George Washington / Henry Knox on General Lee

 

George Washington

Shortly after the end of the battle of Yorktown, two friends discuss the recent events as well as an earlier unfortunate matter regarding General Charles Lee.

George Washington: Only when the shooting abates can we indulge ourselves with the telling of battle tales.

Henry Knox: A brilliant stroke that you, Sir, took advantage of with Nate and his men, to say nothing of the ships of our friends from France. Cornwallis was trapped like a bunny in the bush.

Washington: It’s rare indeed that opportunities like Yorktown present themselves. Greene moved south as rapidly as he could and set in place his experienced men as leaders in several states to secure the arrival of our new recruits as well as our supplies.

Knox:  His visit to the army camp at Charlotte, North Carolina in December secured our lines.  Then in the weeks that followed, Greene did his best to strengthen his forces into a basic army.

Washington: However he was still unable to face the professional forces of the British. At last Cornwallis with his well-trained army began to press Greene. However, Greene, by careful planning eluded him.

Knox: Was it because Greene's force was too weak, having to deal with a great number of prisoners, baggage and supplies?

Washington: They were factors. Nevertheless, he chose the only path open to him. He was able to escape Cornwallis's forces. Indeed Cornwallis could well be confused. Greene's strategy was to keep rivers and streams between his army and the enemy. He knew he could not survive an open battle with Cornwallis. Greene had to use whatever trickery he could invent to keep the superior British army at bay.

Knox:  Yes Nate needed to fight the British on a battlefield of his own choosing. But luring Cornwallis away from his supply sources had to be difficult.

Washington: Greene made his stand to fight and the British were compelled to accept the ground or retreat. Cornwallis decided to fight. Greene arranged his army in three lines. The first line made up of untrained militia gave way. The second line was also militia but under the command of seasoned officers.  The third line was composed of continental soldiers. The British lost 633 men. The American losses were much lower than the British. The enemy losses were so heavy because of the accurate marksmanship of the American riflemen. After the battle the British were in serious straits. Shortly after the battle, Cornwallis began to retreat and Greene started in pursuit, but he was so short of ammunition that he could not accomplish very much.

Knox: It was wonderful to learn that Greene's forces numbered about 2,000 and the British 2,300. Greene had carefully prepared for a surprise attack and was well on his way when two deserters of his army informed the British of the approach of the American army. After a difficult struggle, the British were driven back but not destroyed as Greene had hoped. Greene recalled his forces, and in the end the British were compelled to retreat.

Washington: You are as well informed as I.

Knox: Thank you for saying so but I have but a small fraction of your information. For example, I know very little about the matter of Charles Lee.

Washington: I was not aware of the origins of the difficulty being consumed with commanding the Continental Army but when I wrote to General Lee in Westchester County, New York back in 1776, it became apparent that something was amiss. The purpose of my letter was to inform General Lee of the fighting and loss of Fort Lee, New Jersey and to order him to bring his forces to New Jersey.

Knox: A seasoned officer would naturally respond immediately. How did he answer your letter?

Washington: He did not answer and he did not deploy his troops. Whether, he believed his presence was necessary in New York or he didn’t like receiving orders for New Jersey is irrelevant. A direct order is not to be ignored. I learned later that he took all his time in crossing New Jersey to arrive at the Delaware River where reinforcements were sorely needed. It was then I understood. General Lee did not see me as his commanding officer.

Knox: Now that is a serious matter.

Washington: If truth be told, Lee had more experience than I in the field. He took a commission with the British army when he finished military school and served on the side of Great Britain in the Seven Years’ War. It is clear that he was disappointed in not being asked to lead the Continental Army.    

Knox: What do you suppose was the reason for his being passed over?

Washington: What I’m going to say is for your ears only. General Lee’s private life was a bit spicy. He married a Mohawk woman but continued to frequent prostitutes. Known for Lee's temper and intemperance, the Mohawk had dubbed him “Boiling Water.” On December 13, Lee left his army, still dallying on its way to join me, and rode—with minimal guard-–in search of female companionship at Widow White’s Tavern in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. It was there that British Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton and the 16th Queen’s Light Dragoons captured him on the morning of December 15.

Knox: It seems I heard that they had fought together years earlier in the British army.

Washington: It is true. Having begun his military career at an early age, he had assumed that a lifetime was his with a royal commission. Seeing that he would not achieve his goal, Lee retired here in America. It was his anger against Great Britain that enticed him to embrace our cause of independence. So the former friends and comrades in arms became sworn enemies. Tarleton accused Lee of being a traitor to the crown. Whether still under the influence of strong spirits or not, Lee was captured while still in the arms of a lady of the night and suffered indignity at being led from the inn clad only in his nightgown.

Knox: A sorrowful sight indeed for a man of general status.       

Henry Knox

Washington: The story does not end there. Lee had bragged that his former friend had only reached the rank of lieutenant colonel while he, Charles Lee, was soon to become commander of the Continental army. As the British rejoiced at the capture of Lee, I began to negotiate for his release. We certainly needed a man of his training on our side. Unknown to me, Lee had a life of ease in his large apartment and a personal servant with food served to him and wine to loosen his tongue. Apparently, he enjoyed his captivity and even helped the enemy with battle plans against us.

Knox: When was he released?

Washington: Lee reported to Valley Forge in May 1778. I treated him as he deserved to be treated and suspended him from the army in December of that year with a definitive dismissal in 1780.

Knox: Had you had any indication that the British had acted on the battle plans against us?

Washington: They had not. Apparently they believed Lee to be more honorable that he was and didn’t trust his information. Now you have it all; the rise and disgrace of Charles Lee in an eggshell.