Continental Army and Militia Shadow British Withdrawal

Following the Battle of Monmouth, the British Army left Freehold and headed east to Middletown. Geroge Washington faced a decision on whether to pursue them. Mark Lender and Garry Stone, who wrote the defining book on the Battle of Monmouth, have suggested that Washington was disinclined to pursue the British. When Monmouth County’s leaders advised that the British would hold the high ground at Middletown, it likely sealed the decision not to pursue.

On July 1, Washington informed Congress of his decision: "Being fully convinced by the Gentlemen of this country that the enemy cannot be hurt or injured in their embarkation at Sandy Hook... I put the troops in motion [for New Brunswick] this morning."  He assigned the regiments of Colonel Daniel Morgan and Stephen Moylan, and the New Jersey Brigade under General William Maxwell, (about 1,000 men in all), plus New Jersey militia (another 1,000 men) to shadow the British from the west. In addition to these units, Col. John Neilson’s Middlesex County militia, and Monmouth County militia from Middletown and Shrewsbury townships were operating east of the British Army.

Continentals Shadow the British Army

Daniel Morgan had collaborated with New Jersey militia to harass the British Army prior to the Battle of Monmouth, and he would see the lion’s share of action after the battle. On June 28, even before the final shots of the Battle of Monmouth were fired, Washington directed Morgan to follow the British. Morgan was directed to "confine yourself to observing the motions of the enemy, unless an opportunity of intercepting some small parties; and by no means to come to an engagement with your whole body unless you are tempted by some very evident advantage." Morgan’s June 29 orders, however, were more aggressive:

As it is probable that the enemy is exceedingly harassed with the heat of the weather and the fatigue of the engagement yesterday, his Excellency [Washington] desires that you will press upon their rear and pick up all that you possibly can; you will follow them as far as you can, consistent with the safety of your own party.

But it was the cavalry of Stephen Moylan that first pressed into the British rear. He wrote Washington from Nut Swamp, where the British camped the previous night. He was only three miles from the British camp at Middletown and had a local guide, Cornelius Smock, son of the local militia captain. Moylan wrote: “The baggage is still where it last night halted, badly guarded, I wish there was infantry in this detachment, or a great stroke might be made upon it." Local forces had unsuccessfully attacked the same baggage train a day earlier. Moylan also noted a skirmish: "three miles from Middletown we attacked a party of the enemy this morning & took one Captain, one Lieutenant, one Ensign with two privates, prisoners, & killed a few more."

While Moylan was pressing the British and Morgan marched to join him, the main body of New Jersey militia—one thousand men under General Philemon Dickinson—was dissolving. On June 29, Dickinson wrote:

I am under the disagreeable necessity of informing your Excellency that on my return to this place [Englishtown], I found the number of militia greatly reduced and lessening hourly -- there is universal murmuring amongst them on account of their grass, corn, etc., which they say will be ruined in a few days, as no persons can be employed to secure them.

Dickinson marched east with the men who would go with him. On June 30, he wrote:

With much difficulty I have march'd 300 men but could not prevail upon a greater number to go forward -- how long they will continue is uncertain as both officers and men seem discontented. I never knew of so much murmuring -- they say their farms will be ruined & that the enemy may remain on the shore for several weeks.

Washington expressed disappointment that the militia that "behaved so well in obstructing the progress of the enemy should think of leaving their duty when it is so near finished.” He asked for more time: “A few days, perhaps a few hours, will terminate the matter. They will prevent marauding parties, distress their [British] retreat and flanks, and be a defense of private property till the enemy get on shipboard." Dickinson wrote back that half his men were now gone and "the remainder going heavily, being determined, they say, to return home." He informed Washington that he had "no prospect of executing your Excellency's orders."

On June 30, Morgan’s regiment replaced Moylan’s at Nut Swamp. Morgan wrote Washington, still at Englishtown, that he had picked up a British deserter "who is an intelligent fellow." Morgan was also “sending out small parties to round them, to take marauders and to fall in with their small parties."

Washington’s aide-de-camp, Tench Tilghman, wrote Morgan that "General Maxwell will remain somewhere in the neighborhood of Monmouth Court House to support you.” But it was not true; the New Jersey Brigade did not offer Morgan any significant assistance. Provisions were left for the Continentals at Manalapan: “the Commissary will have provision to the 8th at Penelopy [Manalapan]... when it is exhausted, you must look out into the country."

