CONTEXT
In early 1778, an alliance between France and the new United States of America forced the main British Army to abandon the rebel capital of Philadelphia to concentrate their forces in New York City. As the British marched across New Jersey, the main Continental Army marched from Valley Forge to intercept them. At Monmouth, a Continental Army attack on the rear of the British column failed, but when the British counter attacked, they were bloodily repulsed. After a 3-hour cannonade – the largest field artillery duel of the war – the British were forced to withdraw. The Continental Army and Washington had won a major psychological victory.
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| “Washington Rallying the Troops at Monmouth” 23 feet by 13 feet Painting by 1857 Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze |
From the Internet... Leutze’s painting is one of those heroic mid-nineteenth century canvases which one can look at again and again without seeing everything. The painter tried to be meticulously accurate with regard to uniforms, weapons, facial types of the soldiers, and i^mtntits of the leading figures. The coni|X)sition is carefully balanced, but packed with action. In the center, Washington, the sunlight shining on his wrathful face, waves aloft his sword as he starts to rally the troops of the advance corps. Hamilton and a bareheaded Lafayette have ridden up with him and arc reining in their horses. Lee sits back in the saddle, his crestfallen face in shadow. In the foreground, exhausted riflemen—and a thirsty dog—scoop water from a spring; farther back, on the left, the soldiers raise a cheer for their Commander in Chief, while some of them have already turned to fire on the redcoats, who can be seen outside Monmoulh Court House, in the distance at upper left. On the hilltop, behind the figure of Washington, American artillery gallops into position to stem the retreat, and at far right the regular ranks of Continentals approach the scene to do battle.
Note: This painting now resides in Freehold, NJ at the Monmouth County Historical Society Museum.
Located on 690 route 9W, Fort Montgomery, NY, almost literally next door (1.3 miles away) to the Bear Mountain Bridge (built in 1923 and celebrating the 100th anniversary), spanning the Hudson River. Our weather was very, very warm with hot, hazy sunshine and high temperatures.
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| Fort Montgomery |
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| Fort Clinton |
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| Map of British Attack |
We had lunch outdoors in the shade (outdoor temperatures were hot and humid, with highs of 90-94 degrees F), lunch until around 1:00pm, then Peter demonstrated and shot the British Brown Bess, a .69 caliber musket around 1:10 or so, then off to 15 minute movie about the battle until 1:30. Left for home at 1:45 or so.
