The Importance of the Battle of Monmouth in the American Revolutionary War

3851 Words8 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: british involvement in the american revolution

The Importance of the Battle of Monmouth in the American Revolutionary War

Few, when writing about the American Revolution, list the Battle of Monmouth among the significant battles. It was hardly a bloody battle, with only about seven-hundred total casualties. It was not a decisive battle, it was not a battle in which we gained or lost a key position, and it was not a battle in which we point to as an example of how to conduct an engagement. In fact, it was not a battle in which one can say that the Revolutionaries truly won. Yet, with all this, it was probably the battle that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War. "Beneath a blazing sun at Monmouth Courthouse, it was shown to the rest of the Continental Army that the training of Freidrich Von Stueben had, indeed, paid off. Here, Revolutionists stood toe to toe with the greatest Army in the world, and drove them off the field." Heroes were made here, such as the famous Molly Hays McCauly , better known as Molly Pitcher. In truth, and in accordance with legend, she took up her husband's place at his cannon on Comb's Hill after he had fallen. Another legend that began here was the insanely courageous moves of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. His hold against the Grenadiers earned him this nickname, which stuck until his death . Truly, this battle sent a rejuvenated spirit across the entire Continental Army. Contrary to popular belief, they could beat the British regulars. This would no longer be by some fluke, or by poor commanding on the British side, but by the excellent fighting that had been instilled on them during the harsh winter at Valley Forge.

To set the stage for this battle, we must first understand what the British were thinking at the time. The British had not ...

... middle of paper ...

...o the Campaigns in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Washington Crossing,

Pennsylvania: Council of American Historical Sites, 1986

Flood, Charles Bracelen. Monmouth, a Novel. Boston: Houghton Mifflin 1961

Hale, Lieutenant Nathan. "Letter Describing the Events of June 28, 1778". November 25, 2013

Hester, Tom. "Maj. Gen. Charles Lee's Division Retreats in Disorder." The New Jersey Star-Ledger, 5 August 2001

Horner, William. This Old Monmouth of Ours. Freehold, NJ. 1974

Leach, Joseph K. "The Battle of Monmouth, June 1778." . November 1 2001

Lee, General Charles. "Letters to Washington on June 28th, and 30th".

November 1, 2001

Valis, Glenn. "The Battle of Monmouth". . November 1, 2001

Washington, General Washington. "Letter Rebuking and Ordering the Court-Martial of Lee". http://virginia.edu/gwpapers/revolution/lee/lee3.html. Nevember 1, 2001

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Christopher Hibbert's 'Redcoats And Rebels'

    1049 Words  | 3 Pages

    This book is the unbiased, detailed narrative of the war in chronological order. Summarized, this literary piece is an explanation of why the British lost the Revolutionary War. Christopher Hibbert explains the reasons behind their loss and provides supporting evidence as the War’s timeline progresses. One

    Read More

  • The Great American Victory Described in Robert Remini's The Battle of New Orleans

    959 Words  | 2 Pages

    It was important that we won this battle so that we wouldn’t be walked all over as a country. Even though we had already passed the Treaty of Paris, the British were not acknowledging our rights as a country; and Europe, as a whole, didn’t have much respect for us either. After this win we started earning the respect we deserved as a united nation. The fact that the British were “violating American rights would not go unchallenged or unpunished.”(6). The battle and fight between the Patriots and the British army was on.

    Read More

  • Revolutionary War: The Battles of Lexington and Concord

    944 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many famous people were involved in these battles. Paul Revere was a patriot who is well-known for his famous midnight ride.

    Read More

  • Causes And Effects Of The Battle Of Trenton

    685 Words  | 2 Pages

    Have you ever heard of the Revolutionary war? Well you probably have but, you might not of known that it was not one big war. Actually, it was separated into small battles one of those battles is the battle of Trenton 1776 which is actually the battle I will be informing you about. This battle has some causes, leaders, events and some effects.

    Read More

  • 1776 Book Review

    1084 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the summer of 1775, The Americans prepared to attack the British in Boston. But Washington was informed that they were shorthanded on gunpowder. The Americans had fewer than 10,000 pounds, roughly nine rounds per man. The situation was not expected to improve soon. During the night of March 4th, 1776 in Boston. Washington pulled the unthinkable and surprised the British by placing his army up the undefended Dorchester Heights. The British had ships anchored in the Boston Harbor, which were within range of American cannons. The British army woke up the next morning and was amazed to see how much hard work took place that night by the American army. Since the British army was surrounded they had no ot...

    Read More

  • the battle of britain

    799 Words  | 2 Pages

    Columbia University, Press. "Battle Of Britain." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2013): 1. History Reference Center. Web. 2 May 2014.

    Read More

  • Use of Espionage During the American Revolution

    3426 Words  | 7 Pages

    Mahoney, Harry Thayer, and Marjorie Locke Mahoney. Gallantry in action: a biographic dictionary of espionage in the American Revolutionary War. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1999.

    Read More

  • Battle Of Saratoga Essay

    1300 Words  | 3 Pages

    The battle of Saratoga was a significant turning point in the American Revolutionary War. This key conflict was, in fact, two significant battles that shaped America’s struggle for independence. The battles were fought 18 days apart in the same location - 9 miles south of Saratoga, New York. John Burgoyne, the British General, had an initial strategy to divide New England from the southern colonies. This was at first successful when the British took Pennsylvania, but hit a snag when Burgoyne met the Continental Army at Freeman’s Farm on September 19, 1777 - the first of the Saratoga battles. This was a tactical victory for the British, but it came at a price, as their casualties were heavy. It was known that the British won this Battle at Freeman’s Farm, but in actuality, they didn’t have many troops left. On October 7, in the Battle of Bemis Heights, the second Battle of Saratoga, Britain attacked America again as Burgoyne took the offensive. The troops crashed together south of the town of Saratoga, and Burgoyne's army was broken and his command captured. At this battle, the Americans were able to capture a large number of British troops, ultimately resulting in Burgoyne’s surrender on October 17, 1777. The Battle of Saratoga is well known to be “one of the most important victories of the conflict and an early success for the colonists.” The victory gave new life to the American cause at a critical time. Americans had just suffered a major setback at the Battle of Brandywine. They had also received news of the fall of Philadelphia to the British. Significantly with the success at Saratoga, France gained the confidence to enter the war as an American ally. The Battle of Saratoga was a war-altering conflict between the America...

