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“Exceeding Hot & water is scarce …”
Monmouth Campaign Weather, 15 June to 7 July, 1778

Narrator List

American
Samuel Adams, surgeon, 3Continental Artillery Regiment
Paul Brigham, captain, 8^th Connecticut Regiment
Henry Dearborn, lt. colonel, 3^rd New Hampshire Regiment
Sylvanus Seely, colonel Morris County militia
Bernardus Swartwout, gentleman volunteer, 2^nd New York Regiment
Frederick Van Lew, private, 2^nd New Jersey Regiment
Jeremiah Greenman, sergeant, 2^nd Rhode Island Regiment
George Washington, general and commander in chief, Continental Army
Ebenezer Wild, sergeant, 1^st Massachusetts Regim

British and German
John Andre, major and aide-de-camp to Major General Charles Grey
Andrew Bell, secretary to Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton
Sir Henry Clinton ,lieutenant general and commander British Army
Johann Ewald, captain, Hessian Field Jaeger Corps
Heinrich Carl Phillip von Feilitzsch, lieutenant, Ansbach-Bayreuth Jaeger Corps
William Hale, lieutenant, 45^th Regiment
John Charles Philip von Krafft, lieutenant, Regiment Von Bose
John Peebles, captain, 42^nd Regiment

Civilian
James P. Parke, Philadelphia resident
Job Whitall, farmer residing at Red Bank, on the Delaware River below Philadelphia.

* * * * * * * * * * *

The June 1778 Monmouth campaign was accented by rain, thunder, lightning, and high temperatures. Many Americans remarked on the heat the day of the Monmouth battle. Of course for troops wearing wool or linen coats, clad head to toe in linen underclothing, carrying a musket and accoutrements with a full complement of cartridges, and marching the dusty roads or standing in line of battle under the hot sun with little or no water, even moderately warm weather could be fatiguing. Add the fear and uncertainty of battle, the conditions on that late June day must have been trying indeed.

Even those accustomed to North American weather extremes seem to have felt the conditions were quite extraordinary; Europeans especially were not used to such extremes and British and German troops likely suffered particularly. To place the experience in some context, some general comments on the difference between American and European weather are in order. In his work Braving the Elements: The Stormy History of American Weather David Laskin writes that European settlers were not prepared for American temperature extremes: “The English had some justification (beyond hope) for expecting the New World would be warmer than the old, for their geographers knew that New England lay considerably to the south of London – about 10 to 12 degrees latitude south … What these European travelers to America did not reckon on was the climatic impact of the vast landmass to the west. The frigid winter northwesterlies that the early colonists complained of so bitterly blew across thousands of frozen and often snow-covered ground, which serves to reinforce their chill … The New World colonies were not only colder in the winter than Western Europe, they were also hotter in the summer, and, surprisingly, considerably wetter at most times of the year. American weather historian David Ludlum has assembled useful statistics comparing mean temperatures and rainfall levels in London, Boston, New York, and Norfolk, Virginia; Boston’s January is more than 10 degrees colder than London’s (29.2^o F compared with 39.8^o F), and its July nearly 10 degrees hotter (73.3^o F compared with 63.7^o F); London receives 24 inches of rainfall a year, whereas Boston gets 42.52 and Norfolk 44.58.

Note: Quoted remarks about the weather are in bold letters. Parent units are given for each narrator. Since the British column was elongated or spread widely the narrator’s location is occasionally put in italicized parentheses following his name. Some British and American soldiers served in temporary organizations such as the British grenadier battalions or one of several American forces detached from the main army. These, too, are noted in italicized parentheses.

15 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
15 June 1778, “A pleasant Day.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Philadelphia)
Lieutenant von Krafft, Regiment Von Bose
“15 June … At noon came the order to be ready to march at 4:30 P.M. … At the appointed time all the Hessians except the Grenadiers came together, also some English regiments. At 5 we marched [to] … the boats awaiting us and taken across the Delaware … The place was called Coppers Ferry. We marched about 2 ½ English miles and the greater part of our regiment was directed to camp in a wood. It may have been 7:30 P.M. when we arrived there. As we had no tents and it was too late to build huts, I lay down under a tree to sleep.”

