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1778. fatal to numbers of the men, feveral of whom died on
the day of action through the exceffive heat; for Faren-
heit's thermometer was at 96 degrees in the Jerfeys, and
is faid to have been 112 at Philadelphia. It was a deep
fandy country through which they marched, almost
deftitute of water; but had there been a plenty, many
more would probably have perished by unguarded drink-
ing to allay their thirst; some were loft in that way. Sir
Henry, without having been joined by the brigade of
British and the 17th light dragoons from Knyphaufen's
divifion, fecured by his manoeuvres the arrival of the
royal army in the neighbourhood of Sandy Hook on the
June
30. 30th of June, without the lofs of either the covering
party or the baggage: but not without a confiderable
diminution of troops; for by a moderate calculation,
from the evacuation of Philadelphia down to that day,
about eight hundred deserted, a great number of whom
were Heffians. By the returns of the officers who had
the charge of the burying parties, they left 245 non-
commiffioned and privates on the field and 4 officers.
There were also befide thefe, feveral fresh graves and
burying holes found near the field, in which they had
put their dead before they quitted it *. Fifty-nine of
their foldiers perished without receiving a wound, in the
fame manner as feveral of the Americans, merely
through fatigue and heat. The lofs of lieut. col. Monck-
ton, who was flain, was much lamented by the British. Up-
ward of a hundred were made prifoners, including the
officers and privates left upon the field. On the part of
the Americans, lieut. col. Bonner and major Dickinson,
officers of diftinguished merit, were flain; befide fix

General Washington's letters.

others of inferior rank, and 61 non-commiffioned and 1778. privates. The wounded were 24 officers and 1.36 noncommiffioned and privates. The miffing amounted to 130, but many of them, having only dropped through fatigue, foon joined the army. Gen. Washington commended the zeal and bravery of the officers in general, but particularized Wayne as deferving fpecial commendation. The behaviour of the troops in general, after recovering from the firft furprise occafioned by the retreat of the advanced corps, was mentioned as what could not be furpaffed. The public acknowledgments of congrefs were very flattering to the army, and particularly fo to the general and his officers. The general having declined all further purfuit, detached only fome light troops to attend the motions of the royal forces, and drew off the main body of his army to the borders of the North river.

The general, on his fecond interview with Lee upon the day of action, intimated by his re-instating and leaving him in the command of the advanced corps, that he meant to pass by what had happened, without further notice: but the latter could not brook the expreffions used by the former at their first meeting, and therefore wrote him two paffionate letters, which occafioned his being put under an arreft, and brought to trial four days after the action, on the following charges exhibited against him by his excellency-1ft, For difobedience of orders, in not attacking the enemy on the 28th of June, agreeable to repeated inftructions:2dly, For misbehaviour before the enemy on the fame day, by making an unneceffary, diforderly and shameful retreat3dly, For difrefpect to the commander in

1778 chief, in two letters dated the ift of July and the 28th of June. The letter dated the ift of July, was fo dated through mistake, being written on the 28th of June. On the 12th of Auguft, the court martial, at which lord Stirling prefided, found him guilty upon every charge, and fentenced him to be fufpended from any command in the armies of the United States of North America, for the term of twelve months. The terms of the fecond charge were foftened down, as he was only found guilty of mifbehaviour before the enemy by making an unneceffary, and in fome few inftances, a diforderly retreat. Many were displeased with the conduct of the court martial; and thought he ought not to have been found guilty, except upon the last charge. They argued" It appears from Washington's own letter and other circumftances, that it was fubmitted to Lee's judgment whether to attack, in what manner and when. There was manifeft proof of Lee's intending to attack in hope of cutting off the enemy's covering party: but he altered his opinion as to the promising profpect he had of doing it, on his coming into the plain, reconnoitring the enemy, and concluding that they were more numerous than before supposed: and upon finding Scott had quitted the point of wood where he meant to order him to remain, he judged an immediate retreat neceffary. The detachment with which Lee was, amounted to no more than one third of his whole command, Scott's column, Maxwell's brigade and the other troops to his left being full two thirds. When he began to retire, the main body was more than fix miles diftant, though advancing. The enemy's force was rendered the more formidable by their great fuperiority in cavalry, which

was thought to be between four and five hundred. The 1778. ground being open was by no means advantageous to the Americans, as the British cavalry could have turned their flank. Would then an immediate attack under these circumstances, though it might have diftreffed the enemy's rear at the firft onset, have been advisable, as it might probably have involved a general action before the detachment could have received fupport? Did not prudence dictate falling back and taking a new position, rather than hazarding an action in the plain? If Lee's judgment determined for the affirmative, how could he be declared guilty of difobeying orders? The circumftances already noted are in favor of the retreat's being neceffary in the firft inftance: and when commenced, the prosecution of it was abfolutely neceffary till a good pofition could be taken for making an effectual stand against the enemy, to which pofition Lee was marching when met by Washington. The ftrenuous efforts of the British after the main army was drawn up in that position, before they retired three miles from the scene of action, tend alfo to juftify the commencement of the retreat. No mention fhould have been made of its being in a few inftances disorderly, unless fuch inftances were really chargeable to Lee's misconduct; whereas of thefe few it is certain, that fome were owing to fatigue and the enormous heat of the weather. The very fentence of the court martial is in favor of Lee's innocence as to the two first charges, for a year's suspension from command is in no wife proportioned to his crimes if guilty."-Several are of opinion he would not have been condemned on thefe two, had it not been for his dif refpectful conduct toward Washington. On the other

1778. hand, fome have furmifed, that his manœuvres were owing either to treachery or want of courage; but they who have the opportunity of knowing him moft, will be furtheft from fuch apprehenfions *.

No fooner had Sir Henry Clinton with the army evacuated Philadelphia, than lord Howe prepared to fail with the fleet for New York. Repeated calms retarded his paffage down the Delaware, so that he could not quit the river till the evening of June the 28th; however he anchored off Sandy Hook the next day, followed by the transports. The fucceeding day Sir Henry arrived, and the artillery, baggage, and part of the troops were reJuly moved from the main, as the weather permitted; the 5. reft of the army paffed, on the 5th of July, over a bridge of boats across a narrow channel to Sandy Hook. They were afterward carried up to New York. On the 7th, lord Howe received advice that the Toulon fquadron was arrived on the coast of Virginia. Count d'Estaing anchored at night on the 8th at the entrance of the Delaware, after being 87 days at fea: On that day the count wrote to congrefs: on the receipt of his letter, they fent word to gen. Washington, that it was their defire he would co-operate with the count, in thẻ execution of fuch offenfive operations as they should mutually approve. The fame day the congress refolved; that a fuitable houfe fhould be provided for Monfieur Gerard, and chofe a committee of five to wait on him upon his arrival, and conduct him to his lodgings. The

3

* In compiling feveral of the preceding pages, recourse has been had to the public letters of Sir Henry Clinton and gen. Washington, to various private letters and information, and to gen. Lee's trial.

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