The+Battle+of+Monmouth

= ﻿The Battle of Monmouth  =

The Battle of Monmouth was fought on June 28, 1778 in New Jersey between British troops and the militia from the American Continental Army.

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General George Washington and Major General Charles Lee lead the troops into the battle against Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton who had control over the entire British army but had help from Major General Earl Cornwallis, who replaced Leiutenant General Howe when we was relieved of his appointment.======

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The Battle of Monmouth was a spontaneous battle by the Americans. General Washington believed that American troops should attack the British who were maraching towards New York, along with a baggage train, although General Lee didn't believe that they should. Lee refused to take command of 5,000 men because he didn't want to be part of the attack. After the control of the troops was given to the Marquis de Lafayette, Lee changed his mind.======

General Charles Lee
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Major General Lee tries to take his troops to the rear of tthe British army without letting the other generals know. British General Clinton believes the Americans are attacking the baggage train, so he attacks the right flank of the American army. Lee cannot attack the rear so he sends men to help support the right flank. As he does so, Britain starts to fire cannons at the Americans. Lee sends his troops into Monmouth to escape the cannon fire and calls a retreat.

General George Washington is not happy to hear about Lee's retreat when he had no reason. Washington then had to gather all of Lee's scattered troops and prepare a line of defense against the advancing British.

In the midst of the battle, the artillery unit was going to retreat due to the number of casualties. Mary Ludwig Hays, known as Molly Pitcher, who brought water to the troops, took her wounded husband's place firing a cannon.

The armies had to hold fire due to the dusk, and under the cover of darkness, Clinton's troops retreated quietly leaving the American militia behind.

Molly Pitcher firing her husband's cannon
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The battle is usually said to be a draw, although the Americans and the British both claim they had won the war. The Americans held their ground until the British retreated, and the British defended their baggage train when they were not looking for a battle.======

The American troops inflicted damage to the British troops and it proved to the Americans that they could successfully defend off the British army. This is a significant realization to the American militia because they now know, that the "mighty British" can be beat. This is the last battle between the main armies, the rest of the fighting is between secondary armies.

Citations:
 * 1) []
 * 2) []
 * 3) []
 * 4) The American Vision Textbook

Mila Zernich