished to see the Commander of an Army
galloping like a Newmarket jockey at the head of a wing of Grenadiers and expressly forbidding
all form and order; the method too of dismissing the flank companies [lights and grenadiers] to
their respective regiments [after returning to New York] gave no small disgust. After slightly
thanking us for the ardour we had shewn, he reprimanded us for disorder and plundering which
never existed but among the followers of the Army, and sent us about our business without even
allotting boats to those whose Regiments were not on the spot …” Even worse Lt. Col. Stephen
Kemble, deputy adjutant general, was not impressed with the commander’s performance: “Sir
Henry Clinton showed himself the Soldier, but not the wise General, on this occasion, exposing
himself and charging at the head of a few Dragoons.” Hardly good portents for the man who
would command the King’s North American army for the next four years.2
__________
1. Ira D. Gruber, ed., John Peebles’ American War: The Diary of a Scottish Grenadier, 1776-1782
(Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 1998), 194-196.
2. Ibid., 196. William Hale letter, 14 July 1778, Walter Harold Wilkin, Some British Soldiers in
America (London, Hugh Rees, Ltd., 1914), 264. Stephen Kemble, Journals of Lieut.-Col. Stephen
Kemble, 1773-1789; and British Army Orders: Gen. Sir William Howe, 1775-1778; Gen. Sir
Henry Clinton, 1778; and Gen. Daniel Jones, 1778, Prepared by the New York Historical Society
(Boston: Gregg Press, 1972), 154.
__________
Excerpted from: “`What is this you have been about to day?’: The New Jersey Brigade at
the Battle of Monmouth,” http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthToc.htm
Narrative: http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/Monmouth.htm#1
(Following page) “The British march routes from Philadelphia to Monmouth Court House,
June 1778. Map by Garry Wheeler Stone. Mark Edward Lender and Garry Wheeler
Stone, Fatal Sunday: George Washington, the Monmouth Campaign, and the Politics of
Battle (Norman, Ok.: Oklahoma University Press, 2016), 125.
Sources:
John Andre, Major Andre's Journal - Operations of the British Army ... June 1777 to November,
1778 (Tarrytown, N.Y., 1930; reprinted New York: New York Times and Arno Press, 1968), 74-83.
Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B., to Lord George Germaine, 5 July 1778, University
of Michigan, William L. Clements Library, Sir Henry Clinton Papers,
Philemon Dickinson, “Disposition of the Militia belonging to the State of New Jersey …,” 25
June 1778, The Lee Papers, vol. II, 1776-1778, Collections of the New-York Historical Society
for the Year 1872 (New York, 1873), 413.
Johann Ewald, Diary of the American War: A Hessian Journal, Joseph P. Tustin, ed. (New Haven,
Ct., 1979), 132-139.
Ira D. Gruber, ed., John Peebles’ American War: The Diary of a Scottish Grenadier, 1776-1782
(Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 1998), 189-193 (text originally transcribed from John Peebles
Journals (microfilm edition): Scottish Record Office, Edinburgh; Cunninghame of Thorntoun Papers
(GD 21); Papers of Lt., later Capt., John Peebles of the 42d. Foot, 1776-1782; incl. 13 notebooks
comprising his war journal; book #6.)
Richard Howell to William Maxwell, 24 June 1778, GW Papers, series 4, reel 50.
Mark E. Lender and James Kirby Martin, eds., Citizen Soldier - The Revolutionary War Journal of
Joseph Bloomfield (Newark: New Jersey Historical Society, 1982), 135-136.
William Maxwell to Philemon Dickinson, 19 June 1778, GW Papers, series 4, reel 50.
William Maxwell to Philemon Dickinson, 21 June 1778, ibid., series 4, reel 50.
Pension depositions: James Jordan (W8225); Asa Woodward (S33954), Index of Revolutionary
War Pension Applications in the National Archives (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing
Office, 1976), the actual applications themselves and related materials may be found in National
Archives Microfilm Publication M804 (2,670 reels).