Washington’s Army Route of March (Valley Forge)
Captain Brigham, 8th Connecticut Regiment
“14^th Pleasant Day …
15^th … the whole army ware Remindd to be in Rediness to march in this Days orders by the Best accounts the Enemy are Chiefly over the [New Jersey] Side and will Soon take their Route to New york”

16 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
16 June, “A pleasant Day.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Philadelphia)
Lieutenant von Krafft, Regiment Von Bose
“16 June. Tues. In the morning order was given to erect huts, because we were to remain here until all had overtaken us from Philadelphia."

Washington’s Army Route of March (Valley Forge)
Captain Brigham, 8^th Connecticut Regiment
“16^th Very Pleasant Growing Season …”

17 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
17 June, “A warm Day.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Philadelphia)
Captain Peebles, 42^nd Regiment
“Wednesday 17^th. June very warm …”

Washington’s Army Route of March (Valley Forge)
Captain Brigham, 8^th Connecticut Regiment
“17^th … an Exceeding hot Day”

18 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
18 June, “A warm Day.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Haddonfield)
Lieutenant General Clinton
“On the 18^th June, at three o’clock in the morning, and proceeded to Gloucester Point, without being followed by the enemy. Every thing being from thence passed in safety across the Delaware through the excellent disposition made by the Admiral to secure our passage / the army marched at 10 oclock and reached Haddonfield the same day. A strong corps of the enemy having, upon our approach, abandoned the difficult pass of MountHolly the army proceeded without any interruption from them, excepting what was occasioned by their having destroyed every bridge on our road. As the country is much intersected with marshy rivulets, the obstructions we met with were frequent, and the excessive heat of the season rendered the labour of repairing the bridges severely felt.”

Captain Ewald, Field Jaeger Corps
"The 18^th. The army set out one hour before daylight … Many men fell and lost their lives miserably because of the intense heat, and due to the sandy ground which we crossed through a pathless brushwood where no water was to be found on the entire march.”

Captain Peebles, 42nd Regiment
“Thursday 18^th ... the day very hot …”

Washington’s Army Route of March (Valley Forge)
Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“[June] 18^th Th: fair & very hot …”

19 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
19 June, “A shour in ye morning & Rain most of ye afternoon.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Evesham)
Captain Peebles, 42^nd Regiment
“Friday 19^th. The army march'd by day light & proceeded thro' Haddonfield, forward to within 2 miles of Foster Town, the Morng. Showery & the day cool-- we march'd I suppose about 10 miles. The front near to foster Town the rear at Haddonfield. The troops occupying the best grounds along the upper road to Mount Holly”

Washington’s Army Route of March (At or near Valley Forge)
Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“19^th F: Cloudy some rain …”

Captain Brigham, 8^th Connecticut Regiment
“on ye 19^th ... Came up with the Brigade about 2 o'Clock the whole Devision Pitched Tents Something Rainy Towards night”

20 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
20 June, “Cloudy morning & began to Rain near nine oclock & raind most of ye day.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Mount Holly)
Lieutenant von Krafft, Regiment Von Bose
20 June, “At 3 A.M. we marched away ... during a heavy rain.”

Washington’s Army Route of March (Doylestown)
Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“20th S: very rainey P.M. …”

(Coryell’s Ferry)
Sergeant Greenman, 2^nd Rhode Island Regiment
20 June, “... marcht a bout 7 milds & made a halt ... then pushed on in the rain / Crost the diliware …”

21 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
21 June, “A warm Day. Ye sun shone out.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Mount Holly)
Lieutenant von Krafft, Regiment Von Bose
21 June, “From 3 in the morning until noon I had the rear guard of our and the English regiment, again in the heavy rain. In the afternoon we marched during the terrific heat ... This night there was a terrific thunderstorm and the rain poured down so hard that we in our bush-huts got very wet.”

Captain Peebles, 42^nd Regiment
“Sunday 21^st. June a good deal of rain last night & this Morng. today hot & sultry …”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(Coryell’s Ferry)
Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“21^st Sabb: Cloudy very hot …”

Sergeant Greenman, 2^nd Rhode Island Regiment
21 June, “... very hott whether ...”

Sergeant Wild, 1^st Massachusetts Regiment
“21 June. [1778] About 9 o’clk it ceased raining. We struck our tents & fell in & were counted off in order to march.”

22 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
22 June, “A cloudy Day.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Black Horse)
Captain Peebles, 42nd Regiment
“Monday 22^d. June rain in the night ...”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(Coryell’s Ferry/Amwell)
Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“22^nd M: Cloudy some rain …”

Captain Brigham, 8^th Connecticut Regiment
“22^d … Rainy night ...”

