during the course of the day, fortune srenerally favoured
the American arms, the scene closed in defeat.' In a let-
ter to General Gates, General Wayne declared, that the
enemy were flying before the victorious arms of the Ame-
ricans for about three hours, and ascribes the discom-
fiture to the wind-mill attack on Chew's stone house.
General Stevenson, who commanded on the York road,
and Avhose force was desiofned to cut otf the Britisli re-
treat at the Rising Sun. and at the same time prevent
the assistance of a re-enforcement Irom Philadelphia, was
tried and broken for disobedience of orders. Had his
orders been executed, nothing could have prevented the
I
I
ANTHONY WAYNE 521
destruction or capture of the whole British force en^ged
in the early part of that day.
During the campaign of 177S, General Wayne was
still attached to the army in the Middle States, under the
immediate command of General Washington. After the
enemy had evacuated Philadelphia, and were retreating
through New- Jersey, General Wayne was despatched to
pursue tliem, with a body of one thousand men, forming
part of the advanced corps of the American army, com-
manded by the Marquis Lafayette. They were sent, on
the 25th of Jinie, from the village of Kingston, in the
vicinity of Princeton, to which the American army had
remo^.ed. The whole army m.oved in tlie evening of the
same da}^, intending to keep a proper distance for the sup-
port of the advanced corps.
Sir Henry Clinton, sensible of the approach of his ad-
versary's forces, changed the disposition of his troops.
Without entering into the detail of duty, which devolv-
ed on Wayne in a subordinate capacity, in this action, he
in a very peculiar manner displayed the most undaunted
courage, the s^reatest activity, and a sound judgment, in
executinar the duties Vv'hich had been assig^ned to him.
In the canrpaign of 1779, General AYashington con-
ceived the design of storming Stony Point, a strong po-
sition on the Hudson, about fifty miles above New-York,
which had fallen into tlie hands of the British. The ob-
ject in view wa.s to withdraw from Connecticut to the
defence of their lines, a party of the enemy, who were
laying waste a part of that state. The execution of this
enterprise was intrusted to General Wayne, who com-
pletely effected it. The situation of this post was of
much importance in another point of view, as it com-
manded a pass of the river essential to the British ship-
pins: for the attack on the forts abore. The garrison,
which consisted of about six hundred men, under Colo-
nel Johnson, was part of the force which had bayoneted
his troops in cool blood at Paoli. His parole on this oc-
casion recalled to the remembrance of his troops,^ that
sanguinary affair. Although the enterprise was effected
with the bayonet, the flints having been taken out of their
44*
622 GLORY Oh'' AMERICA.
firelocks, and the storming of the fort might have justi-
fied complete retaliation, yet the moment the enemy sub-
mitted, he spared the farther ef!usion of blood. This
enterprise completHy eifccted its object, by compellmg
the British general to withdraw his forces from Connect^
cut to defend his own posts.
In the commencement of this attack, which was of
short duration, a ball, discliarged by one of the sentinels,
grazed the general's head, and knocked him down. He
lay a few moments apparently lifeless, but soon after rose,
and so far recovered as to rest on one knee. Supposing
himself mortally wounded, he desired one of his aids to
carry him forvrard and let him die in the fort.
The attack on a block-house tovv^ards New- York w^as
unsuccessful. It is said, that General Wayne lost more
men on this occasion, than the whole number of those
whom he attempted to dislodge. Here he manifested
more zeal and bravery than judgment. General Wash-
ington, in his report of the aflair to Congress, attributed
its failure to the intemperate valour of the"^ troops.
For his gallant enterprise at Stony Point, he received
the tlianks of Congress, v/ho avrarded him a gold medal,
emblematical of the action.
On new-year's day, 17S1, a revolt of the Pennsylvania
hue took place, in consequence of the distresses' which
they had to encounter. This affair threatened, on its
first appearance, to produce the most serious results : but
the prudent conduct of General Yfashing-ton, assisted r,>y
Wayne, and the patriotic spirit of the troops, prevented
the British from availing themselves of any benefit on the
occasion.
^ On the 20th of February, ITSl, Congress resolved tliat
the ."^jouthern army should be composed of all the regu-
lars, from Pennsylvania to Georo-ia, inclusive, except
Moyian's dragoons. Tlie board of v/ar was directed to
prepare and furnish every requisite. This new disp.osi-
tion of the troops threw General Wayne's division into
the southern army.
