Today, June 28, 2014, marks the 236th anniversary of the Battle of Monmouth, in New Jersey. I have noted Monmouth in a couple of prior posts. Today we look at the spot, marked by this sign, on Perrine Hill where General George Washington rallied and reformed Continental forces in view of General Charles Lee's retreat.
General Henry Clinton was moving the British forces from Philadelphia to Sandy Point to depart for New York. Washington paralleled his movements to the north across New Jersey, and sought what he hoped would be a dispositive encounter with Clinton. They came together at Monmouth. A long battle, it resulted in the Americans retaining the field and Clinton continuing his withdrawal--in short, a draw, though often hailed as an American victory.
Putting all that aside, this is my favorite spot on the battlefield, because we are standing in the place where Washington took charge and regained control of the troop. We can see him on his horse moving back and forth here, and we can see what he saw as he looked out over the battlefield. It is one of those places that remains close to how it was then, and transports us across time to see and feel (and, on a hot day like today, especially) gain a sense of place.
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