Database: The Battle of Monmouth

Pitched Battle at Monmouth Courthouse! Continental Army pursues Royals.
The British army commanded by Lt. Gen. Henry Clinton having evacuated the city of Philadelphia and on the march to join the British forces in New York City, was pursued and engaged by Gen. Washington and his men numbering some eleven thousand men on 28 June.
The British column was laden with a train of supplies, artillery and Tory citizens from Philadelphia. General Washington discerned an opportunity to attack an ungainly formation and left his encampment at Valley Forge to do so. The Continental Army caught up with the British in the environs of Monmouth. Washington, attempting to disrupt the column and gain time for the bulk of his army to arrive on the scene, gave command of his forward units to Maj. Gen. Charles Lee with orders to attack the column and cut it in half. This paper has learned that Lee was not in accord with the plan and initially refused command. Once he did take command, it appears that no proper orders were given to Less’s commanders. They proceeded will-he nill-he and soon engaged in undisciplined skirmishes the British rearguard. Perceiving the disarray, Lee ordered a general retreat and was pursued by the Redcoats.
Lee’s men retreated in confusion directly into Gen. Washington’s advancing column. We are told that the good General uttered considerable strong oaths, a practice contrary to his nature, and ordered Lee to the rear before setting to rallying Lee’s men himself. The Continentals then engaged Clinton’s forces in full with Lee’s men given to the command of La Marquise de Lafayette. The American forces, fighting with discipline and order thanks to the efforts of Baron von Steuben, proved a match for their red-coated adversaries. At sundown, the Americans held the field, although Washington wanted to continue the fight. Darkness saved the British further losses!
As of this writing, Gen. Chas. Lee is under court-martial in Englishtown. It is expected he will be relieved of his command.
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