New Jersey’s history
to come alive once more
As you read this, American and British soldiers are marching across central New Jersey toward Freehold and Manalapan. They are coming our way as part of New Jersey’s Crossroads of the Revolution project that will culminate Saturday and Sunday at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Manalapan, when more than 2,000 re-enactors present a re-creation of the Battle of Monmouth, set up 18th-century army camps for tours, and present a variety of living history programs.
First, Monroe will mark the anniversary of the date that Colonial troops, having spent the night in what is now the township, awoke and crossed the Manalapan Brook en route to a face-off with the British.
To commemorate the troops’ experience and encampment at Monroe, a handful of local volunteers has helped the township coordinate what promises to be an exciting and enlightening day of activities. Friday’s Eve of the Battle of Monmouth events include a living history encampment at the Charles Dey farm, where visitors can also watch drills, hear period music and see presentations from the likes of Gen. George Washington and Molly Pitcher The farm also includes restored historic buildings and a museum.
Of great note are three narrated bus tours that will embark from the Dey farm. The tours are the culmination of a tremendous amount of research and planning, and will reveal several local points of interest that played a role in the Continental Army’s experience.
Meanwhile, the line of march will take participants from Englishtown down Route 522, the "Battle of Monmouth Road," to Freehold. Soldiers, their camp followers and Washington will revisit the historic battle site.
June 28 will be 225 years to the day since the Battle of Monmouth — the longest land artillery battle of the American Revolution — was fought in the fields of present-day Manalapan and Freehold Township in the area of what is now Route 522 and Wemrock Road.
The battle began at about 10 a.m., 2 miles east of Manalapan at Monmouth Courthouse (Freehold) and continued for more than seven hours, making it one of the longest battles of the Revolution. By 5:30 p.m., the British had retreated and the firing ceased. At dawn on the following day, Washington moved fresh troops forward to resume the battle, but the British forces had slipped away during the night to continue their journey to New York City.
Historians believe the Battle of Monmouth was a political triumph for the Continental Army and Washington. The Continental Army had met the British in open field, held their own and forced them to retreat. It was their first victory in two years.
The weekend activities will recall the sacrifices made by soldiers doing their duty — just as American soldiers continue to do their duty today in nations far from home.
It is appropriate to pause and take a minute to reflect on what happened in this part of New Jersey 225 years ago and to think about what that effort meant to a new nation that was struggling to break free of oppression.
History surrounds us, and many people work hard to make it available and to give it meaning; it’s up to the rest of us to make the effort to appreciate what has gone before and the meaning it has on our lives today.