Battle of Monmouth

The Battle of Monmouth was an indecisive engagement in the American Revolution, fought on June 28, 1778, at Monmouth, New Jersey. The battle involved the Continental Army, commanded by General George Washington, and the British Army, led by General Sir Henry Clinton. The battle was part of the Philadelphia campaign, which had seen the British inflict two major defeats on Washington and occupy Philadelphia.On a hot and humid day, Washington and his subordinate, General Charles Lee, attacked the rearguard elements of Clinton’s British Army. Despite being outnumbered two-to-one, the Continental Army, which had undergone extensive training at Valley Forge, launched the initial attack. However, Lee lacked confidence in his soldiers and failed to press his advantage, allowing the British to counterattack.Washington, upon arriving at the battlefield and finding his forces retreating, removed Lee from command in a heated confrontation. Rallying his troops, Washington continued the assault on the British, allowing the rest of the Continental Army to join the battle. The battle saw several hours of intense fighting under the brutal June sun. Despite the desire of some to press the attack, the exhausted American forces withdrew, and the British slipped away under the cover of darkness.