Sergeant Greenman, 2^nd Rhode Island Regiment
22 June, “Continuing in amwell / wraining wether ...”

23 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
23 June, “A cloudy Day.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Crosswicks)
Captain Ewald, Field Jaeger Corps
“The 23^d. … The men tried to refresh themselves in the water [of Crosswicks Creek] because the weather was extremely warm.”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(Hopewell)
Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“23rd T: Cloudy …”

Sergeant Greenman, 2^nd Rhode Island Regiment
23 June, “… misty wraining wether.”

24 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
24 June, “A cloudy forenoon, ye afternoon sunshine.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Allentown)
Captain Peebles, 42^nd Regiment
“Wednesday 24^th. June the weather these two or three days past Cloudy & cool … A Remarkable great Eclipse of the Sun today, but being cloudy could not see it till near & at its height, near 10 A:M: when it was almost total, as it went off the day clear'd up & grew hot ...”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(Hopewell)
Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“24th W: fair …“

25 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
25 June, “A fine Day for hay.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, “at the Rising Sun”)
Captain Peebles, 42^nd Regiment
“Thursday 25 June. ... The road generally sandy & now & then a thick wodd [sic] … the Weather very hot”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(Kingston/Long Bridge)
Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“25^th Th: fair & hot …”

Captain Brigham, 8^th Connecticut Regiment
“the 25^th … Exceeding hot this Day Lay out all This night marched Early in the morn”

Sergeant Greenman, 2^nd Rhode Island Regiment
25 June, “… very hot sultry wether ...”

Sergeant Wild, 1^st Massachusetts Regiment
“25 June. This morning at 5 o’clk the General was beat throughout the whole army; at 6 o’clk the Troop beat. We fell in & were counted off in order to march. We left all our tents standing & our heavy baggage behind us. We marched off, and making several short stops on the road to rest we arrived at Kingstown between 12 & 1 o’clk. We marched into a large field there and made a halt, it being very hot weather. Just after we 8 halted we sent out a large detachment, to see if they could make any discovery of the enemy, under the command of the Markis Delefiat [Marquis de Lafayette].”

26 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
26 June, “A fine fournoon but a Rainy afternoon.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Monmouth Courthouse)
Major Andre, Major General Grey’s aide de camp
“26^th … The roads the Army had marched thro’ were in general very sandy, and the land, except in the neighborhood of Allentown, deemed poor. The weather, which after the first two or three days’ march, which were rainy, was very sultry, and as we approached Freehold water was very scarce. The Rebels had added to this by stopping up the wells …”

Captain Ewald, Field Jaeger Corps
"The 26^th. … The enemy kept hanging on me up to the new camp. I lost over 60 men out of 180 foot jagers and 30 horsemen, among which may well have been some 20 men who dropped dead from the great heat and fatigue."

Lieutenant von Krafft, Regiment Von Bose
26 June, “That evening there was a terrific thunderstorm ... I lay in my hut, on account of the rain, leaning on my left arm, together with my orderly, when there was a fearful thunderclap … it struck at a distance of only 15 paces behind my hut ...”

Captain Peebles, 42^nd Regiment
“Friday 26^th. ready to march at 4 but it was 6 before we got off the ground march'd to the Eastwd. 8 or 10 miles & Encamp'd at Freehold or Monmouth Court House between 11 & 12 on a very fine extensive clearing facing to the Northwd. Genl. Kniphausens Divisn. came on to with[in] two miles of this yesterday & March'd from there early this Morng. a Sandy Soild Mixt Wood-- hot with Thunder”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(Cranbury)
General Washington (1 July letter)
The army arrived at “Cranberry early [in] the … morning [of 26 June]. The intense heat of the Weather, and a heavy storm unluckily coming on made it impossible to resume our march that day without great inconvenience and injury to the troops.”

Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“26th F: fair & light showers with thunder …”

Captain Brigham, 8^th Connecticut Regiment
“on ye 26 Exceeding hot this Day Som Thunder and Rain. By the Best Inteligence the Enemy are makeing their way to the Hook [Sandy Hook] | Woodfords and Varnums Brigades Began their march towards Munmouth marchd 5 or 6 miles Lay out in an [orchard] on Ground Slept Very well with only my Great Coat”

Sergeant Wild, 1st Massachusetts Regiment
“26 June. At 5 o’clk we fell in to our arms & were counted off in order to march. About half after --- o’clk we began our march and marched about 5 miles, and halted in the road & drew two days allowance of pork & flour. We cooked our provision. Between 4 & 5 o’clk we began our march again, but we had not got but a very short way before it began to rain, which caused us to stop. It held raining above an hour successively, and was attended with very heavy thunder and sharp lightning. It being late when it stopped raining, we took our lodgings in the road without anything to cover us, or any thing to lodge on but the wet ground, & we in a very wet condition.”

(Near Cranbury)
Lt. Colonel Dearborn, 3^rd New Hampshire Regiment
(Brigadier-General Charles Scott’s detachment)
“26^th ... The weather is Extreemly Hot, we are Obliged to march very Modirate …”

Sergeant Greenman, 2^nd Rhode Island Regiment
(Major-General Charles Lee’s detachment)
26 June, “... pushed on 6 milds as far as a small town cal'd Crambury ... hear we stayed three owers ... our Division was order'd forrid under the Command of Genl Lee / we went about 6 milds & made a halt / Sum very heavy Shower of wrain & Thundr.”

Volunteer Swartwout, 2^nd New York Regiment
(Brigadier-General Charles Scott’s detachment)
26 June, “At the sound of the horn we marched eight miles and halted, owing to a heavy shower of rain which lasted some time—After it abated marched two miles and halted in a wood.”

27 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
27 June, “A warm Day.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Monmouth Courthouse)
Captain Ewald, Field Jaeger Corps
"The 27^th. Since the army had lost over two hundred men on yesterday's march through the intolerable heat, it stopped today to rest ..."

Lieutenant von Krafft, Regiment Von Bose
“27 June Sat. … At midnight [27/28 June] another and much more terrific thunderstorm than the previous one came up, with heavy rain, so that again we got wet through. At daybreak we were ordered to leave our [picket] post and betake ourselves to the regiment …”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(Penelopon’s Creek)
Surgeon Samuel Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“27th S: fair and excessive hot!”

Captain Brigham, 8^th Connecticut Regiment
“on ye 27th Began our march a Little Before Sunrise on this march we suffer much for Water to Drink Came within about 6 miles of the Enimy where we spent the Rest of the Day Exceeding Sharp Thunder and Liting and Som Rain at night ...”

Sergeant Wild, 1^st Massachusetts Regiment
“27 June. … about 7 o’clk we began our march, and marched about 4 miles & stopped in the road to rest and get water. After stopping about a half an hour we marched again about a mile further, and it being excessive hot, we halted again. I expected we should go further but we stopped here all day. We had no orders for marching at sundown. I had the flank guard while we marched this day. We lay in the open field. Hard thunder, &c. &c.”

(Englishtown)
Lt. Colonel Dearborn, 3^rd New Hampshire Regiment
(Brigadier-General Charles Scott’s detachment)
“27^th … the weather Remains Exceeding Hot & water is scarce we ariv.d at English Town about the middle of the Day & Incamp’d.”

Colonel Seely, Morris County militia
“Jun 27^th, marched to a meeting house near English Town; our men suffered greatly with heat and drought.”

Sergeant Greenman, 2nd Rhode Island Regiment
(Major-General Charles Lee’s detachment)
27 June, “this morn turn'd out from amung the wett grass ... pushed on 6 milds near Englishtown ... [after some further marching and halting] we marcht half a mild into a Medow ... I took quart[er]s. under a huckel bury buch. for it was very hot indeed / in the Night it wrain'd & cold.”

28 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
28 June, “A warm Day.”

City of Philadelphia
James P. Parke
June 1778, “Very warm from 26 to 30 [June] Therm[ometer] 85 to 91”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, “Heights of Monmouth”)
Andrew Bell, General Sir Henry Clinton’s secretary
28 June, “… about 200 killed and wounded~ the weather destroyed more than the Action”

(Late morning)
Lieutenant General Clinton
28 June, “I made a disposition of attack on the plain, but before I could advance, the enemy fell back and took a strong position on the heights above Freehold Court House. The heat of the weather was intense, and our men already suffered from fatigue. But our circumstances obliged us to make a vigorous exertion.” (Clinton’s battle synopsis) “It would be sufficient honour to the troops, barely to say, that they had forced a corps, as I am informed of near 12,000 men, from two strong positions; but it will, I doubt not, be considered as doubly creditable when I mention that they did under such disadvantages of heat and fatigue, that a great part of those we lost fell dead as they advanced, without a wound.”

