Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume X.djvu/306

300 CHARLES LEE sword without enthusiasm, more through re- sentment against a government which had disappointed him, than zeal for liberty or for colonial rights." During the summer and autumn he held command of the left wing of the American army posted on Winter hill, sustaining his reputation as a military author- ity, although his manners were far from agree- able, and the opinion began to gain strength that personal ambition was his main incen- tive in embarking in the cause of the colonies. In November, 1775, he visited Newport, R. I., for the purpose of erecting works of defence, gratifying his hatred of tories while there by making them take a "tremendous oath" to support the authority of congress; and in February, 1776, he was sent on a similar mis- sion to New York, whence in March he de- parted for Virginia to take command of the southern department. After organizing the military defence of that colony, he marched in the latter part of May toward Charleston to meet the forces which it was apprehended were to be landed from the British fleet under Sir Peter Parker. He arrived in the cky June 4, and at once reported it "utterly defence- less." The fort then building on Sullivan's island he particularly objected to, predicting that it could not hold out half an hour, and calling it a "slaughter pen;" and he endeav- ored, though unsuccessfully, to persuade Gov. Rutledge to abandon it. During the memorable defence of the work by Col. Moultrie, June 28, he took no measures to support the garrison, and, instead of supplying them with ammuni- tion when their stock was exhausted, coun- selled them to spike their guns and retreat. Nevertheless, much of the credit of the suc- cessful defence of Charleston was ascribed to him, and he returned to the north in the autumn with an enhanced military reputation, and an exaggerated notion of his own impor- tance to the American cause. He was now, by the resignation of Gen. Ward, first major gen- eral, occupying the second rank in the army ; and many persons, contrasting his presumed successes in the south with the recent defeat on Long Island, began to consider him the main hope of the American arms. On Oct. 14 he 3'oined the camp on Harlem heights, and with Ms customary good fortune received the credit of advising the evacuation of New York island and the retrograde movement by which the plans of Howe for surrounding the American army were defeated, although the chief features of the plan had been determined upon a month previous. His division covered the retreat of the American army over King's bridge ; and after the passage of Washington into New Jersey, he was left in Westchester county, in the neighborhood of New York, in command of a force of 7', 000 men. The possession of a separate command nattered his vanity, and, im- pressed with the idea of attacking New York, or assailing the rear of the enemy, or perform- ing some other exploit equally brilliant, he lingered week after week in Westchester, not- withstanding urgent appeals from Washington to join him in New Jersey ; and after crossing the Hudson at Haverstraw, Dec. 2-4, he pur- sued his march southward with equal dila- toriness. Being "in hopes to reconquer the Jerseys," he moved in a road about 20 m. west of the British army, and, disregarding the directions of Washington, awaited the opportunity which he expected would soon present itself to make an independent demon- stration on the enemy's flank. On the morn- ing of Dec. 13, while quartered with his aides and a small guard at White's tavern, Basking- ridge, about three miles from his army, which was left under the command of Gen. Sullivan, he was surprised and captured by a party of British light horse under Col. Harcourt, who had received intelligence of his movements from a tory of the neighborhood. After a brief resistance Lee surrendered himself, ac- cording to the British accounts, in the most cowardly manner, and was hastily mounted behind one of the troopers, and carried away at full speed to the British camp at New Bruns- wick, whence about three hours afterward the booming of cannon proclaimed the exultation of the enemy at the capture of the " American Palladium," as Lee was styled by them. Not- withstanding the unfavorable suspicions which the circumstances attending his capture have provoked, there seems no reason to believe that he was then acting a treacherous part, or that he was guilty of any graver offence than negligence or disobedience of orders. The Americans sincerely deplored his loss, and upon learning that he was regarded by his captors as amenable to British military law as a deserter, congress at once adopted retaliatory measures, and ordered five Hessian field officers and Lieut. Col. Campbell to be taken into close custody, to await the fate of Lee. In conse- quence of the firm stand taken by congress, Gen. Howe advised the British ministry to countermand their first instructions that Lee should be sent to England for trial, and to allow him to be considered a prisoner of war. A reluctant consent having been obtained, he was, in December, 1777, put upon parole, and treated with the consideration usually bestowed ugon prisoners of rank. During the period that his fate was involved in uncertainty, his interest in the colonial cause seems to have yielded to solicitude for his personal safety; and the evidence is now strong that for the purpose of securing this end he was willing to betray his adopted country. From a recently discovered document in Lee's handwriting, in- dorsed by Henry Strachey, secretary to the royal commissioners, Lord and Sir William Howe, as " Mr. Lee's Plan," it appears that on March 29, 1777, he submitted to the British commander a project for the reconquest of America, the chief feature of which was the concentration of forces at Annapolis and Al- exandria for the purpose of cutting off com-