Sylvanus Seely Diary (colonel, Morris County militia), original in Morristown National Historic
Park Collection, World Wide Web transcription,
http://www.popenoe.com/Diary/Seely%20Diary%203.htm
Wilhelm von Knyphausen to His Serene Highness the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, 6 July 1778,
from New York, Morristown NHP, G.283-G.287 (with two enclosures).
Mark Edward Lender and Garry Wheeler Stone, Fatal Sunday: George Washington, the Monmouth
Campaign, and the Politics of Battle (Norman, Ok.: Oklahoma University Press, 2016)
“’A Detatchment of 1500 Pick’d men was taken to Day from the army …’: Troop Formations
Detached from Washington’s Army Prior to the Battle of Monmouth, June 1778 (Most of which
formed the Advance Force commanded by Maj. Gen. Charles Lee)”
https://www.scribd.com/document/125408707/A-Detatchment-of-1500-Pick-d-men-was-taken-to-
Day-from-the-army-Troop-Formations-Detached-from-Washington-s-Army-Prior-to-the-Battle-of-
Monmouth
“`What is this you have been about to day?’: The New Jersey Brigade at the Battle of Monmouth,”
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthToc.htm
Narrative
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/Monmouth.htm#1
1. Introduction
2. "In readiness to march at a moment's warning ...": Pre-Battle Dispositions and Plans
3. "To get up with the enemy": Major General Charles Lee's Force Sets Off
4. "I found the whole of the troops upon my right retreating ...": Morning Confrontation at
Monmouth Courthouse
5. "The day was so excessively hot ...": Lee’s Retreat
6. “They answered him with three cheers ...”: Washington Recovers the Day
7. “The Action was Exceedingly warm and well Maintained …”: Infantry Fighting at the
Point of Woods, Hedge-row, and Parsonage
8. "The finest musick, I Ever heared.": Afternoon Artillery Duel, and Cilley’s Attack on the
42nd Regiment
9. “Detached to assist in burying the dead …”: Battle’s Aftermath
10. “The March has proved salutory to the troops.”: Post-Battle: The Continental Army Moves North
11.“A very irregular & ill managed Embarkation.”: Post-Battle British March to Sandy Hook
12. "The defective constitution of our army ...": Casting Blame for the Morning Debacle
13. Battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778: Event Synopsis
Appendices
A. “Beware of being Burgoyned.”: Marching Toward Monmouth, Delaware River to Freehold, 18
to 27 June 1778
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthA.htm
B. “The whole army moved towards the Delaware …”: Continental Army March from Valley
Forge to Englishtown, N.J., 18 to 27 June 1778
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthB.htm
C. “General Lee being detached with the advanced Corps …”: Composition of Charles Lee’s
Force
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthC.htm
D. “Our Division formed a line on the eminence …”:Washington’s Main Army Order of Battle,
28 June 1778
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthD.htm
E. “A large Number of troops …”: Continental and British Army Field Returns, 28 June 1778
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthE.htm
F.“I resolved nevertheless to attack them …”: American Monmouth Battle Accounts
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthF.htm
G. “Charge, Grenadiers, never heed forming”: British Accounts of the Monmouth Battle
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthG.htm
H. "More Glorious to America than at first Supposed ...": New Jersey Officers Describe the Battle of
Monmouth
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthH.htm
I. "They answered him with three cheers ...": New Jersey Common Soldiers' Pension Depositions
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthI.htm
J. “A very smart cannonading ensued from both sides.”: Maxwell’s Jersey Brigade Artillery and
the Afternoon Cannonade at Monmouth
https://www.scribd.com/doc/139365107/A-very-smart-cannonading-ensued-from-both-sides-Continental-
Artillery-at-Monmouth-Courthouse-28-June-1778
K. “Jun 29th, Buried the Dead …”: Casualties in the Battle of Monmouth
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthK.htm
L. “We are informed by several persons …“: Contemporary Newspaper Accounts
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthL.htm
M. “That damned blue Regiment …”: Continental Army Clothing during the Monmouth
Campaign
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthM.htm
N. “General Wayne's detachment is almost starving.”: Provisioning Washington’s Army on the
March, June 1778
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthN.htm
O. “The canopy of heaven for our tent”: Soldiers' Shelter on Campaign, June 1778
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthO.htm
P. “Be pleased to fill up the vacancy with the eldest Captain in the line …”: Field Officers, Commissioned
Officers, and Staff of the 2nd New Jersey Regiment December 1777 to May 1779
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthP.htm
Q. “Exceeding Hot & water is scarce …”: Monmouth Campaign Weather, 15 June to 7 July, 1778
http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthQ.pdf
“’A very smart cannonading ensued from both sides.’: Continental Artillery at Monmouth
Courthouse, 28 June 1778”
Appendices
1. Col. Richard Butler’s 1778 Map of the Monmouth Battle (drawn by William Gray)
2. “The Company was sent to Eastown with the pieces taken at Saratoga …”: Brig. Gen. William Maxwell’s
Jersey Brigade Artillery at Monmouth.
