The Boys of Old Monmouth: A Story of Washington's Campaign in New Jersey in 1778

In the rolling pine‑fringed shores of Monmouth County, the landscape itself seems to whisper the stories of a bygone era. The opening paints a vivid picture of sun‑drenched beaches, fertile farms, and weather‑worn homesteads that have watched generations of New Jerseymen live, love, and fight. It invites listeners to feel the weight of history that clings to every ancient oak and stone wall, setting the stage for a drama that unfolded on these very grounds.

Against this backdrop, the narrative turns to the summer of 1778, when General Washington’s army marched through the county, and local boys—farmers’ sons, apprentices, and restless youths—found themselves thrust into the turmoil of war. Their loyalties split as neighbors chose opposite sides, and the once‑peaceful countryside became a patchwork of skirmishes, secret meetings, and daring raids. Listeners will hear the clash of muskets, the rustle of lookout trees, and the personal courage of those young men who faced the uncertainty of a fledgling nation.