Morgan began sending deserters and stragglers back to Freehold. Colonel Henry Laurens noted that “Morgan informs us he has taken 30 prisoners, and received 100 deserters.” Major Thomas Massie, under Morgan, offered a higher number: “two or three hundred stragglers that were captured.”

Morgan was supported by local Monmouth militia (from Middletown and Shrewsbury townships). Even as New Jersey militia from other counties melted away, local militia had little choice but to stay and skirmish, and seek to hasten the British withdrawal. Four local militiamen recalled their duty shadowing the British at Middletown in their post-war pension applications. Hendrick Hendrickson recalled that he “followed in the rear of the retreating enemy on their way to Sandy Hook, skirmishing with the detached parties and cutting off stragglers."

Skirmishing at Middletown

Three other militiamen recalled a skirmish with the British just outside of Middletown. James Herbert recalled, “When the British Army lay at Middletown, he was in a fray with a party of British near Thomas Stout's mill - where two of them were killed." Benjamin Wilson also recalled a skirmish at Stout’s Mill:

He march[ed] down after the enemy, was deployed from Middletown to Stout's Mill - 3 of the Hessians were killed - he fired at a band & hampered the British on the flanks & rear till they reached the Highlands, from which they escaped.

Nicholas Worrell was likely in the same skirmish as Herbert and Wilson. He recalled: “Near the town of Middletown, where the deponent killed two British soldiers at one shot, on their retreat from the Battle of Monmouth, they being part of a party that was robbing a farm house.”

While the New Jersey Brigade never marched forward from Freehold, Captain Jonathan Forman of Middletown Point was furloughed home, accompanied by Lt. Colonel David Brearley of Upper Freehold. Forman left the Continental camp on June 29. He recorded being home in Middletown Point, linking up with Morgan on July 2, and then returning to Middletown again on July 10:

March'd that morning to Mr. Denice's, myself sent off to Midle Tno [Middletown] where the en'y [enemy] had possession of the heights to get intelligence[.] Col Morgan laying there with abt [about] 200 Riflemen and part of his Excellency's guards returned Saturday. Sunday 12th, went to Mid Tno [Middletown] with Colo D [Elias Dayton] and David B [Brearley] to reconnoiter [reconnoiter]. The eny [enemy] moved off to Sandy Hook and embark'd.

Forman and Brearley stayed on at Middletown until July 14—long after the British Army returned to New York. They stayed presumably to observe the movements of the British fleet as it scrambled to keep the French fleet from crossing Sandy Hook and entering lower New York Harbor.

On July 2, General Henry Clinton put the British Army in motion. They left Middletown and camped four miles east at the Navesink Highlands—from which British baggage and camp-followers began moving onto Sandy Hook. The camp on the Highlands, without the comforts of a prosperous village, was unpleasant for the British.

Morgan skirmished with the British as they left Middletown: "My advance engaged their rear yesterday... We retreated at a hill at this end of the town. They retreated to their own ground; a few [British] were killed. I had one slightly wounded." Morgan occupied Middletown on July 2 and stayed close to the British rear. He wrote, "we are in full view of each other." He complained about a lack of cavalry, "I am at great loss for Light Horse, having none with me." He noted receiving six horses from the Army but the “horses were tired and rather an encumbrance, as they scarce raise a gallop.”

Continental Pressure Eases

The lack of cavalry complained of by Morgan was owing to Moylan moving away. That same day, Moylan wrote Washington acknowledging orders to re-join the main Army. But Moylan complained that his men were too fatigued and "ought to have at least one fort night's rest before they begin their march.” Moylan made a request:

If your Excellency would approve of it, I would recommend Shrewsbury & its environs for that purpose [resting his men]. It is inhabited by disaffected, who, I am informed, have a large quantity of grain & pasture there.

Moylan also congratulated himself for his service, "have saved a fine country from being pillaged."

Why was Moylan so interested in Shrewsbury? It is probable that he found Shrewsbury enticing because of Captain Elisha Shepherd of the Shrewsbury militia. Shepherd joined Moylan as a guide in: “He was appointed a pilot to Colonel Moylan’s troop of horse who were pursuing the British Army, and after piloting them in safety to Middletown was discharged and returned home to Shrewsbury.”

