A military journal during the American Revolutionary War, from 1775 to 1783 / describing interesting events and transactions of this period; with numerous historical facts and anecdotes, from the original manuscript. To which is added, an appendix, containing biographical sketches of several general officers. By James Thacher.

  • Thacher, James, 1754-1844.
Date:
1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A military journal during the American Revolutionary War, from 1775 to 1783 / describing interesting events and transactions of this period; with numerous historical facts and anecdotes, from the original manuscript. To which is added, an appendix, containing biographical sketches of several general officers. By James Thacher. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    persons of five Hessian officers, and also on Colonel Camp- bell, who was now committed to a dungeon. After the cap- ture of General Burgoyne and his army, the enemy relaxed -In their rigorous treatment, and General Lee was soon ex- changed for Major General Prescott. It is next to be seen in what manner General Lee terminated his career in the continental service. In the battle at Monmonth on the 28th of June, 1778, he commanded the van of the American troops with orders from the Commander in Chief to attack the re- treating enemy. Instead of obeying this order, he conducted in an unworthy manner and greatly disconcerted the arrange- ments of the day. His Excellency, advancing to the field of battle, met him in his disorderly retreat, and accosted him with strong expressions of disapprobation. Lee, incapable of brooking even an implied indignity, and unable to restrain the warmth of his resentment, used improper language in re- turn, and some irritation was excited on both sides, for the moment. Lee on the same day addressed two letters to the Commander in Chief, couched in disrespectful language, and with an air of defiance solicited a trial for his conduct, in consequence of which he was immediately put under arrest. A court martial, of which Lord Stirling was president, was. ordered for his trial on the following charges. Ist. For dis- obedience of orders in not attacking the enemy on the 28th - of June, agreeably to repeated instructions. 2d. For mis- behavior before the enemy on the same day, by making an unnecessary, disorderly and shameful retreat. 3d. For dis- respect to the Commander in Chief, in two letters dated July Ist, and June 28th. The letter dated July Ist was so dated by mistake, it was written June 28th. The court found him guilty on all the charges, and sentenced him to be suspended from any command in the armies of the United States of America for the term of twelve months. He made a masterly defence, and endeavoured to prove that any other course than that pursued would have given the enemy great advantage, and hazarded the destruction of our army. In. his adversity General Lee was not altogether destitute of advocates as respects the affair of Monmouth; they alleged that, were it not for the disrespectful letters to his Excel-— lency, Lee would have been acquitted, and the degree of punishment seems in some measure to justify this opinion. If _ he had been proved fully guilty of all the charges, a suspen- sion for one year would be inadequate to the magnitude of the crime. It appears also that Congress did not without