On the 18th of May, Congress directed the board of
war to furnish General Wayne with copies of the intelli-
ANTHONY \VAY5fE 523
gence received, on the day previous to the sailing of the
British fleet from New- York ; and ordered, that "in case
his troops sliould not be furnished with the necessary sup-
phes, during their march, he should impress them, and
credit the States with the amount thereof, whenever such
coercion should become necessary.
In the first moments of the rising tempest, the Marquis
Lafayette began to retire with his little army, which con-
sisted only of one thousand regulars, two thousand mili-
tia, and sixty drao-oons. Cornwallis, finding it impossi-
ble to force an action, endeavoured to cut off the commu-
nication of the Marquis v\dth General AYayme, Avho wms,
with eight hundred Pennsylvanians, advancing from the
northward, the junction of Vv^hose forces was effected at
Rackoon ford, without loss. While this object was ac-
complishing, Cornwallis placed himself between Lafayette
and Wa^rne, and the pubhc stores deposited for greater
security at Albemarle old Court-house. Lafayette, by
forced marches, came within a few miles of the British
army, v/hile they Vv^ere 3^et two days distant from the
object of their enterprise. Cornv/allis, from the situation
of his opponent, considered his capture as certain ; but
during the night Lafayette opened an old road long dis-
used, which was unknown to his adversary, and which
was nearer to Albemarle, and to the astonishment of
Cornwallis, posted himself next day in a strong position
between the British and the iVm.erican stores. Frustrated
in his schemes, Cornwallis fell back to Richmond, and
thence retreated to Williamsburg. During these opera-
tions. Colonel Butler, on the 26th June, 1781, attacked
the British rear, and killed and wounded one hundred
and sixty of them. July 6th, Cornwallis retreated from
W^illiamsburg to JamestOAvn, where a smart engagement
took place, between the British army and the American
va.n, under General Wayne. Though General Wa\Tie
had been erroneously informed that the troops opposed to
him were only a detached corps, he no sooner discovered
his error, than he resolutely engaged with the whole
British army, rightly judging it the most eligible mode by
which he could escape from his perilous situation. Thus
524 GLORY OF AMERICA.
he urged the attack with such confidence as imposed the
idea on his opposers, that his force was the advance of
the American army, who were approaching to support
him. This bold n^anoeuvre enabled him to" take advan-
tage of the enemy's fears, and thus to eifect a danoerous
retreat with little loss.
In January, 17S2, General Wa^me having previously
ordered the Americans at Augusta to join him at Ebene-
zer, crossed the river Savannah at the Two Sisters' ferry,
with about one hundred dragoons, commanded by Colo-
nel Anthony Walton White." He was soon after re-en-
forced by about three hundred Continental infantry, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Posev.
The British garrison, at this time, consisted of about
one thousand regulars, besides a considerable number of
mihtia. and was commanded by Brigadier-General Clarke.
NotAvithstanding this gTcat superiority of force, General
Wayne frequently appeared before the British lines, and
insulted their pickets.
On the 21st of May. 1782, Colonel Bro\\Ti, at the head
of a considerable party, marched out of the o;arrison of
Savannah, with the apparent intention of attacking the
Americans. General Vrayne, by a bold manoeuvre, placed
his forces bet^veen Colonel Brovvm and the British garri-
son in Savannah attacked him at 12 o'clock at night,
and routed his whole . part)-. The van guard of the
Americans, consisting of sixty horse and forty infantry,
was led by Colonel "White, of the cavalry, and Captain
Parker, of the infantry, to a spirited charge, in which
forty of Brown's men were killed, about twenty taken
prisoners, and the remainder obli2"ed to shelter in a swamp
under cover of the night. The liberal use of the sword
and bayonet gave the Americans this advantage, the flints
having been previously taken out of the muslvcts of the
infantry, to ensure a compliance with orders. In this en-
terprise the Americans had only five privates Idlled, and
two wounded.
On June 24th, 1782, a party of Creek Indians, with a
British ofiicer, made a spirited attack on General Wayne.
They adroitly took possession of two field pieces guarded
ANTHONY WAYNE. 525
by a small party in the rear of the Americans. Wayne
soon rallied his troops, and recovered these field pieces.
A smart action ensued. Both sides fought in close quar-
ters with swords and bayonets.