Lieutenant General Clinton (6 July letter to his sisters)
Writing of 28 June, "Had I had only four regiments more, or the season been not so unfavorable, I will not scruple to say a most advantageous stroke might have been expected. But with the thermometer at 96 — when people fell dead in the street, and even in their houses — what could be done at midday in a hot pine barren, with everything that [the] poor soldier carries? It breaks my heart that I was obliged under those cruel circumstances to attempt it."

Lieutenant General Clinton (11 July letter to the Duke of Newcastle)
Writing of 28 June, "… nothing of consequence till the 28^th. of June when Mr. W. with his whole army to which was added all the militia of the neighbouring provinces pressed hard on my rear. I will do him justice to say it was well timed, my baggage provision train &c. &c and the division of the army which conveyed them extended 12 miles at the time he began his attack upon my rear guard. It was necessary to meet him with what I had. I had two inducements first to give time to my baggage to get into safety, and the hopes of meeting his whole army in a intricut [?] situation passing the defiles which I knew separated him from his avant guarde, I soon succeeded in the first, and as I ran not the least risk of committing my self I was tempted to try the last, your Grace will see by my publick letter how near I was to success – nothing but the intolerable heat prevented; the Thermometer at 94 in the shade, is not a climate for troops to act with vigour in at noon day …”

Lieutenant William Hale, 45^th Regiment
2nd Grenadier Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Monckton commander)
28 June, (Morning advance)
“We proceeded five miles in a road composed of nothing but sand which scorched through our shoes with intolerable heat; the sun beating on our heads with a force scarcely to be conceived in Europe, and not a drop of water to assuage our parching thirst; a number of soldiers were unable to support the fatigue, and died on the spot. A Corp[oral]. Of the 43^rd Grenadiers, who had by some means procured water, drank to such excess as to burst and expired in the utmost torments. Two became raving mad, and the whole road, strewed with miserable wretches wishing for death, exhibited the most shocking scene I ever saw.”

(Afternoon cannonade)
“The shattered remains of our Battalion being under cover of our hill suffered little, but from thirst and heat of which several died, except some who preferred the shade of some trees in the direct range of shot to the more horrid tortures of thirst. Capt. Powell of the 52^nd Grenadiers, one of these [seeking shade] had his arm shattered to pieces …[Conway] Courtenay [lieutenant, 15^th Regiment] and myself lay under the hill together during the cannonade, and swallowed a canteen of water which a tempting dollar from my pocket prevailed on an artillery driver to creep on all fours through the fire to fetch …”

Lieutenant von Krafft, Regiment Von Bose
(On the road to Middletown)
“28 June … cruel heat …”

Captain Peebles, 42^nd Regiment
“Sunday 28^th June [1778] a fight … [the] several maneuvers & rapid marches with the excessive heat & the difficult passes they met with had so fatigued & knock’d up the men yt. a great number of the several Corps died upon the Spot; while the 3d. Brigade halted a little while to breathe the 1^st. Light Infantry & Queens Rangers came up on their right & finding themselves likewise much fatigd. & having drop’d a good many men, it was thought improper to advance any farther upon the Enemy who were strongly posted, & the Troops were accordingly order’d to retire to cover the Village of Monmouth where the Wounded & Sick were brought to in the Evening – where we remained till near 12 oclock at night …”

Washington’s Army Route of March
General Washington (1 July letter)
28 June, “The extreme heat of the Weather, the fatigue of the Men from their march thro' a deep, sandy Country almost entirely destitute of Water, and the distance the Enemy had gained by marching in the Night, made a pursuit impracticable and fruitless. It would have answered no valuable purpose, and would have been fatal to numbers of our Men, several of whom died the preceeding day with Heat.”

General Washington (4 July letter)
28 June, “… it was found impracticable with our Men fainting with fatigue, heat, and want of Water, to do any thing more that Night.”

Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“28th Sabb[ath]: fair & exceeding hot indeed!! … the extent of our loss is as follows - seventy five killed & Died of the heat, and perhaps one third of the number was by the latter cause which is not to be wondered at when we consider that between the hours of 8 & 12 of as hot a day as perhaps ever was known, we forced a march of 8 or 9 miles over a dry sandy road, destitute of water or any refreshment & then immediately went into action –“

Lt. Colonel Dearborn, 3^rd New Hampshire Regiment
(Brigadier-General Charles Scott’s detachment)<br> 28 June, “… the briske[s]t Cannonade Commenced on both sides that I Ever heard. Both Armies ware on Clear Ground & if any thing Can be Call.d Musical where there is so much Danger, I think that was the finest musick, I Ever heared. however the agreeableness of the musick was very often Lessen’d by the balls Coming too near – Our men being very much beat out with Fateague & heat which was very intence, we order.d them to sit Down & Rest them Selves.”

Colonel Seely, Monmouth County militia
“Jun 28^th … Genl.. Washington came up & formed on the Heights about the meeting house and there came on a pretty severe action in which the enemy Lost Col. Munkton & Col. Carhart & several officers of distinction and left about 200 dead on the ground. Numbers died on both sides with heat; we lay at English Town all night.”

Sergeant Greenman, 2nd Rhode Island Regiment
(Major-General Charles Lee’s detachment) “S 28. ... a Number of our men died with heat a retreating. …
M 29. Continuing in English town. this day we buried all the dead / the enemy gone off intirly / very hott indeed so that the men that wan [went] on a march retreating yesterday throy'd away thay packs & so forth and a Number dyed before ye enemy retreated back.”

Sergeant Wild, 1^st Massachusetts Regiment
“28 June. … This place is called Monmouth. It has been very hot all day. Numbers of our men had fainted and given out with the heat before we came up to the enemy. We lay here all night in the field.”

Private Van Lew, 2nd New Jersey Regiment (19^th century pension statement)
(Major-General Charles Lee’s detachment)
28 June, “Washington Attacked them at Monmouth, and gain[ed] the victory over them it was on sunday the hotest day he ever knew …”

29 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
29 June, “A verry warm Day.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Middletown)
"Journal of the [Hessian] Leib Regiment" (near Sandy Hook, New Jersey)
29 June, “The heat was so intense today that nearly the whole Regiment was knocked up. When the flags arrived at the place where we were to encamp, there were not even men enough there to protect them. A number fainted today and several died on the spot. We have not experienced greater heat during the whole of the American war.”

Captain Peebles, 42^nd Regiment
“Monday 29^th. June the weather still continues extremely hot ...”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(Englishtown)
Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“29th M: fair and very hot!”

Sergeant Wild, 1^{st Massachusetts Regiment}
“29 June. Very warm this morning. We lay still here till 5 o’clk, at which time the General beat, and we marched to the ground where we left our baggage yesterday, and lay there all night without any tents.”

30 June 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
30 June, “A warm Day.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Middletown)
Lieutenant von Krafft, Regiment Von Bose
30 June, “At 7 A.M. we broke up our camp and marched through the borough of Mittletown ... until we reached, two miles further on, quite a large hill where we pitched our camp ... Huts were built, but owing to the heat, it was almost impossible to breath underneath them.”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(Englishtown)
Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“30th T: fair and excessive hot”

Volunteer Swartwout, 2nd New York Regiment:
“30th. The [light] infantry were disbanded and ordered to join their respective brigades – in the afternoon marched to our different camps – the weather was very hot – many men lost their lives in consequence thereof.”

Sergeant Greenman, 2nd Rhode Island Regiment
“T 30. Continuing in a field near to English town / water very scarce indeed / Such a Number of Solders that water is almost as scares as Liquor & what is got is very bad indeed ... this afternoon we draw'd two days provision & fit for a march.”

Sergeant Wild, 1^st Massachusetts Regiment
“30 June. Excessive hot this morning. We lay still here all day.”

1 July 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
1 July 1778, “A warm Day.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Neversink)
Captain Peebles, 42^nd Regiment
“Wednesday 1^st. July The army Encamp’d in a strong position, occupying the Hills from 2 to 4 miles eastward of Middleton & making a communication with the Bay in which the Fleet are lying within the Hook … the Enemy may be expected, who are still hovering about us, showing themselves in different places in our front & right, some popping shots, now & then …”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(Spotswood)
Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“1st W: fair & hot indeed - the Army Marched at 2 in the morning came into Spottswood ...”

