Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-18

no man more RESPECTS that gentleman than my
self) ,ha, colonel Henry Lee was trie1 by al
conr, martial. for his conduct relative 10 the
S,onv poin, desrfters This is mistake, he
was indeed tried by court marian IN regard 70
The ENTERPRISE against Powles HOOK. TX mao
no, the most remote reference 10 Inc case Oh
The deserfers. had the honor oil a snare I'D Inc
above affair, was a witness before the court,aha
NAV be IRE sumed 10 have had knowieosc OF
the material occurrences on that occasion. Inc
allegations, think, FIVE in number, orisiha'eu
in jealousy Of his rising fame, ana were uee'"'
ed by the court, unfounded and false. lie was
acquitted honora5!y, restored TO his comma"o'
and afterwards promoted 10 the rank OF Heu'.
col. Think YOU, Mr.. Editor, ;hat Tbs SAVIOUR
81, of csnsurc? This was the corps SO dis'ih-
cuished in The southern campaigns Lee came
out of lis mothers uomb soldier; ard was "a
moDe the most accomplished officers ot his
time. One o.her error rem 'ias 10 be corrected
and truth requires It's adjustment. The affair
Of the deserter has passed through So many
hands, and has lately been the subject Of so
many remarks, that it is not surprising chat
mistakes should have occurred. II has been
stated that G,neral Washington censured ne
FOR rot executing all the drserlcrs on the spot.
This IhGUe nerer sad. Colohri Lee visited the
infantry early on tho morning alter The eX"cu'
tor: the detac hmcnt was paradcd, and the sur
yiv!ng deser,ers, Wit. the head Of the decapi-
,a,cl man, were brought oul-Lee cpqnired
why lad not executed all on the spot, agreea-
b!y 10 my orders? replied, that motives o'
humanity mad induced me- to spare them' hat
knowing il was intended as an example, trust
| ed tina, the execution OF one would produce The
desired effect. Lee replied, with some warmth,
| that ii was a mistaken humanity. ing ny
| the remark, told him, that IL moie ucsrrters
should be taken BY me, ,here sHorlc he no cause
| of complaint Of hat kind again. 1t VII! be
merely necessary 10 state, that had d"itfmln
ed tha, one only should die; and tba, one was
| selected from the three by sergeant and two
corporals. The surviving deseriers, and The
bead, were SIN, 10 camp. Gy detachment oil
men, on the day after the execution, ard all
ways understood that the head was publicly ex'
j posed in view Of III, Whole army. The public
will now be able to d, eide. whether this act, IN
all its scenes, could have been done, without
the appreciation Of Washington, or whether II
is probable general Washington ever express
cd any disappr,balion cf salu!ary measur"
adopted by him 10 stop drseftion, 10 save the
army, ard 10 save the country.
kept a diary of all the transactions in which
| l
ledge, from the year WI 70 1880, which
possessed until ] was wounded and taken pri
/ soner in the hard-fought battle Of Camden. L
was lost in my baggage, and never recovered
In conclusion, will observe, that in l79l
being candidate for the Shcrih's Office il
the county Of Kent, my ratiye place, the case
of the Stony Point descrter was brought GU
againgt me in terrible array, by-my p"liti a
al, crsaries, and it was believed by them suffi
Gent TO defe2t my election. A plain 'ale pu
them down. I he circumstance was explained
ana although the opposition was most form!da
bic, yet | double Gjs.auced the 70 ciRost Of my
competitors. The good sense Of he people Of
III .aDo,y approved o. tie transaction. Dur
| ;ng tie canvass icr ne above ufice Genera
: " .yns, IN 4 conversation with distinguished
/ citizen ofthis county, told him, that if any cen
sure was attgibuiGd 70 ne, !; was hccause / had
/ no, executed all three Of The descr,ers agreea
Sly to my orders.
The editors oFDewspansr5 who have publish.
I'd remarks connected vita The case Of the Slo-
ny Point Gsscr'er, arc respectfully reque sted to
! give his an early insertion.
Very respectfully, yours
PHILIP REED.