3. Recreations of late 18th Century Cannons, Limbers, and Ammunition Wagons
4. Period Images of English Cannon and Ammunition/Powder Wagons
5. Images of German (mostly Hessian) Artillery, Limbers, and Ammunition Wagons during the Period of the War
for American Independence
https://www.scribd.com/doc/139365107/A-very-smart-cannonading-ensued-from-both-
sides-Continental-Artillery-at-Monmouth-Courthouse-28-June-1778
“`The pleasure of their number’: 1778, Crisis, Conscription, and Revolutionary Soldiers’
Recollections”
Part I. “’Filling the Regiments by drafts from the Militia.’: The 1778 Recruiting Acts”
Contents
1. Overview
2. The New Jersey Draft in Actuality
3. Four States Relied on Previous Enlistment Laws
4. Alternative Measures Adopted by Rhode Island and Virginia
5. Five States Enacted a Nine-Month Levy
6. Afterward
Appendices
A. Definitions of Draft and Levy
B. 1778 Congressional Recruiting Resolution
C. Levies and Drafts, Militia versus Continental: The 1778 Massachusetts and North Carolina Levy
Regiments
D. “Return of Number of Men whose term of service will expire between the 27 October 1778 and the
Spring.”
E. Washington’s Main Army Strength, March to September 1778 (Infantry only), Reflecting the Contribution
Made by the 1778 Levy
F. Levy Ages: New Jersey and North Carolina (1778), and Massachusetts (1778-1780)
http://tinyurl.com/blz2gjw
Part II. "’Fine, likely, tractable men.’: Levy Statistics and New Jersey Service Narratives”
Contents
1. Jersey and North Carolina Individual and Group Data
2. Levies’ Prior Service
3. Drafts and Substitutes
4. Mustering and Joining the Regiments.
5. The Monmouth Campaign, 19 to 27 June 1778
http://tinyurl.com/cttrxe8
Part III. "He asked me if we had been discharged …”: New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York,
Maryland, and North Carolina Levy Narratives”
Contents
1. New Jersey Levies Monmouth Battle and Subsequent 1778-79 Service
2. Reenlistment and New Jersey Post-1778 Service
3. Other States’ Levies:
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
New York
Maryland
North Carolina
4. Miscellaneous Details and Later-Life Circumstances
5. Conclusion
http://tinyurl.com/cayayg5
ALHFAM Bulletin, vol. XXXIII, no. 3 (Fall 2003), 23-34; no. 4 (Winter 2004), 23-34; vol.
XXXIV, no. 1 (Spring 2004), 19-28.
