Monmouth Battlefield Walking Tour #2 - Manalapan, NJ - Scenic Hikes on Waymarking.com

On June 18, 1778, General Sir Henry Clinton led the main British Army from Philadelphia to march on New York. The next day, General George Washington moved in to harass the British. On the morning of Sunday, June 28, 1778 as the 20,000 militia in the British Army was breaking camp to begin the march, General Charles Lee led his regiment of 5,000 in the Continental Army to attack the British from the rear.

When Lee realized that half of the British soldiers had readied and were coming his way, he led a retreat across Monmouth Battlefield. General Washington instructed Lee to delay action until the main Continental Army, with another 8,500 troops could approach. The battle resumed at 12:30 pm with a bloody clash at the hedgerows. The British advanced, only to find the Continental Army occupying a strong position atop Perrine Hill, behind a line of ten guns. Exhasted from the earlier clash and march, the British attack collapsed.

The British sent light infantry to outflank the Continental Army, but found Lafayette and the Continental Reserves waiting for them. The British positioned ten cannons and howitzers in front of the hedgerow to silence the Continental Artillery. That afternoon, the largest field artillery battle of the American Revolution waged.

General Nathaniel Greene brought a brigade of Virginians and four guns to the top of Comb's Hill, overlooking the British's line at the hedgerow. The British were forced to beak rank and retreat. General Washinton took the opportunity to counterattack. Two battlaions of light infantry advanced to skirmish with the retreating British, while three regiments, under General Anthony Wayne crossed the bridge to attack the British Grenaiers. Waynes men, succumbing to the grenadiers, were forced to retreat to the Parsonage on the site of the battlefield. Again outdone by the Continental Army, the British pulled back and made camp.

Washington moved fresh troops in to resume the attack the next morning but by 11pm, the British had broke camp an retreated to continue their march. This marked the end of the last major battle in the north.

The Battle of Monmouth was a triumph for General Washington and the Continental Army, forcing the British to retreat. The British army suffered two to three times the casualties as the Continental Army.

The second of two historic trails covers the area north of Route 522, and mostly action from noon to 4:30 pm. Just 3/4 mile from Wemrock Road on Route 522 is an historic house, now part of the Friends of Monmouth. A small parking area is available just on the edge of the battlefield.

Allow 70-90 minutes of walking time for this 1.5 mile hike (2 miles with optional trip to "Molly Pitcher's" stream). The trail is mowed for easier navigation, but remember, this was a battlefield, and the cannonball pocked ground may be less than level. Stop at the visitor center for an informational brochure and map of this trail. There are markers and signs along the way to help the visitors relive the battle.

Walk behind the house here, and you will clearly see the Sutfin House on your right. Use this house as a reference as you walk around the outskirts of this field. Walk about 90 yards along the field, and the trail will swing to the right. About 120 yards ahead is the start of another fence line. This marks the beginning of General William Alexander, also known as Lord Stirling, defensive, artillery line that continued back to the tree lines. Walk about 100 yards along the fence, and the 100 yards or so to the left to two more historical markers. This is where the center of Stirling's line held, and where the shot that killed Lt Colonel Mockton was probably fired from. General George Wahington rode this hill for hours during the battle.

About 200 yards further marks the left wing of Stirling's line. Here a young gunner named William Hayes and the rest of Captain Francis Proctor's line endured heated battle in blistering heat. Mary Hays, wife of William is said to have battled beside her husband, here on Perrine Hill, and running ammunition nad needed water to the soldiers. A private recorded a story telling how a cannonball flew right between Molly's legs, ripping her petticoat, but how the brave lady continued on her mission.

Many stories abound as to where Molly Pitcher's well, from which she drew the water during the battle stands. But, due to the location of the troops, and proximity to a stream, she more than likely would have traveled back and forth to a stream just 200 yards back in the woods. Follow the trail back to see where she would have drawn the water.

Head back out the woods the way you came in, and turn left. Follow the trail along the woodline, on the outskirts of the battlefield for about 600 yards, to the site where the British fell back to in the sweltering heat. Turn right and follow the fence line for about 120 yards. This marks the area where the 42nd Regiment (also known as the Royal Highland Regiment or "Black Watch") were centered. Before the cannonade subsided, WAshington had already sent brigades to advance on the British here.

About another 250 yards along the fence is where the Continental Army stopped an advance of British breaking through the bloackade. Follow the trail to the Sutfin House, built on the 1730's and was one of the building present on the battlefield during fighting.

The starting point is just 125 yards or so from here.

Picture location 1: N 40° 16.637 W 074° 19.033 Picture Location 2: N 40° 16.586 W 074° 19.114 Picture Location 3: N 40° 16.570 W 074° 18.811

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Date Logged Log   09/19/2012 79scouts visited it