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New book by Joseph Bilby and Katherine Bilby Jenkins examines biggest battle fought in New Jersey

BY JOE TYRRELL

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

A father-daughter writing team is taking a fresh look at the biggest battle ever fought in New Jersey, including the after effects on the field.

It certainly wasn't the most decisive engagement ever fought in New Jersey, but on a broiling day in June 1778, the main armies of American rebels and British regulars faced off around "Monmouth Court House," the name of the new history book by Joseph Bilby and Katherine Bilby Jenkins.

Even beyond the usual legends of the Revolution, the battle created its own folklore, from George Washington's battlefield tongue-lashing of feckless Gen. Charles Lee to "Molly Pitcher" taking charge of a cannon from her wounded husband.

For Joe Bilby of Wall Township, the battle, in Manalapan and Freehold townships, had the advantage of landing on his doorstep.

As curator of the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey in Sea Girt, Bilby is already the author of a number of books on military and New Jersey history. Bruce Franklin, his editor at Westholme Publishing in Yardley, Pa., suggested he turn his hand to the local battle.

"Most of my previous work had been about New Jersey history and Civil War history," Bilby said in an e-mail interview.

On the other hand, Kate Jenkins had done her master's thesis on the civil war in revolutionary Monmouth County between rebels and loyalists.

"So she had a good deal of expertise in the area," Bilby said. "It seemed like a natural fit."

The project is a long way from Kate's current job with the state division of unemployment. But "my fascination with that period and place has continued," the Trenton resident said.

"There really is no tie-in between my work and writing this book, in the sense that I'm not a park ranger or museum docent," Jenkins said. "I think because of this, it's especially rewarding for me to be able to pursue my interest in history on my own time."

The book quickly evolved beyond a simple account of the battle, instead placing it in the larger context of the area's politics and events. With their feel for New Jersey history, the two writers did not stop with the events of one day.

Instead, they looked at the battlefield's continuing heritage, from its use as a muster camp during the Civil War — the second civil war — to struggles to preserve land to recent archaeological discoveries and interpretations.

"The most surprising thing I found in my research was how close we as a state, and a country, came to losing this important historic site to development," Jenkins said.

Both writers feel the work fills and important gap, updating our knowledge of the setting and Monmouth history, along with providing a modern account of the battle itself.

"I think this book is unique in that it is the first look at the battle in detail since (William S.) Stryker," whose 19th Century work was published posthumously in 1927, Bilby said.

Despite Revolutionary War folklore, there were relatively few times when troops commanded by George Washington fought the main army of the British side. These occasions generally did not end happily for the rebels.

At Monmouth, things improved. As part of a retrenchment after France entered the war on the side of the rebels, the British had evacuated Philadelphia. The army was making its way slowly across New Jersey in the summer heat, in a 10-mile-long column complete with supply train and refugees.

Washington was convinced to let Gen. Charles Lee — a man with a large reputation but somewhat smaller accomplishments — lead an attack on the British rear guard. But Lee did not bother to scout the ground, which was not quite the gently rolling farmland of first glance.

Despite overwhelming numbers, Lee's attack broke down in confusion from his conflicting orders. As most of the British column headed on toward the safety of Sandy Hook, British commander Sir Henry Clinton turned with some of his best troops to reinforce the rear guard.

Two miles to the west later, Washington met the retreating units from Lee's attack, and demanded an explanation from the stuttering commander. Enraged, Washington organized the men into position as the rest of the rebel army came up.

Clinton was even more valorous, leading small unit attacks himself even as his men dropped in their woolen coats, stricken by the heat. "We had several men die on the spot with thirst and extreme fatigue," he wrote of one firefight.

"What surprised me was what came up about Clinton and his real attempt to win a victory at Monmouth," Bilby said.

The two armies banged away at each other throughout the long afternoon, before mercifully resting. But the British were on the road at 4 a.m., as Clinton sped after the rest of his column. At least in propaganda, that allowed the rebels to claim a victory.

"In the end I think we put Monmouth in perspective as one of the most important battles of the war, and, in essence, a battle that proved the toughness of Washington's army," Bilby said.

Circumstances were not as tough for the writers. Jenkins described working with her father as "a very smooth process." She said she worked independently until she was satisfied, then shared the results for feedback.

"I would advise anyone thinking of working on a project like this with a relative to keep the lines of communication open and demarcate one's own territory, so to speak," she said.

"As it turned out, there were no pitfalls of working together," Bilby said. "Kate's addition sped up the project significantly."

Joe Tyrrell may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it