Freehold in Monmouth County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Battle of Monmouth Monument

Photographed By R. C.

1. Battle of Monmouth Monument Marker

Inscription.
There is no plaque on this monument. There are titles under the brass reliefs of historic events that surround the column.

Topics and series. This monument and memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington series list.

Location. 40° 15.812′ N, 74° 16.667′ W. Marker is in Freehold, New Jersey, in Monmouth County. Memorial is at the intersection of Monument Street and Court Street and Schanck Street on Monument Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Freehold NJ 07728, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Monmouth Battle Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Abraham Lincoln (within shouting distance of this marker); Revolutionary Ancestors of Monmouth Court House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Corp. James A. Gere (approx. 0.3 miles away); Historic St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Monmouth Court House Site (approx. 0.3 miles away); Columbia Triumphant Park and Statue (approx. 0.3 miles away); St. Peter’s Church (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Freehold.

More about this monument. This monument,

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directly in front of the Monmouth County Courthouse, is over 90 feet high and one of the highest monuments in New Jersey. It was dedicated on Nov. 13, 1884, and rededicated on Nov. 17, 1984.

There are five bronze relief tablets on the circular "base" of the monument. They deptict: 1) Ramsay Defending His Guns, a battle scene showing Lt. Col. Ramsay lunging forward with his sword at a British soldier on a fallen horse, who bows backward with sword upraised; cannon and men behind; 2) Washington Rallying The Troops, a scene of the General, in profile, riding a galloping horse with raised sword, facing a soldier holding a hat; 3) Molly Pitcher, shown in profile, loading a cannon with a plunger, as a gunner and a soldier stand nearby; 4) Council of War at Hopewell, including Lord Sterling, Knox, Scammell, Patterson, Steuben, Poor, Scott, Wayne, Greene, Woodford and Lee, gathering around a table as General Lafayette stands, pointing with proper right hand to a map spread out on a table and gesturing towards General Washington; 5) Wayne's Charge, an American Army Lt. Colonel on horseback in profile, shown with an American soldier and British soldier fighting with rifles before him.

The designs and specifications for the memorial were secured from Emlin T. Littell and Douglas Smythe, architects, and James Edward Kelly, sculptor, who

Ramsay Defending his Guns image. Click for full size.

Photographed By R. C.

2. Ramsay Defending his Guns

Lt Colonel Oswald LtCol Ramsay 17th Light Dragoons
3d Reg. Maryland Line

designed and modeled the five historical bas-reliefs. The sculpture cost approximately $40,000 and commemorates the Battle of Monmouth, which took place June 28, 1778 near what is now Freehold, New Jersey. Funds for the sculpture were raised by the Monmouth Battle Monument Association. Citizens of Monmouth, the State of New Jersey, and those who had ancestors who fought in the battle contributed $10,000. The state legislature added $10,000 to this amount and Congress contributed a final $20,000. The construction contract was awarded to Maurice J. Power for the sum of $36,000. Heirs of the late Daniel S. Schanck gave the plot of ground on which the sculpture was installed.

The cornerstone for the sculpture was laid on the centennial of the Battle of Monmouth. The completed sculpture was dedicated six years later on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the town of Freehold, November 13, 1884.

The original figure that topped the column, known as Liberty Triumphant or Columbia Triumphant, was provided by Frederick and Field of Quincy, Massachusetts, carver unknown. In August 1894, the figure was shattered by lightning. A replacement figure from Badger Brothers, also of Quincy, was mounted atop the column in May 1896.

According to legend, the sculptor used a then young Thomas Edison as a model for a gunner in the Molly Pitcher relief panel.

The

Washington Rallying the Troups image. Click for full size.

Photographed By R. C.

3. Washington Rallying the Troups

column is topped by a cornice decorated with flying eagles; and the column base is decorated with bronze coats-of-arms of the 13 original colonies, with laurel leaves strung between them. The entire memorial sits atop a tripod-shaped flared base.

Also see . . . The Battle of Monmouth. This Day in Monmouth County History website entry (Submitted on August 10, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Molly Pitcher image. Click for full size.

Photographed By R. C.

4. Molly Pitcher

Tenant Church Knox

Council of War at Hopewell image. Click for full size.

Photographed By R. C.

5. Council of War at Hopewell

June 24, 1778. Duportail, Steuben Poor, Lord Sterling, Knox, Lafayette, Scammell, Washington, Patterson, Scott, Wayne, Greene, Woodford, Lee

Wayne's Charge image. Click for full size.

Photographed By R. C.

6. Wayne's Charge

Tennant Parsonage Lt.Col. Henry Monckton

Liberty Triumphant (front view) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By R. C.

7. Liberty Triumphant (front view)

Note the eagles topping the column.

View of Lady Liberty and her shield image. Click for full size.

Photographed By R. C.

8. View of Lady Liberty and her shield

Photographed By R. C.

9. Right profile of Lady Liberty

View up column image. Click for full size.

Photographed By R. C.

10. View up column

Colonial Coats-of Arms above the historic brass relief murals image. Click for full size.

Photographed By R. C.

11. Colonial Coats-of Arms above the historic brass relief murals

Additional Colonial Coats-of Arms along circumference of column image. Click for full size.

Photographed By R. C.

12. Additional Colonial Coats-of Arms along circumference of column

Corner piece on monument base image. Click for full size.

Photographed By R. C.

13. Corner piece on monument base

Time spares nothing image. Click for full size.

Photographed By R. C.

14. Time spares nothing

The years have been hard on the monument's foundation.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 15, 2008, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas. This page has been viewed 5,663 times since then and 568 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. submitted on April 15, 2008, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.