    Read More

  • The Daily Life of Civil War Soldiers

    4294 Words  | 9 Pages

    Earl J. Hess, The Union Soldier in Battle, (Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 1997).

    Read More

  • The Biography of Aaron Burr

    1253 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the Revolutionary War, Aaron and I accompanied General Benedict Arnold's expedition into Canada in 1775, a difficult trek of over 500 miles in the middle of winter. Upon arriving before the Battle of Quebec, we were sent up the St. Lawrence River to make contact with General Richard Montgomery, who had taken Montreal, and escort him to Quebec. Montgomery liked the Aaron, and promoted him to Captain and added him to his staff as an aide-de-camp. After Montgomery was killed and the advance party thrown into confusion, Burr single-handedly gathered some of the soldiers and began an attack on the British lines. Overwhelmed by cannon fire, we were forced to retreat. Burr carried the body of Montgomery a short distance before retreating from the field. Our courage made us a national hero and earned us a place on Washington's staff in Manhattan, but we quit after two weeks because we wanted to return to the field.

    Read More

  • The Battle of Yorktown

    1105 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Revolutionary War started in 1775. The American colonies have had enough of the British occupants and set their foot down in pursuit to freedom and independence. Each battle that happened during the Revolutionary War had its own significance and contributions to the independence of the colonies. Many brave men laid their lives in pursuit of the dream of independence from British control. One particular battle paved the way for that independence to become a reality. That battle is known as the Battle of Yorktown. The Battle of Yorktown took place in what we know today as Virginia. It was a decisive battle that turned the table during the Revolutionary War. The battle ultimately led to the liberty of the American Colonies from the British. The strategy and scheme of maneuver from the American and French soldiers on the lands of Virginia were risky yet impressive. General George Washington and his French counterpart Lieutenant General de Rochambeau were able to take an offensive to General Cornwallis in Virginia. Those actions gave General Washington the advantage to turn the tide of the war.

    Read More

  • American History : The Revolutionary War

    1037 Words  | 3 Pages

    Despite the low expectations for the American colonies, they amazed the world as they rose to the occasion by taking advantage of their military assets, even those they did not know they had. For instance, George Washington proved to be a valuable asset for the American colonies. Washington was already held in high esteem prior to the Revolution for his few, but impactful, military accomplishments prior to the Revolution and for his praise-worthy character. (Schweikart and Allen 74) Because of his lack of experience commanding, he learned to excel in familiarizing himself with new tactics and responsibilities very quickly. (Mount Vernon) He used strategy to make up for what he lacked in supplies or force. In 1776, he valiantly crossed the Delaware river for a successful surprise attack on Trenton and days later successfully took Princeton, two undertakings which contributed significantly to the American victory along with Washington defeating Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1...

    Read More

  • Individuals That Contributed To The Civil War

    1908 Words  | 4 Pages

    Woodworth, Steven E. Davis and Lee at War. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 1995.

    Read More

  • Book report

    1152 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1776, David McCullough gives a vivid portrayal of the Continental Army from October 1775 through January 1777, with sharp focus on the leadership of America’s greatest hero, George Washington. McCullough’s thesis is that had not the right man (George Washington) been leading the Continental Army in 1776, the American Revolution would have resulted in a vastly different outcome. He supports his argument with a critical analysis of Washington’s leadership during the period from the Siege of Boston, through the disastrous defense of New York City, the desperate yet, well ordered retreat through New Jersey against overwhelming odds, and concludes with the inspiring victories of Trenton and Princeton. By keeping his army intact and persevering through 1776, Washington demonstrated to the British Army that the Continental Army was not simply a gang of rabble, but a viable fighting force. Additionally, Mr. McCullough supports his premise that the key to the survival of the American Revolution was not in the defense of Boston, New York City, or any other vital terrain, but rather the survival of the Continental Army itself. A masterful piece of history, 1776 is not a dry retelling of the Revolutionary War, but a compelling character study of George Washington, as well as his key lieutenants, and his British adversaries, the most powerful Army in the 18th Century world. When I read this book, I went from a casual understanding of the hero George Washington to a more specific understanding of why Washington was quite literally the exact right man at the exact right place and time to enable the birth of the United States.

    Read More

  • Analysis of 1776, by David McCullough

    972 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...e gun, it seemed, the greater the owner‘s pride in it.” (McCullough 33) The Continental army certainly did not look like an army yet these people were brought together in this fight for freedom and prevailed even winning the support of Americans who had no hope the British would be defeated.” Merchant Erving had sided with the Loyalists primarily because he thought the rebellion would fail. But the success of Washington‘s army at Boston had changed his mind as it had for many” (McCullough 108). The reader must comprehend the power of this accomplishment for the rag-tag army. “Especially for those who had been with Washington and who knew what a close call it was at the beginning-how often circumstance, storms, contrary winds, the oddities or strengths of individual character had made the difference- the outcome seemed little short of a miracle.” (McCullough 294).

    Read More

More about The Importance of the Battle of Monmouth in the American Revolutionary War

Open Document