I just finished reading the chapter about the Battle of Monmouht in "George Washington's Indispensible Men" and am having some difficulty picturing where things are located. The chapter made reference to the Rhea farm but I have no clue where that is located or if it's still standing. I know where the Parsonage Farm was and that's where I understand Lee was, when he ran into trouble. That farm was torn down in the mid-1800's and all that's left is a knoll. So the question is, if I'm standing on Combs Hill facing the battlefield, where in the world is the Rhea farm? I know that Washington's army approached from Englishtown and that he had to pass the Old Tennent Church somewhere along the way. The battle description in the book makes it sound like that battle took place just on the outskirts of Freehold but the town is not all that close to the battlefield. Present-day downtown Freehold has buildings that date to the 1700's and I'm pretty sure the town itself hasn't moved. Just where exactly did they fight? Was it closer to the church? I ask that because the church bears battle scars and is closer to Englishtown than it is to Freehold. And, how did Molly ever make it over to that spring/well without getting shot? The well is located near the corner of Wemrock Road and Route 522. Linda
From http://www.monmouthbattlefield.com/parkmap.html, it looks like it would be at 2- or 3-o'clock, if you're standing on Combs Hill facing the old farmhouse in the distance. From my memory of the view, in the summer, Rhea's farm would not be visible from Combs Hill. I don't know if it could be seen through bare trees from there. Probably not. I visited the park last summer and bought a copy of Stryker's The Battle of Monmouth at the Monmouth County Historical Society in Freehold. I also read The Battle of Monmouth published by Freneau Press in 1964 at the library. It seems from those two books and various Internet sources that there are a great many differences among maps of the battle, not to mention descriptions. My memory of the Freneau Press book's description is that the first, pre-Washington phases of the battle happened a bit north of the center of Freehold. Then the Americans retreated until they reached the land that makes up today's park.
Thanks so very much for providing that link. Now I know exactly where the Rhea farm is. I walked Monmouth Battlefield this past March and even at that time of year the Rhea farm is not visible from Combs Hill. But it IS visible from the battlefield and from Wemrock Road. I was wondering what farm that was and you just solved that riddle for me. That's an excellent map, by the way! I see that I have more walking trails to explore. ;D I can see where there can be considerable confusion with the Battle of Monmouth. The current day map shows the battlefield being almost dead center between Freehold and Englishtown. The green arrow marks the location of the Old Tennent Church. This church had at least one cannon ball lodged in it and I believe that musket balls were also found lodged within its walls. Those could not have been the result of friendly fire. That church was used as a hospital and would have been behind our lines. Just what kind of ranges did British cannons and muskets have back then? Also the American defensive position had Englishtown to their backs, so what the hell was Molly doing running toward the British defensive position to get water...unless she was getting it before Lee fell back? That spring/well she retrieved water from is on the old Rhea Farm property near the corner of present day Wemrock Road and Freehold-Englishtown Road. The British would have been in that area. I think... :-\ There just are some basic things here that do mot make sense. I'll have to get a copies of those books to better understand this. Or better yet -- we need to do a battlefield muster! Linda
Linda We do an annual reenactment at Monmouth. I believe it is the last weekend in June. Some of this group might enjoy watching HM's troops chase the Doodles over hill and dale. This is one of the few sites where we fight on a part of the original field. YMH & OS, Ben Newton Capt Lt Royal Artillery(1776-1783) fourthbnra@hotmail.com
Been there. Twice so far. It's a hoot!!!! ;D If nothing comes up for me that weekend I plan on being there again this year. ;D Combs Hill is the perfect place to sit and watch the action. Linda
I'm finally reading Stryker's Battle of Monmouth. His chapter on Lee's advance detachments' movements in the morning of the 28th is one of the most confusing things I've ever read. This may not be Stryker's (or his editor's) fault. In fact, they might just have been more honest and transparent to the reader by NOT selecting consistent accounts from the sources to support a coherent narrative thread, as many authors do (or are made to do by their editors/publishers). Still, phew!!! Talk about the fog of war! Among the problems the reader encounters are extremely inconsistent and inaccurate contemporary maps; the renaming of geographical features like streams, roads, mills, towns, etc. over the years (sometimes twice since 1778!); and massive confusion caused by aides of different officers at army, division, and detachment level roaming the battlefield and its surroundings receiving and giving conflicting information and orders. It's worth noting that Stryker's The Battles of Trenton and Princeton did not seem to have this problem, at least in my memory of it. Maybe this extreme confusion is why there hasn't been a modern big-trade-publisher book on the subject. If anyone took the project on, they definitely would have their work cut out for them.
The Battle of Monmouth was confusing for the boys, indeed. I personally feel that much of the confusion may have been due to the extreme heat of the day with not too many people being able to think straight on account of it. Linda
Even though I went to college in the town where Molly Pitcher is buried (Carlisle, PA), I'm terribly embarrassed to admit that I have never seen the battlefield at Monmouth. On one of my trips east, I definitely need to get there. And Trenton. And Princeton. And Morristown. Eric
Eric, Am even worse. I live in NJ, and only have been to Morristown. Then again I've never been to the Statue of Liberty either. Have driven right past the other places countless times, but have never stopped. Hope all is well. Steve
Steve & Eric et all We will hold a reenactment of Monmouth 21-22 Jun 08. A goodtime to visit and see all. UMH & OS, Uncle Ben
Ben, I would love to attend, but I'm going to be leading a Civil War battlefield tour in Virginia that weekend. I will have to make it another time. Eric
Ben, And I will be in Charleston, SC for a Civil War event I attend every June. Hope to stop down there sometime this Summer. Regards from North Jersey. Steve
