Artillery Engagements
By Mark Relation, DLAR Intern
After a long day of fighting and repeated failed assaults on
the American positions, General Clinton halted all attacks around 5:00 PM on this day, 1778. However, this was not the end of the
fighting, as both sides engaged in an artillery duel through the evening until
Clinton ordered his army to retreat towards Sandy Hook. When Washington found out that the British
had left the field, he made no move to pursue, as they had already had a six
hour head start, and the American forces could convincingly claim victory
having forced the enemy to retreat.
Below is a latter from the Deputy Commissary-General of Military Stores
Samuel Hodgdon to John Ruddick, the Deputy Commissioner of Military Stores on
July 19th, 1778. The request
for more ammunition to replenish stores after the battle gives a sense of scope
of the level of engagement and scale of the artillery bombardment after the
fighting.
Fremont-Barnes,
Gregory, Richard Alan Ryerson, James R. Arnold, and Roberta Wiener. The
Encyclopedia of the American Revolutionary War: A Political, Social, and
Military History. Vol. 3. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2006. Print. p. 806-810.
“Sir,
The Great
consumption of Cannon Ammunition in the late Battle at Monmouth Renders it
Necessary that a supply be sent with all possible dispatch to Camp
200 six pound strap shot
200 four pound Ditto
100 three pound Ditto is Much wanted also
100 good arms & accoutrements
I have sent
by Mr. Giles CM stores five Load of Damaged Arms & Ammunition who will
Conduct the above stores to Camp”
Letters sent by Commissary General of Military Stores and Assistant
Quartermaster Samuel Hodgdon. 19 July 1778-24 May 1784, Numbered Record Books Concerning Military
Operations and Service, Pay and Settlements of Accounts, and Supplies in the
War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records, Record Group
93. National Archives Microfilm
Publication M853, reel 33, vol. 111, p. 96.
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| Archambault, Alan. American Artillery Crew in Action during the Revolutionary War. As found online at http://www.history.army.mil/books/AMH-V1/ch02.htm |
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