Monmouth Battlefield State Park

The Craig House

Monmouth Battlefield State Park is a 1,810-acre (7.32 km²) New Jersey state park located on the border of Manalapan and Freehold Township. This park preserves the historical battlefield on which the American Revolutionary War's Battle of Monmouth was waged.

Appearance and information

Monmouth Battlefield State Park preserves a rural, eighteenth century landscape of orchards, fields, woods and wetlands encompassing miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding; picnic areas, and a restored Revolutionary War farmhouse entitled, the Craig House.

The park's visitor center rests atop Combs Hill―a hill once commanded by the Continental Army artillery. Within the park's visitor's center one may observe an array of excavated artifacts from the notable eighteenth century battle.

During the final weekend in June (or the weekend nearest to 28 June), an annual reenactment of the 1778 American Revolutionary War battle is performed.

History of the battlefield

Main article: Battle of Monmouth

On 28 June, 1778, as Sir Henry Clinton and his troops parted from the Monmouth Court House, George Washington and his Continental Army troops plotted an amuscade on the rear column of Clinton's British Army soldiers, though the battle soon ended in a standoff.

The Battle of Monmouth is most notable for creating the American legend of Molly Pitcher; a housewife who boldly took her husband's place at the cannon only moments after his peril. In honor of Pitcher, an aging white cenotaph was erected nigh the property of the battlefield.

External links

• Photographs from reenacted battle
• Visitation details
• Streaming video of the Battle of Monmouth reenactment (RealPlayer required)
• Photo gallery

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