Another Battle of Monmouth

Things have been a little crazy lately and I meant to get to this post sooner. Today's picture is a detail of a gouache illustration I started a while ago and never finished. The fate of this painting remains uncertain.

So too does the fate of Monmouth Battlefield State Park in New Jersey. A few weeks ago it was numbered among the 9 state parks our Governor chose to close citing budget issues. Never mind that it's like throwing nickels at a multi-million dollar problem. I'll restrain from further political commentary.

There is a greater emotional issue here, especially for a history geek. We all have our favorite historic places where we can almost feel the history. Monmouth is such a place for me. Ancient American Indians frequented the place, and during our Civil War three regiments of infantry trained for war there. On June 28, 1778, in unbearable heat, the American Colonial forces met the British army in a set-piece, European style scrap known as The Battle of Monmouth. Tactically it was a draw. But the Continental Army under Washington had undergone the crucible of Valley Forge and the new training methods of Baron Von Steuben. It had emerged as a truely professional military force. The way it performed at Monmouth gave it and its commander a new level of confidence. Then there was the famous Molly Pitcher who took her man's place at one of the American guns that thundered across the New Jersey farmland.

I've spent serious blood, sweat and tears there myself. For many years my reenactment unit staged a Civil War event there to raise awareness of Camp Vredenberg. We had endless work party weekends at the park for preparation. We cut down trees and split the logs for firewood (one poor fellow nearly lost the use of his leg in a chainsaw accident). We rarely slept during the weekend of the event. It seemed like planning for the next years event started just days after the present years event was over. We cleared brush at the Civil War training camp site. Even our monthly meetings were held in the vistors center there. That kind of dedication extented to the under staffed park Rangers too. I can't say enough about them.

It was all worth it too. We pulled in anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 each year. Although it is a state park, that land belongs to all Americans as part of their history. We were proud of the work we did there. So many others have pitched in as well. Year after year there's the Revolutionary War reenactment, and the work of BRAVO, the Battlefield Restoration and Archaeological Volunteer Organization. People care about that place.

With the stroke of a pen, it can all be undone. Not without a fight though. A protest is planned at the state capitol this month and already the Governor is backing off. If you have any other information on how to keep up the pressure, I would invite you to post them here as comments.

New Jersey has already paved over too much of its history. History geek, yes. History meek, no. Keep up the fight.