On June 28, 1778, American forces led by General George Washington clashed with the British Army at Monmouth Courthouse, New Jersey. The vanguard of the American Army was led that morning by General Charles Lee, who insisted he be given command of an attack he did not think prudent to make. The result was a disastrous withdrawal of Continental troops in the face of a British counterattack, an action that would spark confusion, hostility, and charges of treason, ultimately leading to the court martial of General Lee.
As Washington approached the field, his anger began to increase as signs of failure and collapse swirled around him. He had every reason to believe the morning’s action had been successful, but now his vanguard appeared to be retreating in confusion without having fired a shot. What had happened?
Read an excerpt from Jim Stempel’s Valley Forge To Monmouth: Six Transformative Months of the American Revolution, now available on Amazon and at virtually all online sellers, detailing Washington’s historic confrontation with Lee, his epic rally of the Continental Army, and the furious battle that ensued – in all, one of the most hotly debated and controversial moments in American military history.