Volunteer Swartwout, 2nd New York Regiment
“1st. July Marched over a sandy plain – the heat and want of water occasioned the death of many soldiers traveled eight miles without water – at night encamped at Spotswood.”

2 July 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
2 July, ““A warm Day … near four oclock … there came up a gust …”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, “near Neversunk”)
Lieutenant von Feilitzsch, Ansbach-Bayreuth Jaeger Corps
“2 and 3 July – It rained hard, without letup. I was fortunate enough to have a tent, but the troops had to remain outside like dogs …”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(New Brunswick)
Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“2d Th: fair & hot. Shower P.M. & during Night - the Army marched at 12 last night came to Brunswick, encamped on the Banks of the Raritan ...”

3 July 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
3 July, “Rain most of ye Day.” \

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, “near Neversunk”)
Captain Peebles, 42^nd Regiment
“Friday 3d. it rained some last night, and almost all this day …”

Lieutenant von Krafft, Regiment Von Bose
“3 [July] Frid[ay]. A rest day. To-day we had an astonishing and continuous rain-storm … wet through and unable to rest …”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(New Brunswick)
Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“3d F: Rainy, warm - the Army halted ...”

4 July 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
4 July, “Rain in ye morning & cloudy till noon”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Neversink)
Captain Peebles, 42^nd Regiment
“Saturday 4^th. the weather clear’d up towards noon …”

Lieutenant von Krafft, Regiment Von Bose
“4 July. Satur[day]. Rest day. Until noon the rain continued unabatedly. After that, however, it was fine weather and the sun shone.”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(New Brunswick)
Surgeon Adams, 3^rd Continental Artillery Regiment
“4th S: fair cool - the whole Army paraded at 5 P.M. to celebrate the Anniversary of American Independence. Fired 13 cannon & Feu de Joy & 3 times repeated ..."

5 July 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
5 July, “A fine, pleasant Day.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, Sandy Hook)
Captain Peebles, 42^nd Regiment
“Sunday 5^th. July … the day cool, march about 6 miles in the woods before we came to the point & about 3 or 4 miles on Sandy Hook, deep sand … a very irregular & ill managed Embarkation.“

Washington’s Army Route of March
(New Brunswick to Plainfield)
Sergeant Wild, 1^st Massachusetts Regiment
“5 July … began our march … went about 5 miles & stopped to rest & eat … we marched on again, about 3 miles further, and stopped in a field, where we pitched out tents.”

6 July 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
6 July, “A pleasant Day.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, New York)
Lieutenant von Feilitzsch, Ansbach-Bayreuth Jaeger Corps
“6 July – At seven o’clock we embarked and at twelve o’clock sailed with a favorable wind. We arrived in York at five o’clock.”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(Plainfield? to Springfield)
Sergeant Wild, 1st Massachusetts Regiment
“6 July. This morning at 5 o’clk we set out … went as far as Springfield, which was 10 miles … We pitched our tents in a field near the meeting house.”

7 July 1778
Delaware River (below Philadelphia)
Farmer Whitall, Red Bank, New Jersey
7 July, “A warmish Day.”

British Army Route of March
(Headquarters, New York)
Lieutenant von Feilitzsch, Ansbach-Bayreuth Jaeger Corps
“7 July – We landed at eleven o’clock and marched eight miles to Harlem, in extreme heat.”

Washington’s Army Route of March
(Springfield to Newark)
Sergeant Wild, 1st Massachusetts Regiment
“7 July … Marched 10 miles, which brought us to New Arck. We went about a mile above the town and encamped …”

Sources

"Samuel Adams's Private Miscellaneous Diary Ann: Dom: 1778. Kept partly in the Town of Dorchester and partly in his Excellency General Washington's Camp at Valley Forge, White Plains, Fredericksburgh, &c ...," Samuel Adams Diaries, Manuscript Division, New York Public Library.

John Andre, Major Andre's Journal - Operations of the British Army ... June 1777 to November, 1778 (Tarrytown, N.Y., 1930; reprinted New York: New York Times and Arno Press, 1968), 74-83.

Andrew Bell diary, Bell Mss, WG45, New Jersey Historical Society, Newark. (A copy of a Journal found among the Papers of Andrew Bell dec. at one time confidential Secretary to Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, in his own handwriting with no other writing or memorandum attached~ Perth Amboy 24 July 1843 S.V.R. Paterson An edited version of this diary appeared in the Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society(September 1851), 15-19.)

