Battle of Monmouth
1778 CE · New Jersey, USA
The Battle of Monmouth was fought in 1778 CE in New Jersey, USA between United States vs Great Britain; tactically inconclusive; the Continental Army held the field and the British continued their march to New York.
Battle of Monmouth: quick facts
- Date
- 1778 CE
- Location
- New Jersey, USA
- Belligerents
- United States vs Great Britain
- Commanders
- George Washington vs Henry Clinton
- Result
- tactically inconclusive; the Continental Army held the field and the British continued their march to New York.
- Era
- 🦅 American Wars
- Quiz difficulty
- hard
What happened at the Battle of Monmouth?
As the British army marched across New Jersey after evacuating Philadelphia, Washington attacked their rear guard near Monmouth Courthouse. When General Charles Lee ordered a premature retreat, Washington personally rode to the front and rallied the troops. In sweltering heat that killed soldiers on both sides, the Continental Army fought the British to a standstill, demonstrating the improved discipline gained from Baron von Steuben's training at Valley Forge. The legend of 'Molly Pitcher,' a woman who supposedly took over her husband's cannon, was born from this battle.
Did you know?
'Molly Pitcher' at Monmouth may be a composite figure based on several women who carried water to cool cannons and soldiers. Mary Ludwig Hays is the most commonly cited real person behind the legend.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Monmouth on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.