The Indians, although unusually brave, were routed.
Fourteen of their number were killed, among whom was
Emistessigo, a famous chief. The Americans carried off
a British standard, and a large number of horses.
The presence of an American force between the upper
country and Savannah, interrupted the communication
between the British garrison and the Indians. A party
of Indians, with a considerable quantity of peltry and
pack horses, on their way to Savannah, was taken by Ge-
neral AVayne. Two of them were detained as hostages,
and the remainder sent home with a friendly talk. The
disasters of the British consequent on Cornwallis's cap-
ture, and the success of the Americans, had a decided in-
fliience in detaching the Indians from the British, whose
government had, early in 1782, determined to aibandon
offensive operations.
When it was resolved to evacuate Savannah, the mer-
chants and others of that city obtained permission to ap-
ply to General Wa^me for the security and preservation
of their property. To the deputation he replied, -' that in
the event of an evacuation by the British garrison, the
persons and property of such inhabitants, or others, who
chose to remain in Savannah, will be protected by the
military, and resigned inviolate into the hands of the civil
autliority, which must ultimately decide." A second flag
being sent out. General Wayne, at the desire of the civil
authority of the state, sent them for answer, that " the
merchants, not owing allegiance to the United States,
will be permitted to remain a reasonable time to dispose
of their goods and settle their affairs." On the 11th of
July, 1782, the British evacuated Savannah, after it had
been four years in their possession, and it was immediate-
ly after taken into possession by the Americans.
For his eminent services the leofislature of Georo-ia
made him a donation of a handsome plantation. At the
close of the war he retired to enjoy the repose of domestic
526 GLORY OF AMERICA.
life. He was chosen a delegate to the Pennsylvania
Convention in 1787, and Avas one of those who signed
the acceptance of the present constitution of the Unitf^d
States, in behalf of his native state. SuVjseqnent to this
period, he left his family and went to Georgia to look
after the property which had been bestowed upon him by
that state. Here he was induced to allow himself to be
held up as a candidate for a seat in Congress, and was
returned to that honourable body, as being duly elected,
ill 1792. But certain irregularities having taken place
in regard to some of the votes, the legality of his election
was called in question by his opponent. General James
Jackson. The business was, accordingly, taken up in
the House of Representatives, who, after a patient investi-
gation, determined in favour of Jackson : while they, at
the same time, declared, that no dishonour could be at-
tached to General Wayne, and that the informalities
which had induced them to decide that he could no
longer retain his place in their body, could not, in the
slio;htest degree, be attributed to him. Wayne employed
counsel ; but his antaofonist plead his own cause. Jack-
son might have forthwith taken his seat : but he declined
that honour, till, after a new election, the will of the ma-
jority- of liis constituents was fully expressed in his behalf
Innnediately after this disappointment, he was consoled
by his beinof promoted to the command of the V\ estern
army, Avhich had been successively defeated under Har-
man and St. Clair. Here he continued the warfare with
success asfainst the Indians, whom he defeated and com-
pelled to sue for peace. He remained in this command,
watchinsf over the conduct of his savage foe. until the
15th of December, 1796, when he died at Presque isle, on
Lake Erie, of a malignant disease, in the fifty-first year of
his a2:e. and was buried there with all the honours due to
his rank and hig-h merits. In the vear ISOS. he was dis-
interred, brouofht to Philadelphia, and thence conveyed
to Chester county, the place of his nativity, vrhere he was
reinterred, with suitable ceremonies. A remarkable fact,
connected with this transaction, is, that his countenance
was still fresh, and that petrifaction had far advanced.
CHARLES LEE. 527
CHARLES LEE.
The family of General Lee, and the earls of Leicester,
sprung from the same parent stock in Cheshire, and by-
intermarriages were connected with most of the principal
families of Eno^land. One of the family was, so early as
in Q,neen Elizabeth's reign, an object of pnbhc regard
Being connected in the conspiracy of the Earl of Essex,
and the friend of the Earl of Tyrone, who was in open
rebellion, he was the first to sutfer on that occasion. The
General's ancestor was Sir Henry Lee, Q,neen Elizabeth's
champion at the tilter's tournament, from which he re-
tired by age in the 33d year of that queen's reign. He
died in 1611, aged eighty, and was interred in the church
of Quarendon, near Aylesbury. Sir Henry had a large
do2", which was left by accident one night in his bed
chamber, unknown to a faithless servant, who entered the
room with the intent of robbino- and murderins^ his mas-
ter, but who was seized on his entrance into the room by
the faithful Tray. At Dichley, the former seat of the earls
of Leicester, is a fine fiiU length portrait of Sir Henry and
his trusty dog. A knowledsre of this circumstance, no
doubt, led the General to that predilection for dogs, which
he ever manifested throuofh life, a circumstance remarked
as one of the eccentricities of his character.
