George Washington, by all accounts, was quite the horseman, except for the fact that he let his own horse die of the heat at the Battle of Monmouth, 1778. This picture, purchased at the Brass Armadillo Antique Mall, showing George at left on a dark horse, had been cut out of a larger textual work. The back is shown below. OK history sleuths, help me out here. Where is this from?
George Washington at Monmouth, 1778.
George Washington at Monmouth, 1778 text:
orders received from England, to evacuate Philadelphia and concentrate his forces at
New York. New Jersey, which had so often witnessed the marches and counter-marches
of both armies, was to become again the theatre of war. The British Army
had been reduced to about ten thousand men;’ that under Washington was a little
more than twelve thousand Continentals. The march of the British Army across the
sandy plains of New j ersey was without serious impediment until the attack of the
Americans under Lee, near Monmouth. Thinking the army in sight to be a mere
covering party of about two thonsandmen, Lee commenced a vigorous assault, but soon
learned to his cost that he had fallen upon the main body of the enemy, with Sir HenryWashington at Monmouth, 1778 … “the Americans fell back in confusion
until met and reformed by Washington”Clinton at its head. Taken thus by surprise, the Americans fell back in confusion
until met and reformed by Washington on the heights of Freehold. A severe engagement
followed in which the advantage was altogether with the Americans, as the
British silently slipped away during the night, leaving their dead unburied, and a large
number of their wounded in the hands of Washington.
Notwithstanding the reverses in the early part of the day, the Battle of Monmouth
ranks high among those of the war, as it demonstrated the discipline and proficiency
in tactics acquired under the diligent instructions of Baron Steuben during the winter
at Valley Forge, and the ability of the Continentals to match in open field and under
adverse circumstances the best soldiers of England.
In his official despatch, Sir Henry wrote: ” Having reposed the troops until ten
at night, to avoid the excessive heat of the day, [ took advantage of the moonlight to
rejoin General Knyphausen, who had advanced to Nut Swamp, near Middletown.”
This assertion was the cause of much merriment, for on the night of the battle the
moon was only four days old, and set at fifty-five minutes past ten. Trumbull, in his
11[c Fingal, alluding to it says:
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