Robert C. Bray and Paul E. Bushnell, eds., Diary of a Common Soldier in the American Revolution: An Annotated Edition of the Military Journal of Jeremiah Greenman, (DeKalb, DeKalb: Northern Illinois University Press, 1978), 120-124.

Lloyd A. Brown and Howard H. Peckham, eds., Revolutionary War Journals of Henry Dearborn, 1775-1783 (Chicago: The Caxton Club, 1939, reprinted Bowie, Md.: Heritage (Books, Inc., 1994), 123-129.

Henry Clinton, The American Rebellion: Sir Henry Clinton's Narrative of His Campaigns, 1775-1782, with an Appendix of Original Documents, William B. Willcox, ed. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1954), 94.

Henry Clinton, army orders, June-July 1778, George Athan Billias, ed., Journals of Lieut. Stephen Kemble, 1773-1789; and British Army Orders: Gen. Sir William Howe, 1775-1778; Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, 1778; and Gen. Daniel Jones, 1778 (Boston: Gregg Press, 1972), 594-602.

Henry Clinton to the Duke of Newcastle, 11 July 1778, Nottingham University Library (UK), Newcastle Collection, NeC 2645. Courtesy of Joseph Lee Boyle and Garry Wheeler Stone.

Johann Ewald, Diary of the American War: A Hessian Journal, Joseph P. Tustin, ed. (New Haven and London,: Yale University Press, 1979), 132-139.

Florence DeHuff Friel, The Diary of Job Whitall, Gloucester County, New Jersey, 1775- 1779 (incl. Job Whitall's Day Book) (Woodbury, N.J.: Gloucester County Historical Society, 1992), 112-115.

Ira D. Gruber, ed., John Peebles’ American War: The Diary of a Scottish Grenadier, 1776- 1782 (Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 1998), 189-193 (text originally transcribed from John Peebles Journals (microfilm edition): Scottish Record Office, Edinburgh; Cunninghame of Thorntoun Papers (GD 21); Papers of Lt., later Capt., John Peebles of the 42d. Foot, 1776-1782; incl. 13 notebooks comprising his war journal; book #6.)

Heinrich Carl Phillip von Feilitzsch, Ansbach-Bayreuth Jaeger Corps, Bruce E. Burgoyne, Enemy Views: The American Revolutionary War as Recorded by the Hessian Participants (Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, Inc., 1996), 267.

William Hale letters, 4 July and 14 July 1778, Walter Harold Wilkin, Some British Soldiers in America (London: Hugh Rees, Ltd., 1914), 257-264.

Edward A. Hoyt, ed., "A Revolutionary Diary of Captain Paul Brigham November 19, 1777-September 4, 1778," Vermont History, vol. 34 (1966), 25-30.

"Journal of Lieutenant John Charles Philip von Krafft, of the Regiment Von Bose, 1776- 1784," Collections of the New-York Historical Society for the Year 1882 (New York: New- York Historical Society, 1883), 40-49.

Leib Regiment, "Journal of the Leib Regiment," Letter V, V.28, fiche 312, Lidgerwood Transcripts, Morristown National Historic Park.

James P. Parke, Diary 1751-1850 (three volumes), vol. I, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, #1564.

Sylvanus Seely Diary, original in Morristown National Historic Park Collection, transcription (World Wide Web), http://www.popenoe.com/Diary/Seely%20Diary%203.htm

Bernardus Swartwout, diary 10 November 1777-9 June 1783, Bernardus Swartwout Papers, New-York Historical Society, 4-6.

Frederick Van Lew (S23035) (National Archives Microfilm Publication M804, 2,670 rolls, roll 2448) Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, 1800–1900, Record Group 15; National Archives Building, Washington, DC.

George Washington to the President of Congress, 1 July 1778; to John Augustine Washington, 4 July 1778, John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources 1745-1799, vol. 12 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1934), 139-143, 156-158.

Ebenezer Wild, "Journal of Ebenezer Wild," Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 2nd series, vol. VI (Boston, Ma., 1891), 108-111 (hereafter cited as "Journal of Ebenezer Wild," PMHS).

For general contextual discussions of North American weather, see:

Brian Fagan, The Little Ice Age: How Climate Made History, 1300-1850 (New York: Basic Books, 2000)

David Laskin, Braving the Elements: The Stormy History of American Weather (New York and Toronto: Anchor Books, 1996), 52-53.