The General's father was John Lee, of Dernhall. in
Chester count}^, some time a captain of dragoons, and
lieutenant-colonel in Colonel Barrel's regiment, from 1717
to 1742, when he was promoted to the command of a regi-
ment of foot. The General's mother was Isabella, second
daughter of Sir Henry Bunbury, of Stanney, in Cheshire,
and himself the youngest of three sons. His elder brothers
were named Thomas and Harry.
He may be properly called a' child of Mars, for he was
an office r, when eleven years old : hence it may be said
' ' ' TT
Strictly, that his education was a military one. He was
master of the Greek and Latin classics, well versed in the
Italian, Spanish, German, and French languages, and had
528 GLORY OF AMERICA.
assiduously explored the fiolds of general science. He had
travelled much his thirsl for knowledge was unqiiench-
able ; but his favourite study was war, a profession in
which, to distinguish himself, he concentrated his every
wish. In very early life, he commanded a company of
grenadiers in the 44th regiment, and was present at the
defeat of General Abercrombie, at Ticonderoga, v/hen he
received a shot through the body.
After the reduction of Montreal, he returned to England,
w4ien he found that a general peace was contemplated,
and that the cession of Canada was the general topic of
conversation ; an event which appeared prejudicial to the f
interest and glory of America, inasmuch as the appre-
hension of such a result gave uneasiness throughout the
continent. On this occasion, instead of the sword, Lee
wielded his pen, and produced a pamphlet, pointing out
the importance of that province to the Western Empire.
The production was popular among the Americans, and
drew from Dr. Franklin the following compliment, " that
it could not fail of making a salutary impression."
He bore the commission of a colonel in the year 1762,
in Portugal, under General Burgoyne. The Spaniards,
with the intention of invading that kingdom, had collected
an army on the confines of Estramadura, in order to pierce
the ])rovince of Alentejo. An advanced body of them lay
in Yalentia de Alcantara, a town on their frontiers. These
the Count la Lippe, the commander-in-chief of the Portu-
guese forces, formed a design to attack. General Bur-
goyne was intrusted with the enterprise. He surprised
the town, took the intended commander-in-chief of the in-
vasion, with a number of other officers, by which one of
the best regiments of Spain was in a great measure anni
hilated. Several skirmishes followed, and yet the army of
the Spaniards were masters of the country, and the posses-
sion of the passage of the Tagus was only wanting in or-
der to give them quarters in Alentejo.