On July 3, with the British marching onto Sandy Hook, Morgan eased up. On July 3, his men were ordered to bathe and received this order, "Tomorrow, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence will be celebrated by the firing of thirteen cannon... soldiers to adorn their hats with green boughs and make the best appearance possible. A double allowance of rum will be served out."

Washington was also ready to ease up. He now understood that the British were withdrawing to Sandy Hook where they could not be harassed by Morgan. On July 3, his aide, R.R. Meade wrote Morgan: "You will join with this army immediately upon finding that you can no longer do them (the enemy) injury. Should they be on the Hook, it is taken for granted that there is no annoying them." The British Army completed its withdrawal to Sandy Hook on July 6.

Related Historic Site: Marlpit Hall

Sources: Mark Lender, Garry Wheeler Stone, Fatal Sunday (Norman, OK: Oklahoma University Press, 2016) pp 354, 372-375; Edwin Salter, History of Monmouth and Ocean Counties (Bayonne, NJ: E. Gardner and Sons, 1890) p 182; Proceedings of the New jersey Historical Society, vol 6, 1851, p18; Bruce Burgoyne, Defeat, Disaster and Dedication: The Diaries of a Hessian Officer (NY: Heritage Books, 1997) p32; James Morgan to George Washington, The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 15, May–June 1778, ed. Edward G. Lengel. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2006, p. 557; Stephen Moylan to George Washington, The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 15, May–June 1778, ed. Edward G. Lengel. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2006, pp. 565–566; National Archives, Veterans Pensions, Robert Nesbitt of Virginia; Daniel Morgan to George Washington, Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 4, reel 50, June 30, 1778; James Graham, The Life of General Daniel Morgan of the Virginia Line of the Army of the United States (New York: Derby & Jackson, 1859), p 211-214; National Archives, revolutionary War veterans Pension Applications, New Jersey - Noah Clayton; Philemon Dickinson to George Washington, The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 15, May–June 1778, ed. Edward G. Lengel. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2006, pp. 591–592; National Archives, Revolutionary War veterans Pension Applications, New Jersey - Cornelius Smock; National Archives, Revolutionary War veterans Pension Applications, New Jersey - Benjamin Van Cleave; National Archives, Revolutionary War veterans Pension Applications, New Jersey - Benjamin Wilson; National Archives, Revolutionary War veterans Pension Applications, New Jersey - Nicholas Worrell; Revolutionary War Veterans' Pension Application of Hendrick Hendrickson of NJ, National Archives, p10-15; National Archives, Revolutionary War Veterans' Pension Application, Elisha Shepherd of OH, www.fold3.com/image/# 16277477; National Archives, Revolutionary War Veterans' Pension Application, James Herbert of NJ, www.fold3.com/image/#23218878; Stephen Moylan to Charles Lee, New York Public Library, Emmet Collection, #5243; Philemon Dickinson to William Livingston, Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Battle of Monmouth files: folder – Militia; Tench Tilghman to Daniel Morgan, New York Public Library, Myers Collection, item 1044; Jonathan Forman [likely author], Anonymous Revolutionary War Diary, Fellows Papers, box 2, Special Collections, Rush-Rhees Library, University of Rochester; transcribed by John Rees; John Laurens, The Army correspondence of Colonel John Laurens in the years 1777-8 (New York: New York Times, 1969) pp. 204-5; Veterans Pension Application of Thomas Massie of Virginia excerpted in The Battle Cry: Newsletter of the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield, v7, n2, March 2001; Stephen Moylan to George Washington, Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 4, reel 50, June 29, 1778; Stephen Moylan to George Washington, Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 4, reel 50, July 2, 1778; Stephen Moylan to George Washington, Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 4, reel 50, June 29, 1778; John Laurens, The Army correspondence of Colonel John Laurens in the years 1777-8 (New York: New York Times, 1969) p 201; George Washington to Daniel Morgan, John Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1932) vol. 12, pp. 126, 146, 149; Morgan’s July 3 order printed in Andrew D. Mellick, Jr., Lesser Crossroads, ed. Hubert G. Schmidt from Andrew D. Mellick, Jr., The Story of an Old Farm (1889 reprint) (New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1948), pp. 262-4; George Washington to Philemon Dickinson, John Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1932) vol. 12, pp. 129-30.