June 2013 Battle of Monmouth "Recreated New Jersey Continental Regiment Augmented
With Nine-months Levies" (June 1778 Roster for Capt. Jonathan Phillips' Company, 2d
New Jersey Regiment. For members and friends of the Augusta County Militia interested
in portraying a New Jersey Continental company with both long-term soldiers and nine-
month drafts from the militia during the 1778 Monmouth Campaign)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/126071601/June-2013-Battle-of-Monmouth-Recreated-New-
Jersey-Continental-Regiment-Augmented-With-Nine-months-Levies
“’I have ... got the Arms from Easton, [and] is now divideing them out.’: Clothing and
Equipment Needed to Recreate a 1778 New Jersey Continental Company Augmented with
Nine-Months Levies”
http://www.scribd.com/doc/130606718/%E2%80%9CI-have-got-the-Arms-from-Easton-
and-is-now-divideing-them-out-%E2%80%9D-Clothing-and-Equipment-Needed-to-
Recreate-a-1778-New-Jersey-Continental-Compa
“’The Waggons sent from England were found to be totally unfit for the Country ...’:
British Army Wheeled Transport in the American War: A Primer”
Contents
1. “’Orders were given, to hire Country Waggons in preference ...’: An Overview of British
Army Wheeled Transport in the American War, 1775-1783”
2. “Proceedings of a Board of General Officers of the British Army at New York, 1781,” Collections of the
New-York Historical Society for the Year 1916, vol. XLIX (New York: Printed for the Society, 1916)
“PREFACE THIS volume contains the proceedings of a Board of General Officers of the British
Army at New York, appointed by Sir Henry Clinton, August 7, 1781 to consider the expenditure of public
money in the different departments established by him when he succeeded to the command of the British
Army at New York.
The volume is of great local interest, and has among other items a return of men, women and children in
the British Regiments victualled in New York, in the Civil Department and in Foreign Regiments, with
Muster Roll of Assistants, Overseers, Coopers, Laborers, Artificers in various departments and where
employed, and covers Brooklyn and this city; also list of vessels, giving names of masters, and a comparative
view of the expenses in different departments of the Army from December 17, 1775, to December 5, 1781,
under Sir William Howe and Sir Henry Clinton.”
3. Images of Vehicles Used by the British Army in America, 1775-1783
________________
(Note: The Appendices contents are scanned pages of “Proceedings of a Board of General Officers of the
British Army at New York, 1781,” Collections of the New-York Historical Society for the Year 1916, vol. XLIX
(New York: Printed for the Society, 1916))
Appendices
1. “No. 9 – Return of Drivers, Horses and Waggons furnished by Brigadr-General William Dalrymple,
Quarter Master General of the Army in North America in the District of New York by order of His
Excellency the Commander in Chief for the General and Staff Officers and several Corps of the
Army between 1st January & 31st March 1781 inclusive being 90 days”
2. “Return of Drivers, Horses and Waggons belonging to the Quart. Master General’s Department
attached to the General and Staff Officers and Several Corps of Hessians in the District of New
York. – 26th August 1781.”
3. “Return of Drivers, Horses and Waggons attached to the several British Regiments in the District of
New York 26th August 1781.”
4. “Enclosure 2d Return of Drivers, Horses and Waggons that are with the Corps to the Southward
[Virginia] New York 23d August 1781.”
5. “Enclosure 4 Return of Conductors, Drivers, Horses and Waggons in the Quarter Master General’s
Department, attached to the Several Corps at and near the Six Mile Stone. 26 th August 1781.”
6. Enclosure No. 6, Johann Friedrich Cochenhausen (also Cockenhausen or Kochenhausen), colonel
and quartermaster general, Hessian forces, to Board of General Officers, 14 May 1781 (regarding
wagons for the German troops).
7. Related Works by the Same Author
__________
https://www.scribd.com/document/269138948/The-Waggons-sent-from-England-were-found-to-be-
totally-unfit-for-the-Country-British-Army-Wheeled-Transport-in-the-American-War-A-Primer
“’Make use of Pack-Horses as far as may be practicable ...’: Baggage Carried on Horseback during the
American War, 1776 to 1781”
Contents
American Campaigns, 1755-1764.
The British Army in 1776.
The 1777 Campaign.
Marching Through New Jersey, 1778.
Going Against the Iroquois, 1779.
Continental Army, 1780-1782.
Cornwallis’s Campaigns, 1781.
Addenda: Miscellaneous Pack Saddle Images and Narratives
http://www.scribd.com/doc/132177295/%E2%80%9C-Make-use-of-Pack-Horses-as-far-as-may-be-
practicable-Baggage-Carried-on-Horseback-during-the-American-War-1776-to-1781