Manalapan Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Washington Resumes the Offensive
The Battle of Monmouth
— 28 June 1778, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM —
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.”
Erected by NJ Department of Environmental Protection – Division of Parks & Forestry.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Notable Places • War, US Revolutionary. A significant day of the year for for this entry is July 22.
Location. 40° 16.859′ N, 74° 18.82′ W. Marker is in Manalapan Township, New Jersey, in Monmouth County. Marker can be reached from Freehold Road (County Route 522), on the left when traveling east. Marker is located on the Monmouth Battlefield hiking trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Englishtown NJ 07726, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Perrine Hill Front Line (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Battlefield Archaeology (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mary “Molly” Hays (approx. 0.2 miles away); An Inspiring Commander in Chief (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Great Cannonade (approx. 0.2 miles away); Highlanders Decline Combat (approx. ¼ mile away); Perrine Hill Spring (approx. ¼ mile away); Molly Hays McCauley (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manalapan Township.
More about this marker. A portrait of Col. Josepy Cilley, courtesy of the State of New Hampshire, appears next to the sidebar on the bottom right of the marker. The left of the marker contains a map of troop positions, with a caption of “The Continental light infantry skirmished with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Highland Regiment, as the British right wing withdrew across the Sutfin Farm.”
Also see . . .
1. The Battle of Monmouth. New Jersey during the Revolution. (Submitted on December 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. The Battle of Monmouth, 1778. A British perspective of the Battle of Monmouth on BritishBattles.com. (Submitted on December 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,042 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.