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Battlefield

The Hedgerow

Monmouth, NJFeatured Site

About This Place

The Hedgerow was a fence line and tree row within the Monmouth battlefield that served as a critical defensive position for the Continental Army during the afternoon engagement on June 28, 1778. Anthony Wayne's brigade and other units used this terrain feature to anchor their defense against repeated British counterattacks.

Revolutionary Significance

After Washington reformed the American line following Lee's retreat, the Hedgerow became one of the anchoring positions of the new defensive line. Wayne's troops, along with other Continental units, used the cover provided by the fence line and vegetation to deliver disciplined volleys into advancing British formations. The British launched several determined assaults against this position, including attacks by grenadier battalions and the Brigade of Guards — elite formations that had rarely been stopped by American troops in earlier engagements. The Hedgerow's defense was one of the most significant tactical achievements of the battle, demonstrating the effectiveness of Steuben's training program. Today, interpretive markers along the park's trail system identify the Hedgerow position and explain its role in the battle.

Location

Within Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Manalapan, NJ 07726

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Events at This Location

  1. 1778

  2. 1778

    Valley Forge Training Tested at Monmouth

    Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton

  3. 1778

    British March from Philadelphia to New York

    Sir Henry Clinton, Charles Cornwallis

  4. 1778

  5. 1778

    Continental Army Departs Valley Forge

    Sir Henry Clinton, Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

  6. 1778

    War Council at Hopewell

    George Washington, Charles Lee, Anthony Wayne

  7. 1778

    Lee Demands Advance Command

    Charles Lee, Marquis de Lafayette, George Washington

  8. 1778

  9. 1778

    Battle of Monmouth

    George Washington, Charles Lee, Sir Henry Clinton

  10. 1778

    Molly Pitcher at the Cannon

    Mary Ludwig Hays (Molly Pitcher)

  11. 1778

    Washington Confronts Lee on the Battlefield

    George Washington, Charles Lee, Marquis de Lafayette

  12. 1778

    Heat Casualties at Monmouth

    Mary Ludwig Hays (Molly Pitcher)

  13. 1778

    Lee's Retreat at Monmouth

    Marquis de Lafayette, Charles Lee, Anthony Wayne

  14. 1778

    Artillery Duel at Monmouth

    George Washington, Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

  15. 1778

    British Grenadier Attacks Repulsed

    Charles Cornwallis, Anthony Wayne, Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

  16. 1778

    Hamilton's Horse Shot at Monmouth

    Alexander Hamilton, George Washington

  17. 1778

    Washington Reforms the American Line

    George Washington, Anthony Wayne, Alexander Hamilton

  18. 1778

    British Night Withdrawal After Monmouth

    Sir Henry Clinton, Charles Cornwallis

  19. 1778

    Court-Martial of Charles Lee

    Charles Lee, George Washington, Anthony Wayne

  20. 1779

    Steuben's Blue Book Published

    Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

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