The Monmouth Flag

Monmouth. A borough in New Jersey with a story that is often overlooked in American History. It was hear in the sweltering June heat in 1778, that George Washington's Continental Army faced British Regulars head on led by British General Sir Henry Clinton. American forces had previously suffered two major defeats at the hand of the British during the Philadelphia campaign which had initiated the year before. However, in February of 1778, the Treaty of Alliance between France and the fledgling United States, tilted the strategic balance of the war in favor of the Americans. Britain, realizing the best course of action was to adopt a more defensive posture rather than putting down the rebellion entirely, left Philadelphia and consolidated their forces under Clinton. From there, the British would mark to Sandy Hook, New Jersey, where the Royal Navy would ferry them to New York. The Americans could not allow a British withdrawal on this scale to go unharmed.  The battle began disastrously for the Continental Army, as an attack led by Continental General Charles Lee collapsed when attacking the British at the Monmouth courthouse. Lee's men were quickly outnumbered when British troops evacuating from Philadelphia arrived, forcing the Americans into a hasty and disorganized retreat. The arrival and organization of Washington's main body of soldiers into defensive positions caused British attacks into the Continental soldiers to founder.  What began after the dissipation of Infantry attacks was a multi hour long artillery battle, in which Washington's Army was able to gain the higher ground, allowing them to fire artillery down on the British lines. It was here, when Clinton began to see his position as untenable and began withdrawing his units. Washington responded by sending his soldiers to attack the British troops as they withdrew until sunset, inflicting heavy casualties on the retreating column. The remaining British slipped away under the cover of darkness.  Though the battle did not land the blow either side had hoped to inflict, it changed how the British viewed Washington's Continental Army, being seen for their effectiveness as a fighting force and professional conduct as soldiers. General Washington in the eyes of his fellow countrymen, became unassailable commander in chief, and was given a formal thanks of congress for his efforts in the battle.  The Monmouth Flag is thought to have been flown during the battle, and carries the St. George and St. Andrew crosses with the single color field. There has been debate as to whether the Monmouth Flag was attributed to British or American forces, as the figured silk forming the crosses in the upper left corner and the wide white edging for the cross of St. George were not in line with proper British regulations for a flag. It is almost certainly part of the changes Americans made to Colonial British flags as an act of resistance against crown rule.   3x2.5" Woven Hook Backing Release: 08/08/2024