[Manalapan Township, NJ]

In May, 1778, the British—to whom Philadelphia had been surrendered the previous year—made the decision to abandon the city and move en masse back to New York.

The enemy forces commenced crossing what was then known as “the Jerseys” (East Jersey and West Jersey) at a slow pace.

George Washington and his army, coming out of their privation-stricken winter quarters in Valley Forge, saw opportunity. They stalked the British, looking for any opportunity to attack.

As darkness fell the sultry night of June 27, 1778, Washington’s opponents had camped near Monmouth Court House, New Jersey.

Washington delivered orders to Major General Charles Lee to attack by the early morning, or be prepared to furnish a persuasive excuse for failing to do so.

Lee, however, failed to take the initiative. Hamilton—frantically riding orders back and forth around the area of operations—discovered Lee’s men retreating under heavy enemy fire.

A heated Washington whipped himself and his troops into battle, and the opposing armies clashed all the brutally hot day long.

Hamilton is said to have been in a sort of fit of foolhardy bravery during this action, placing himself in such danger that a horse was shot out from under him. He was injured and had to be taken off the field of battle.

Elsewhere in the thick of melee at the Battle of Monmouth was Aaron Burr, who became (like many others that day) afflicted with heat stroke. Burr fell ill. He would go on to convalesce in the care of his future wife, Theodosia Prevost, in the mansion owned by her British officer husband, “The Hermitage.”

After the Battle of Monmouth, Washington had Lee arrested and tried in a courts martial proceeding at New Brunswick, New Jersey. These incidents would lead to the now famous Lee-Laurens duel that winter.