June 1778 was a tumultuous month in the annals of American military
history. Somehow, General George Washington and the Continental Army
were able to survive a string of defeats around Philadelphia in 1777 and
a desperate winter at Valley Forge. As winter turned to spring, and
spring turned to summer, the army--newly trained by Baron von Steuben
and in high spirits thanks to France's intervention into the
conflict--marched out of Valley Forge in pursuit of Henry Clinton's
British Army making its way across New Jersey for New York City.
What would happen next was not an easy decision for Washington to make.
Should he attack the British column? And if so, how? "People expect
something from us and our strength demands it," Gen. Nathanael Greene
pressed his chieftain. Against the advice of many of his subordinates,
Washington ordered the army to aggressively pursue the British and not
allow the enemy to escape to New York City without a fight.
On June 28, 1778, the vanguard of the Continental Army under Maj. Gen.
Charles Lee engaged Clinton's rearguard near the small village of
Monmouth Court House. Lee's over-cautiousness prevailed and the
Americans were ordered to hasty retreat. Only the arrival of Washington
and the main body of the army saved the Americans from disaster. By the
end of the day, they held the field as the British continued their march
to Sandy Hook and New York City.
In A Handsome Flogging: The Battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778,
historian William Griffith retells the story of what many historians
have dubbed the "battle that made the American army," and takes you
along the routes trekked by both armies on their marches toward destiny.
Follow in the footsteps of heroes (and a heroine) who, on a hot summer
day, met in desperate struggle in the woods and farm fields around
Monmouth Court House.
