Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/772

 754 MONMOUTH works, and the Wye fisheries in the vicinity are flourishing. The trade consists chiefly in the export of bark and timber. The battle of Mon- mouth, in which Owen Glendower was defeat- ed, was fought May 11, 1405. MONMOUTH, Battle of, an engagement between the American forces under Washington and the British under Sir Henry Clinton, at Free- hold, Monmouth co., N. J., June 28, 1778. On June 18 Clinton evacuated Philadelphia and marched toward Brunswick, with a view of embarking on the Earitan. Washington broke camp at Valley Forge, sent forward some light troops to harass the enemy, and started in pursuit. At Allentown Clinton suddenly turned to the right by a road leading through Freehold to Sandy Hook, and Washington de- termined at once to give him battle. The even- ing of the 27th found the main body of the enemy encamped on high ground near Mon- mouth court house in the town of Freehold, while the American advance, about 4,000 strong, under Lee, was posted at Englishtown, 5 m. distant, with the main body about 3 m. in the rear. Early on the 28th Lee engaged the rear division of the enemy, his orders being to hold it in check until the main body under Washington could come up. The Ameri- cans were successful at first, but the whole body soon fell into a confusion in which their commander seemed to participate, and com- menced a disorderly retreat, closely followed by the British. Washington, advancing with the main body, received the first intimation of this movement in the crowds of fugitives. He rode up to Lee and reprimanded him ve- hemently; then, rallying the fugitives, he re- formed them, and hastened back to bring up the main body. Lee, resuming his command, held his position with spirit until compelled to retire, and brought off his troops in good order. The main body, which had taken a fa- vorable position on an eminence, with a mo- rass in front and a wood in the rear, opened an effective cannonade from both wings upon the British. The latter, after an ineffectual attempt to turn the American left under Lord Stirling, directed their chief efforts against the right commanded by Greene, where Wayne, under cover of an orchard, was harassing their centre by a severe fire. To dislodge him, Col. Monckton advanced with a column of royal grenadiers, but fell at the head of his troops, who were repulsed with considerable loss. The enemy at length fell back to the ground occu- pied by Lee in the morning, and during the night Clinton effected a noiseless retreat. Ex- cessive heat and fatigue rendered pursuit im- practicable. The American loss was 69 killed and 160 wounded; that of the British proba- bly nearly 300 killed and 100 prisoners, inclu- ding wounded. On both sides many men died from the heat alone. For his conduct in this battle Lee was court-martialled and suspended for one year from his command. MOMIOITII, Geoffrey of. See GEOFFREY. MONMOUTH, James Scott, duke of, supposed son of Charles II., king of Great Britain, born in Rotterdam, April 9, 1649, executed in London, July 15, 1685. His mother was Lucy Walters, who was at first mistress of Algernon Sidney, and afterward of his brother Robert ; and the latter was by some reputed the father of Mon- mouth. While Charles was in Holland, Lucy Walters became his mistress. He acknowledged her son to be his offspring, and was through- out life strongly attached to him. The boy was known as James Crofts, because he was for some time in the charge of Lord Crofts, and passed for his relative. When he was taken to England, in 1662, he was very accomplished and very handsome. He was first made duke of Orkney, but the title was changed to that of Monmouth. He was also created baron of Tyndale and earl of Doncaster at the same time, Feb. 19, 1663. Reserved on board the fleet of the duke of York in 1665, and was in the battle of Lowestoft, June 3. He married while very young Anne, daughter and sole heir of Francis Scott, earl of Buccleuch, and assumed her name. They were created duke and duchess of Buccleuch, earl and countess of Dalkeith, and baron and baroness of Whitchester and Ash- dale in Scotland, in 1673. In 1670 he became captain general of all the king's fortresses, and a privy councillor, and was allowed privileges at court which could be claimed only by per- sons of the blood royal. At first Monmouth and his uncle, the duke of York, were friends, but they soon became rivals in love and poli- tics. Those who dreaded the accession of York to the throne (the king having no legiti- mate children, nor expecting any) endeavored to have Monmouth recognized as heir presump- tive. When England joined France in the war against Holland, Monmouth was sent at the head of 6,000 troops to act under Louis XIV. in 1672. He served in two campaigns with considerable distinction, and was made a lieutenant general by the French king. Subse- quently, as lord general of the king's forces in Flanders, he took part in the battle of St. Denis. He had been made commander-in-chief of the armies of England and Scotland, and was known as " the Protestant duke." He encouraged the Rye House plot, and his designs on the succession to the throne were much favored by Shaftesbury and his associates, and by the extreme unpopularity of the duke of York, who was a Catholic, and who was com- pelled to leave the country. Monmouth de- feated the Scotch Covenanters, June 22, 1679, at Bothwell. As he treated the rebels mildly, and would willingly have spared them all, he was accused of favoring rebellion, and was compelled to resign his office of lord general and to go to Holland. Thence he returned to England without leave, and on his refusal to quit the kingdom his offices were taken from him. He now headed the opposition to tho court, and his pretensions to the crown were vigorously pressed by his followers, rather on