American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-11-03


With great regard, | am. dear sir. faithfully,
yours, II. LEE.
Washington, 10Th August, 1926.
MONTICELLO. May 10. 1896.
Dear Sir: The sentiments Of justice which have
dictated your letters OF the Sd and 9th inst. are wor
thy OF all praise, and merit and meet my thankful
acknowledgements. Were your father now living,
and proposing as you are to publish second edition
of his memoirs. am satisfied, he would give very
different aspect to the pages OF that work, which
respect Arnod's invasion and surprise OF Rich.
mond, in the winter Of l790-ol. He was then,
believe. in South Carolina, too distant from the
scene OF these ansactions, to relate them on his
own know edge. or even to sft them from the chat
: ;umors then shoat; rnmors, which vanished
soon before The real truth, vapors before the sun
onllterated, by heir notorIety from every candid
mnd and by the voice OF the many. who, as actors
or spectators. knew what had truly passed. The
acts shall speak for themselves.
Gene al Washington had just given notice to all
the Cove the sea-board, North and South,
that an emharkBiion was taking place at New York,
destined for the tSouthUard, as Was girgn out there,
and on Sunday, the slst Of December, 1880, we
received information that Rect had entered our
Capes it happened, fortunately. that our iegsla
ture was at that moment in session, an6 within
days oi their rising So that during these 2 days,
VIC had the benefit of their presence, and OF the
! counsel and information OF the members, indvidu.
ally. On Monday, the 1st of January, we were in
suspense, as to the destination OF this fleet, whether
up the bay or up our river. On Tuesday, at 10 o.
clock however, We received information that they
had entered the James river; and on general ad-
vice. Instantly prepared orders for calling in the
militia, one half from the nearer counties, and a
fourth from the more remote which would cons,
tue a force OF between four and FIVE thousand men
of which orders the members of the Legislature,
which adjourned that day, took chsrge, each to his
respective county. and we began the removal OF ey.
cry thing from Richmond. The wind being fair and
strong, the enemy ascended the river as rapidly as
the expresses could ride, who were despatched to US
from time to time TO notify their progress At P.
M. on Thursday, we learnt thai they had then been
three hours landed at Westover The whole Mill
tia of the adjacent counties now called or, and
to come on, individually, without waiting any regu-
lar array. At P, M the next day, (Friday,) they
entered Richmond. aud Satu,d day. alter "a hours
possession, burning some houses, destroying proper
ty, &c. they retreated encamped that evening 10
miles below and reached their shipping, al Westo.
yer, the next day, Sunday
BY this time had assembled three hundred Militia
under Col. Nicholas 6 miles above Westover, and
two hundred under General Nelson, at Charles city
Court. house, miles below two or three hundred
a, Petersburg, had put themselves under General
Smallwood Of Maryland accidentally there on bis
passage through the State; end Baron Steuben with
eight hundred, and Col Gibson with one thousand,
were also on the South side Of James river aiming
TO reach Hoods before the enemy should have pass
ed il; where they hoped they could arrest them
Blu, the wind having shifted, carried them down as
prospercasly as i, had brought them up the river.
Within the first figc days, therefore, about 2500
uen had collected a, three four different points
ready for junction.
was absent myself from Richmond, but always
within observing distance of the enemy three days
only during which was never off my horse but
to take food or res, and was every where, where
my presence could be of any service; and may
with confidence challenge any to put his finger
on the point of time when was in q state of re,
missness from any duty of my station--But, was
not with the army True, for Isl where was II :
! Cd. | was engaged in the important functions
OF taking measures to collect army; and without
military education myself instead Of jeopaFdlsing
the public safety by pretending to take IFS com
mand. Of which knew nothing had committed
/ that to persons of the art, men who knew how to
make the best use of it TO Steuben tor instance to
Nelson and others, possessing that military skill and
experience OF which had none.
Let our condition too, al that time be duly con.
siterrd without arms, without money of effect,
without regular soldier in the state, a regular
officer except Struben, militia scattered over the
country and called at momens's warning 10 leave