The Placer herald., 1857-01-24
Revolutionary men.

iniscences, from which we make the follow
inc extract:
In the immediate vicinity of the spot
from which address you these lines are the
diapidated and antique residences of three
distinguished Major Generals of the Ameri-
can Revolution, Within radius of one
mile and half lived long and weary years,
Charles Lee, the sinister hero of Monmouth;
Uoratio Gates, the loser Of the battle of
Camden and the southern campaign; and
Adam Stephens, the early friend Of Wash
ington. In this little village, on whose
golden forests am gazing under the shad-
ows of the great woods here, remote from
camps and the flashing world, these three
warriors rusted out the remainder of their
lives in inglorious repose, the swords in moth
eaten scabbards, no more to be drawn.
Here, if mistake not, two Of them died,
and soon even these lingering memorials of
them will crumble and disappear, as their
figures are fading from the general mind.
Lees house is a hundred PAGES from the
little assembage of houses called by his
name, and is an obong building of stone,
with chimneys at each end and midway
low with a rude porch, deepening, as it were,
above the rough door, and with few out
houses. Gates lived somewhat further from
the town, in plain, undecorated building;
and Stephen occupied a mansion, probably
built by the earliest pioneers of the valley,
in which everything is confined and small but
the fire place. But that is neither small or
confined; it is grand-enomous Around
it how many good companions must have
gathered in the olden day, and what sounds
of revery shook the ratters overhead! You
may read of Adam Stephen in Sparks edi-
ton Of the Writings Of Washington, and
there YOU will find that, among the hardy
gentlemen who stood shoulder to shoulder
with the Young chief at Winchester, when
the Indians rayaged the valleys a hundred
years ago was Lieutenant Stephen. A large
landed proprietor here-abouts, he doubtless
resented the trespass of the Indians upon
his grounds, stretching toward the foot Of the
great North Mountain-at least we know
that he did good service. He was afterwards
an effective officer of the revolutionary strug-
ole but left the army about the period of
the battle of Princeton, disgusted at some
thing or other-and SO came hther and
lived and died.
OF Gates and Lee more is known. The story
of the wotuI quarrel oftho latter with Wash
ington, at Monmouth, you may read in full
in the recently published third volumne of
Irvng's great work. 1t is probable that
history will finally show that Lee was not
so much in The wrong as the world supposes.
That he made a blunder in ordering re-
trcat-and that this retreat very nearly ruined
all the plans of Washington, and lost us the
battle-this is certain. but it WAS probably
an error of judgement--not a want of cour-
age. In Leutze's great picture he sits his
horse sullcnly before the chief whose hot
anger flames out. All that he did and said
afterwards was sullcn too, unfortunately
High words--indignan correspondence
Washington cold and haughty-Lee raging;
then court martal-suspension for a year,
and Lee, in utter disgust threw up his
commission, aud came hither "to hoe tobac-
co-that being the best school for a general"
he said, with sneer at Washington. And
here in this poor and obscure dwelling, as |
have said, rusted out the sharp spirit of Lee
and fell into dust and oblivion. With few
neghbors, no friends, SURROUNDED by hounds
and horses, and making the chase his only
occupation nearly-thus lived the General,
and died One day, long afterwards, says a
tradition of the eighborhood Washington
sent his old adversary note, saying that he
would call on certain morning, and see
him-that he hoped all past contention and
bitterness had been forgotten-he was com
inc to see him as an old comrade in arms
as friend
On the day fixed for the visit, Lee sent
away all his servants placedupon the locked
front door a paper with "No meat cooked
here to day." written thereon, and then fol-
lowed his servants, leaving Washington to
knock in vain. He never returned and,
with the passing year, the eccentric soldier
grew more morose and repelling. The
ground floor Of his house was divided by
chalk lines merely, forming thus four com
parments. In the first he kept his books;
in the second was his bed; his saddle and
hunting gear in the third; the fourth was
used for kitchen. He could thus sit in
one spot, he said, with grim humor, and
overlook his entire household, Tired of his
dogs and his silent misanthropy at last, he
commenced his "Queries, Political and Mill
tary,' an attack on Washington; but the
world declined listening to him; and then,
tired of life, the cynical spirit, of Charles Lee
fled to other realms His last words were:
"Stand by me, my brave grenadiers" and
SO he ended.
A word now of tho third one OF my
triad of warriors Horatio Gates came tc
the old house yonder after Camden. II
was the Gates who had taken Burgoyne, and
whose popularity at one time overshadowet
Washington's. But now, alas how fallen
The breath of an indignant public opinion
had blasted him; and his laurels we're al
scared and withered. He had lost tn
battle of Camden-had been disposed from
the command of the army Of the south t.
make way for Greene-over his head Lowered
heavy cloud Of public execration almost