A considerable, but detached camp of Spanish cavalry,
[rv near the village of Villa Velha. General Burgoyne
posted himself within their view, that he might obstruct
their passage. Discovering that the Spaniards had alike
CHA- I -ss LtiEi. 629
their front and rear uncovered, and that they were other-
Wise unguarded, he conceived a plan to surprise them, the
execution of which he committed to Colonel Lee. The
trust was rightly reposed, for Colonel Lee attacked their
rear on the night of the eighth of October, routed their
camp, dispersed the whole corps with considerable slaugh-
ter, destroyed their magazines, and returned with a very
trifling loss. The war being closed, he received, prior to
his retnrn to England, the thanks of his Lusitanian Ma-
jesty for his eminent services, and from Count la Lippe
the strongest recommendations to the British court. One
of the principal secretaries of state became his friend and
patron. Hence the brightest prospects of preferment la.y
before him; but his early attachment to the interests of the
American colonies, evinced in his writing's resfardins- the
Pondiac war, lost him the favour of the ministry. De-
spising a life of inactivity, he left his natal soil, and en-
tered mto the service of his Polish majesty, one of whose
aids he became. At this period, when the obnoxious Stamp
Act had passed, which threw all the colonies into a fer-
ment, no inconsiderable number of members of both
houses of parliament were the General's immediate cor-
respondents. With those of weight and influence he ex-
erted his reasoning faculties, and all the abilities of which
he was master, and not in vain. This atrocious act di-
vided almost all the European cabinets, either in favour
of the prerogative of the British crown, or in behalf of the
colonial assertion of rights. The British embassy at the
court of Vienna were composed of characters held high in
Lee's resrard and esteem : but the earnestness with which
he defended the cause of the American colonies, almost
induced him to break oft' all intercourse with them ; at
the same time he had the satisfaction to learn, that his
writinofs g-ained him many friends. Thus early did Lee
manifest his zeal against the arbitrary encroachments ot
Great Britain on the unalienable and natural rights of her
transatlantic subjects. His ramblins: spirit led him to
travel over all Europe, during the years 1771, 1772, and
the major part of 1773. His warmth of temper drew him
into several rencounters, amons: which was an aftair of
45
530 GLORY OF AMERICA.
honour with an officer in Italy. The contest was begun
with swords, when the General lost two of his lingers.
Recourse was then had to pistols. His adversary was
slain, and he was obliged to flee from the country, in order
that he misfht avoid "the unpleasant consequences Vv-hich
niicrht result from this unhappy transaction. ^
Dissatisiied with the political aspect of affairs in Eng-
land, he embarked at London, on the 16th of August,
1773, on board the packet for New- York, in which city
he arrived on the 10th of the following November. During
the passage he was attacked with a severe tit of the ^out.
He shortfy after bought a plantation in Berkely county,
Virofinia, through the advice of General Gates, who was
settled there. Here he remained until Jlay, 177.5. when
lie came to Philadelphia.
The Congress was then in session. His enlhusiasni in
favour of the rights of the Colonies was such, that, after
the battle of Lexington, he accepted a major-general's
commission in the American army, previous to which,
however, he resigned his commission in the British ser-
vice. This he did in a letter to Lord Yiscount Barring-
ton, tlie British secretary at war ; assuring his lordship,
that although he had renounced iiis half pay, yet, when-
ever it should please his Majesty to call him forth to any
honourable service against the hereditary enemies of his
countiT, or in defence of his just rights and dignit}', no
man would obey the righteous summons v\^ith more zeal
and alacrity than himself: at the same time, the General
expressed his disapprobation of the present measures, in
tiie most direct terms : declaring them to be " so absolutely
subversive of the rights and liberties of every individual
sucsject, so destructive to the whole empire at large, and
ultimately so ruinous to his Majesty's own person, dignity,
and family, that he thought himself obliged in conscience,
as a citizen, Encrlislmian, and a soldier of a free state, to
exert his utmost to defeat them."'
War had been his study from early youth. Having
seen much active service ; having distinguished himsell
for courage and abilities, m.any thought the service of the
colonies injured by his being superseded in rank 'ny Ge-
CHARLES LEE. 531
neral Ward of Massachusetts. He, however, exhibited no
symptoms of dissatisfaction at this preference. Having
received orders, he left Philadelphia, with General Wash-
ington, on the 21st of Jmie, and repaired to the American
army at Cambridge, in the vicinity of Boston. They
were escorted out of the city by a troop of horse, and all
the militia officers of the city and county, on horseback.
While on their journey they received the news of the con-
fhct at Breed's-liill, and reached head-quarters on the 2d
of Jul}:'. The arrival of the two generals was greeted
by the people with a cordial welcome, and every mani-
festation of esteem and respect was evinced on the occa-
sion. The provincial congress of Massachusetts prepared
two very gratifying addresses, one of which v.^as presented
to the Commander-in-chief, the other to General Lee,
thouofh the latter was not second in command on the list
of major-generals ; yet he was the only one, besides the
General in chief, v/ho was then distinguished after his
arrival at quarters, prior to the performance of some sig-
nal service. This mark of respect v/as given him on ac-
count of his high military and literary reputation, the
sacrifice he had made in throwing up his commission in
the British army, and the consequent risks he had to en-
counter in the untried scenes which lay before him.
General Lee remained vvath the army until the follow-
ing year, when General Washington, having been advised
of an expedition preparing at Boston for a southern desti-
nation, despa,tched Lee, with what volunteers he could
procure, to put New York in a posture of defence against
an expected attack. This was judged a matter of great
importance, as the possession of that city and the Hudson
river would lead to the command of the country, and open
a communication into Canada. As soon as he arrived,
he commenced with ardour the construction of the neces-