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sons supposed inimical to them. How far they or their commanders may adopt these measures, remains to be known. I have only mentioned them as respects the general subject of my letter.

"Notwithstanding my recommendation, agreeably to what I conceived to be the sense of Congress, Lieutenantcolonel Campbell's treatment continues to be such as cannot be justified either on the principles of generosity or strict retaliation; as I have authentic information, and I doubt not you will have the same, that General Lee's situation is far from being rigorous or uncomfortable. Except his not being permitted to go at large on parole, he has reason to be content with every other circumstance of his treatment."

General Lee had recently stated that he had been "treated in all respects with kindness, generosity, and tenderness."

On being apprised of this, Congress resolved that similar conduct be observed towards Campbell and the Hessian officers.

Four days after the date of this letter, "the enemy," as Hamilton states, "perpetrated a most barbarous butchery upon a Lieutenant Martin of ours. He was out with a scouting party, and met some of the British light-horse; his men, it is said, quitted him. But however other matters may be, it is certain his dead body was found most horribly mangled. He had not a single bullet-wound, but was hacked to pieces with the sword; he had several cuts on his head, each of which was sufficient to despatch him, besides a number of more inconsiderable scars about his body and hands. It is evident that the most wanton and unnecessary cruelty must have been used towards him; for the greater part of his wounds must have been given him when utterly out of a condition to resist. This may

be relied on as a fact, for I saw his corpse, as did also every officer and soldier in camp that chose it. The general sent him down to their lines with a letter to Lord Cornwallis, as an undeniable evidence of their brutality, but the letter was taken from the flag and sent in; the flag and the body not permitted to pass their outposts." It was brought to the post of Sir George Osborne, who with much admired sang froid, simply returned for answer, "that he was no coroner."

The letter, written by Hamilton for Washington, was in these terms: "It is with infinite regret I am again compelled to remonstrate against that spirit of wanton cruelty that has in several instances influenced the conduct of your soldiery. A recent exercise of it towards. an unhappy officer of ours, Lieutenant Martin, convinces me that my former representations on this subject have been unavailing. That gentleman, by the fortune of war, on Saturday last, was thrown into the hands of a party of your horse, and unnecessarily murdered with the most aggravated circumstances of barbarity. I wish not to wound your lordship's feelings by commenting on this event; but I think it my duty to send his mangled body to your lines as an undeniable testimony of the fact, should it be doubted, and as the best appeal to your humanity for the justice of our complaint."

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The answer is not known, but its character may inferred from this reply in the close of a letter, also from Hamilton's pen: "I cannot forbear taking this occasion to remark, that it appears to me not a little singular to find a gallant discharge of duty in an officer, assigned as a reason for exercising the greatest barbarity towards him. I confess I should imagine that the eye of generosity would rather view it as a motive for applause and tender

* Graydon's Memoirs, 266.

ness." "The fact," he states, "was admitted and justified."

Howe at this time pressing a final decision as to the exchange of prisoners, Hamilton, in behalf of Washington answered him in full.* This letter is a fine specimen of retaliatory vindication, not a little quickened in its tone by this recent outrage. It closed with the declaration of a wish that the difference between them should be "adjusted on a generous and equitable plan."

* June 10, 1777.

CHAPTER VIII.

AMID the conflicts of opinion between Congress and the State governments, its spasmodic action, now of energy, then of weakness, their confidence and their fears; it became obvious, that the success of the struggle would chiefly depend on skill to avoid and patience to endure, rather than on power to resist the aggressions of the enemy. What direction their force would take was still uncertain. Hamilton wrote to the convention of New York, the seventh of May: "From some late appearances, my opinion is greatly shaken as to the enemy's intention to move to Philadelphia. I begin to fear they will disappoint us with a contrary movement. The general is aware of this possibility, and will do every thing he can to provide for the event; and I trust the convention of your State will co-operate with him by every exertion in their power. By intelligence received yesterday and today, from Generals Putnam and Lincoln at the outposts, we have reason to suspect the enemy will soon evacuate Brunswick and push for Amboy, whence they will no doubt embark for some expedition by water. This may be either to Philadelphia or up the North River. Or, perhaps, the appearances that indicate this, may be only feints to perplex and deceive us. The testimony of every person that comes from them confirms this fact,

that their horses are in such miserable condition as to render them incapable of any material operations by land. If, therefore, proper care be taken, wherever they shall point their efforts, to prevent their collecting supplies of good horses among ourselves, I know not how it will be possible for them to penetrate any distance into the country. As far as it may depend upon them, I hope the convention will attend to this circumstance, and will take effective measures to put it out of their power to gain such supplies in any part of your State towards which they may direct their movements. Nothing particular from Europe." He soon again wrote: "It seems now fully the opinion of our generals that the last year's project for uniting the two armies by the conquest of your State will be prosecuted this campaign. To confirm this supposition, all the later intelligence we have received from the enemy, strongly indicates an intention to evacuate the Jerseys; and it is thought there will be very great obstacles to an attempt upon Philadelphia by way of the Delaware; it is concluded that the North River must be the object. And, upon this principle, Generals Greene and Knox, in whom his Excellency has great confidence, are sent to examine the situation of things with you, and, in concert with General McDougall, who is in equal estimation, to adopt every proper expedient for putting you in the best state of defence. They set out this day.

"If the enemy do not, in fact, aim at Philadelphia, they have been very artful in throwing out appearances well calculated to deceive, and which, though they have not had so full an effect as at any time to cause our cautious general to lose sight of the other object which it is now imagined they propose to themselves; yet they have so far deceived as to beget pretty universally the opinion they wished to impose. But, for my own part, though I

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