Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-10-02
EVENING STAR.
Interesting Letter from Benjamin Franklin
to Major General Charles Lee.

" hajoT y euerdl CnarleS Lee
The following is copy Of letter sent bv
Benjamin Franklin to Major General Charlie
Lee, who, at oDs time, was one of the nos,
popular and energetic officers in the armv =,
the Revolution. The letter was written Il
will be seen, some six months before the Dec.
laration of Independence II is copied from
a Life OF Lee now nearly out Of print Ii
will be seen that the great philosopher and
statesman had some peculiar notions about
the mode Of conducting a war, and the mode
of equipping troops in those days The letter
is an interesting one, and can be read with
improvement to all classes of citizens:
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. Ilth, I776.
Dear Sur: The bearer, Mons Arundel, is
directed by the Congress to repair to General
Schuyler, in order to be employed by him in
the Artillery service. He proposes to wait on
you in his way, and has requested me to in
troduce him by line TO you. He has been
an officer in the French service, as you will
see by his commissions and protesting a good
will to our cause, hope he may be useful in
lnstructlng cur gunners and mattresses; per-
haps he may advise in opening the nailed
cannon.
received the enclosed, the oths day, from
an officer, Mr. Newlsnd, who served in the
TWO last wars, and was known by General
Gates, who spoke well of him to me when /
was at Cambridge. He is desirous now of en-
eSiiHS iHbO ytGE etIFlC6- L nave aIVlSe1 him
to wait upon you at New York.
They still talk big in England, and threaten
hard; but their language is somew what ciyiler,
aileast, not quite so disrespectful to us. BY
degrees they come to their senses, but too
late, l fancy, for their interest.
We have got large quantity of salt-petre,
one hundred and twenty tons, and thirty more
expected. Powder mills are now wanting; |
believe we must set to work and make il by
hand Rrt II ctin ricb mil IL
could be introduced, and would add, bows
and arrows; these were good weapons, not
wisely laid aside:
1st. Because a man may shoot as truly with
a bow as with a common musket.
2d. lie can discharge four arrows in the
time of charging and di8charging one bullet
3D.. His object is not taken from his view by
the smoke of his own side.
4th A flight CT arrows seen coming upon
them, terrifes and disturbs the ensmies' at
tention to business
5th. An arrow striking in any part of a man
puts him horS dH combat till it is extracted.
9th. Bows and arrows are more essily pro-
vided every where than muskets and ammu-
dition.
Polydore Virgil, speaking of one of our bat
ties against the French in Edward the Third q
reign, mentions the great confusion the enemy
was thrown into, SaglttarHns nnbe, from the
English and concludes, Est re, pro fecto dietn
Dtlra5ikes, ut t1ntuS poteRs eIercitus a
soils fere Angi1cts sagIttaruS VietWS fusrit /;
adsO AHgtus est Sagttti yOtsns, ct I'd ,gsn.ss
arm0runl vatet. Ii so much execution was
done By arrows when men wore some defen-
siye armor, how much more might be done
now that it is out of use?
am glad you are come to New York, but
also wish you could be in Canada Th ere is
a kind of suspense in mems minds here at
present, waiting to see what terms will be Of
fered from England. 1 expect none that we
can accept; and when that is generally seen,
wo shall be more unanimous and more deci-
sive; then your proposed solemn league and
covenant will go better down, and perhaps
most of your other strong measures adopted.
l am always glad to hear from you, but 1
do not deserve your favors, being so bad a
My eyes will now hardly
serve me to write by night, and these shoit
days have been all taken up by such variety
Of business that I seldom can sit down ten
minutes without interruption God give you
success.
1 am, with the greatest esteem, yours az
fectiOnately, b. FRANKLIN.
Major Gen. LEE.