Henry Clinton's army captured in 1778

What if Clinton and his men were routed and captured at a more conclusive Battle of Monmouth, allowing the French to take undefended NYC in the American revolutionary war? Would he be exchanged and go back to command? Who might take over the British forces? How would the strategic course of the war be altered?
 
All 15000 or so bagged? Even if a chunk escape, I feel like that following Saratoga the year before might force the British government to throw in the towel.
 
What if Clinton and his men were routed and captured at a more conclusive Battle of Monmouth, allowing the French to take undefended NYC in the American revolutionary war? Would he be exchanged and go back to command? Who might take over the British forces? How would the strategic course of the war be altered?
IIRC the French were not at Monmouth, but did have a fleet on the way. And a victory for the Continentals would have been something of a tall order - the army was very new and was still being drilled into something reasonably professional. In order to rout Clinton you'd have to have some major intervention on someone's part, that or someone majorly screws up.
 
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Anaxagoras

Banned
All 15000 or so bagged? Even if a chunk escape, I feel like that following Saratoga the year before might force the British government to throw in the towel.

I can't imagine anything else happening. The Americans would have snuffed the bulk of the British army, not to mention a few thousand German mercenaries, out of existence. The British government would have no choice but to sue for peace.

The French would drag out negotiations for as long as possible, of course. The troops that would have been captured ITTL were the same troops that were transferred to the West Indies to protect British possessions there IOTL, so the French would descend on the Caribbean to pick up sugar islands while the getting was good.
 

ben0628

Banned
I think we should be asking first IF the British can be beaten? At this time, the British army is still bigger than Washington's and better trained. Although I can see a more conclusive battle of Monmouth for the continental army, I don't believe the annihilation of Clinton's army is possible.
 
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE!

Hitler and the goat all over again.

Well, it wouldn't be too surprising if Clinton's army got destroyed. She just didn't have the charisma to lead troops into combat and expect to punch at their normal weight. Hell, just getting the troops to turn out for combat was tough for her.

I think we should be asking first IF the British can be beaten? At this time, the British army is still bigger than Washington's and better trained. Although I can see a more conclusive battle of Monmouth for the continental army, I don't believe the annihilation of Clinton's army is possible.

Well, there's always a stranger upset to be found in military history. I'm left curious as to what @Faeelin meant by action at Sandy Hook, since from what I can gather there wasn't much action there at all after 1776.
 
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