Monmouth Battlefield Second Sunday Lecture Series

We are pleased to announce season three of the popular “Second Sunday” lecture series presented by FOMB. Lectures are given at 2 PM on the second Sunday of each month at the Monmouth Battlefield State Park Visitor Center by Dr. David Martin, President of FOMB. Dr. Martin is the author of over 20 books on the Revolutionary War and Civil War, including two award-winning books on Gettysburg. He is also the author of “A Molly Pitcher Sourcebook” (2003),

Lectures are free and no reservations /tickets are required.

December 14, 2025 | “The 28th New Jersey at the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862”
The 28th New Jersey Infantry was one of three Union regiments raised and trained on ground now within Monmouth Battlefield State Park during the summer of 1862. This lecture will present the story of two soldiers from central New Jersey who trained at Camp Vredenburg and then became casualties at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia on December 13, 1862.

Jan 11, 2026 | “Friendly Rivals: Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr at Monmouth”

Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr are well known for their intense rivalry that culminated in their infamous duel at Weehawken, NJ in 1805, when Hamilton was mortally wounded. It is not so well known that both were Lieutenant Colonels at the Battle of Monmouth, and they each had their horses shot from under them. This lecture will survey their parallel lives and also discuss their roles at Monmouth.

Feb 8, 2026 | “George Washington’s Sense of Humor”

George Washington is remembered as a strong leader but is usually thought to be stoic and emotionless. He actually had quite a temper as well as a genuine sense of humor. Dr. Martin will discuss how Washington’s image as a “marble man” was created and came to be accepted.

Mar 8, 2026 | “How the Molly Pitcher Legend Grew”

After the war many elements were added to the story of Molly Pitcher at Monmouth so that a fully formed legend was current by the 1820s. After that, still more additions, some of them fanciful, were added to create an even fuller legend. It is possible to strip these layers off the legend to try to reach the kernel of the original story of Molly Pitcher.

April 12, 2026 | “Abraham Lincoln’s Sense of Humor”

President Abraham Lincoln had a quick and ready wit that he used to entertain his friends and deflect his enemies. This lecture will present and explain some of his popular and less well-known jokes. It will also discuss his familial and political connections with New Jersey.

May 10, 2026 | “Generals Lafayette and Wayne at Monmouth”

Anthony Wayne was perhaps Washington’s most aggressive commander, and he was one of the few key officers to play a major role in all three segments of the battle: morning, noon and afternoon. General Lafayette, who was in many ways Washington’s surrogate son, played a key role in the campaign before the battle and on the morning of the fight. This lecture will summarize the careers of these two key officers, with emphasis on their roles at Monmouth.

June 14, 2026 | “They Were Also Here: Famous Secondary Leaders at Monmouth”
(Dan Morgan, Henry Knox, Baron von Steuben, John Marshall, James Monroe)

The supporting American officer corps at Monmouth included a future president (Monroe), a future Secretary of War (Knox), the first head of the Supreme Court (Marshall), and several congressmen (including Morgan). This lecture will discuss their roles in the battle, as well as the effect that von Steuben’s drilling at Valley Forge had on the course of the battle.

July 12, 2026 | “The Story of Camp Vredenburg and its Civil War Units”

In 1862, a Civil War training camp was set up outside Freehold on ground now part of Monmouth Battlefield State Park. That summer, around 3000 troops were trained for the Union army in the 14th, 28th and 29th New Jersey Infantry regiments. This lecture will discuss the location and history of the camp and will also summarize the role that each of its three regiments played in the war.

Aug 9. 2026 | “The Role of New Jersey Leaders and Troops at Monmouth”

New Jersey had a full brigade of regular troops and numerous regiments of militia present at Monmouth. This lecture will discuss the role that these units played in the campaign and the battle, as well as the part that significant regular and militia officers from New Jersey contributed.

Sept 13, 2026 | “Black and Native American Troops at Monmouth”

This lecture will begin with a survey of the role of Black and Native American troops in the Revolution. It will then examine the role of Black and Native American units at Monmouth, with special attention to case studies of individual soldiers.

Oct 11, 2026 | “Nurses, Warriors and Camp Followers: Women in the Revolution”

The important role of women in the Revolution is often overlooked. They were present with the armies in significant numbers, performing more duties than just cooking and washing for the soldiers. They were also nurses and more than a few were present as soldiers, and a few were even spies or heroines in other ways.

Nov 8, 2026 | “The Revolution in Monmouth County: A Real Civil War”

Personal, social, economic and political rivalries caused a genuine Civil War to flare up in Monmouth County during the Revolution. The nature and course of this civil conflict will be discussed, as well as the series of events tha1 led up to the hanging of patriot leader Joshua Huddy by the British in 1782.

Dec 13, 2026 | The Revolution in New Jersey: An Overview”

New Jersey was known as “the cockpit of the Revolution.” Caught between the major cities of New York and Philadelphia, there were several important campaigns fought here, including Trenton, Princeton, Red Bank and Monmouth. In addition, it is not well known that the winter spent in Morristown was harsher than the one at Valley Forge. The talk will also cover the tensions between loyalists and patriots that created a real civil war in our state.