Battle of Monmouth 2011
Title: Battle of Monmouth
Location: Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Freehold, NJ address: 347 Freehold-Englishtown Rd. Manalapan, NJ 07726-8815
Description: Event: Reenactment – Rev War Rifles
Attendance: Maximum Effort
Contact: Chuck Faust
Note: Participants may arrive on Friday to setup encampment.
Start Date: 2011-06-18
End Date: 2011-06-19
Donegal Township Riflemen After Action Report (AAR) Rev War Riflemen
Name/Location of Event:
Monmouth 1778 Encampment
Monmouth Battlefield State Park
Freehold, NJ
Date(s) of Event:
June 20, 2011
Unit Members in Attendance:
Chuck Faust, Chris Campana, Ed McGuinn Jesse Campana, Corey McGuinn, Pat Hanrihan, Jim Ley, Tom Sytsma, Bob Frisch, Chip Frisch
Unit Member Serving as Event Field (or Brevet) Officer:
Chuck Faust
Noteworthy Occurrences (positive or negative) Involving DTR Member(s) (i.e. commendation from event coordinator of field officer, interview by news media, safety violation, etc.):
The event organization gave us an acknowledgement, and a gratitude of thanks for our excellent depiction of a “campaign-style” encampment. The feedback from the public on our depiction as frontier riflemen was overwhelming.
AS A RESULT OF OUR EFFORTS AT THIS EVENT, HARRY STEPHENS HAS GIVEN US TOTAL COMMAND OF THE SCOUTS, RIFLES AND CAMPAIGN CAMP AT THE UPCOMING BATTLE OF WYOMING IN JULY.
Suggestions for the Improvement of Our Unit:
None – every member in attendance portrayed the impression, and actions of a rifle company
without fail.
Brief General Impressions of Event:
This is the annual event sponsored by the 2nd NJ Regiment held every year at the Monmouth Battlefield State Park, and coordinated by the Continental Line’s Mid-Atlantic Department. The battle scenarios at this year’s event allowed for more movement to take advantage of the enemies advances, allowing us the opportunity to employ our company in typical rifle fashion and gave us the chance to further prove our prowess and capabilities in woods fighting.
OUR GROUP WAS GIVEN THE HONOR OF BEING “CENTER-STAGE” WITH OUR CAMPAIGN STYLE ENCAMPMENT, AND IT ALLOWED US TO INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC WITH OUR IMPRESSION AND OUR “RUSTIC” ENVIRONMENT. WE HAD A VAST AMOUNT OF THE PUBLIC VISIT US AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT ROLE WE PLAYED WITHIN THE CONTINENTAL LINE. WITH OUR POSITION NEAR THE MAIN PATH THROUGH THE PARK (AND IN THE SHADE OF THE TREELINE), WE WERE CONSTANTLY ENGAGED WITH THE SPECTATORS.
OUR GROUP WAS ALSO GIVEN THE HONOR OF OPENING THE ENGAGEMENT FOR BOTH DAYS BY BEING THE ADVANCED SKIRMISH LINE FOR THE ENTIRE CONTINENTAL FORCES. THE OVERALL COMMAND GAVE US “CARTE BLANCHE” TO MOVE AND MANEUVER AS RIFLEMEN SHOULD, WHICH ONLY ENHANCED OUR EXPERIENCE FOR THE ENTIRE EVENT. WE MET EACH RESISTANCE WITH A COMMANDING EFFORT, AND I WISH TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO ALL OF OUR MEMBERS WHO STEPPED UP THEIR EFFORTS WHILE ENGAGING THE ENEMY ON THE BATTLEFIELD! THIS EVENT WAS UNLIKE COLONIAL PLANTATION IN THAT THERE DID NOT EXIST A SCRIPTED SCENARIO. BUT BOTH SIDES AGREED TO MANEUVER THEIR FORCES AS OPPORTUNITIES AROSE, AND WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF OUR MOBILITY AND MADE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS THE ENEMY ON OUR TERMS.
THERE WAS A SUNDAY MORNING TACTICAL WHICH WE VOLUNTEERED OUR SERVICES AS WELL. THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST ENGAGEMENTS THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED TO DATE. HARRY STEPHENS OF THE 24TH CONNECTICUT COMMANDED THE MILITIA WHILE WE PROVIDED A ROAMING FLANKING SUPPORT. OUR EFFORTS WAS SUCCESSFUL IN CUTTING THE ENEMY FORCES INTO TWO SEPARATE GROUPS, WHICH ALLOWED HARRY’S GROUP TO CAPTURE ONE FORCE WHILE WE CONCENTRATED ON FINISHING THE OTHER. AS WE ADVANCED IN A WIDE SKIRMISH LINE THROUGH A FIELD OF EXTREMELY TALL RYE GRASS WE GAVE PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY. WE ADVANCED IN EXCELLENT ORDER FIRING IN TEAMS AND CAUSING THE ENEMY TO RETREAT. WE KEPT UP OUR FIRE AND RUSHED THE AENEMY TO CAUSE A ROUT TO ENSUE. DURING THIS FINAL CHARGE, I FIRED MY PIECE AND A DEER BEDDED DOWN FOUR (4) FEET IN FRONT OF ME JUMPED UP AND BOLTED FOR A NEARBY HEDGEROW – NEEDLESS TO SAY IT STARTLED ME! IT ONLY ADDED TO THE ADRENALINE THAT WAS ALREADY COARSING THROUGH MY VEINS! IF I HAD AN ACTUAL LOADED RIFLE AT THAT MOMENT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN FEASTING ON VENSION INSTEAD OF PORK!
