Battle of MonmouthArticle Free Pass Having evacuated
Philadelphia, the British under Sir Henry Clinton were marching
through New Jersey to Sandy Hook. After a 40-hour halt at
Monmouth Court House, the army moved out, leaving a small
covering force. In order to strike a vigorous blow at the
retreating enemy, American general George Washington ordered
Charles Lee, commanding the advance guard, to attack the British
rear. When Lee attempted to surround the small force at the
courthouse, he was surprised by the arrival of Lord Cornwallis’s
rear guard, which Clinton had ordered back to resist the
attackers. Rather than risk fighting a delaying action on
difficult terrain, Lee ordered a retreat but was tardy giving
Washington notice. When Washington arrived, he was therefore
surprised and indignant to find his Continental forces
retreating in much disorder. He immediately rallied the troops
and checked the British advances. Cornwallis fell back and
withdrew undetected at night, joining the main British army on
safe