Treason of Charles Lee

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Scribner, 1860 - 115 ページ
 

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45 ページ - General Washington's own judgment, seconded by representations from us, would have saved the men and their arms ; but, unluckily, General Greene's judgment was contrary. This kept the General's mind in a state of suspense till the stroke was struck. Oh, General ! an indecisive mind is one of the greatest misfortunes that can befall an army : how often have I lamented it this campaign...
68 ページ - The ingenious manoeuvre of Fort Washington has unhinged the goodly fabric we had been building. There never was so damned a stroke. Entre nous, a certain great man is most damnably deficient. He has thrown me into a situation where I have my choice of difficulties : if I stay in this province, I risk myself and army ; and if I do not stay, the province is lost forever.
51 ページ - The day after to-morrow," added he, " we shall pass the river, when I should be glad to receive your instructions ; but I could wish you would bind me as little as possible ; not from any opinion, I do assure you, of my own parts, but from a persuasion that detached generals cannot have too great latitude, unless they are very incompetent indeed.
25 ページ - To think myself qualified for the most important charge that ever was committed to mortal man," writes he, " is the last stage of presumption; nor do I think the Americans would or ought to confide in a man, let his qualifications be ever so great, who has no property among them. It is true I most devoutly wish them success in the glorious struggle ; that I have expressed my wishes both in writing and viva voce; but my errand to Boston was mere curiosity to see a people...
45 ページ - I do ardently wish to see you removed from a place where there will be so little call for your judgment and experience, to the place where they are likely to be so necessary. Nor am I singular in my opinion. Every gentleman of the family, the officers and soldiers generally, have a confidence in you. The enemy constantly inquire where you are and seem to be less confident when you are present.
97 ページ - I shall always be happy," writes he, "in a free communication of your sentiments upon any important subject relative to the service, and only beg that they may come directly to myself. The custom which many officers have of speaking freely and reprobating measures, which, upon investigation, may be found to be unavoidable, is never productive of good, but often of very mischievous consequences.
51 ページ - The commander-in-chief is now separated from us ; I, of course, command on this side the water ; for the future, I will and must be obeyed." Assuming the air of authority in chief, he sent letters to . three New England colonies, proposing a temporary embargo, that the privateersmen might be driven to seek employment in the army. And again to Massachusetts he urged the annual drafting of every seventh man ; adding, to a puritan colony...
45 ページ - I ardently wish to see you removed from a place where I think there will be little call for your judgment and experience, to the place where they are likely to be so necessary. Nor am I singular in my opinion ; every gentleman of the family, the officers and soldiers generally, have a confidence in you : the enemy constantly inquire where you are, and seem to be less confident when you are present.
87 ページ - Colonies. As the difficulty of passing and of re-passing the North River and the apprehensions from General Carleton's Army will I am confident keep the New Englanders at home, or at least confine 'em to the East side the River ; and as their Provinces are at present neither the seat of Government strength nor Politicks I cannot see that any offensive operations against these Provinces wou'd answer any sort of Purpose — to secure N.
9 ページ - Ontario ; all is left to the uninterrupted possession of the enemy, who will doubtless dispossess us of all that we have remaining, if not suddenly stopped. As for our forces on the northern frontier, both regulars and provincials, I expect to hear of no action .by them, unless the enemy force them to it. If some more vigorous resolutions are not made in England, and seasonably executed, we must inevitably fall a prey to the prevailing power of France. We live in hopes that a vigorous push will be...

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