Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-08-14
"oUR COUNTRY but Wrong Our County"

Of Irving's great work. It is probable that
history will finally show that Lee was not 70
much in the wrong as the world suppOses.-
That he made n blundcr in ordering his forces
to retrcat-and that this retreat very nearly
ruined all the plans Of Washington, and lost
the battle-this is certain; but it was proba-
bly, an error Of judgment-nOt . want Of
courage. In Ieutzs great picture he sits his
horse Sullcnly before the chief, whose hot an
ger flames on. All that he did and said after
wards was sullen, too unfortunately. High
wOrds-indignantc correspondence ashing-
ton cold and haughty-Lce raging, then a
a rt-martial-suSpcnsiOn for year-and
Lee, in utter disgust, threw up his commits
sion, and came hithcr to "hoe tobacco, that
being the best school for genera, he said
with sIccr at Washington. And here in
.his poor and obScuEc dwelling, as have SAT-,
rustcd out the sharp spirit of Lee, and fell
into dust and oblivion. With few neighbors
no fricnds--surounded by hounds and
horses, aud making the chase the only occu-
patton, ncarly-thus lived the General and
died. One day long afterwards, says tradi-
ton Of the ncighbOrhOod, Washington sent
his old adversary note, saying that he would
call on a certain morning, and see him-that
he hoped all past contention and bitterness
had been forgottcn-hc was coming to sec
his old companion in arms-as friend.
On the day fixed for the visit, Lee sent
away all his servants, placed upon 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. lie never returned and with
the passing year, the eccentric soldier grew
more morOse and rcpelling. The ground floor
of his house was divided by chalk lines mere
ly, forming thus four compartments. In the
first he kept his books; in the second was his
bed his saddles and hunting gear in the
third the fourth was used rs kitchen. IIc
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 "Qucries, Political
and Military" 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 rcms. Ills last words were
stand by me, my brave grcnadiers "and so
he ended.
a word now of tho third one Of my triad OF
warriors. lloratio Gates came to the old
house yondcr at Camden. 1t was the Gates
who had taken Burgoync, and whose popular.
ity ut one tiIno ovcrshadOwed Washington's
But now, alas how fallen! The breath of an
indignant public opinion had blasted him, and
his laurcls were all scared and withercd. liz
had lost the battle Of Camden-had been dc
posed from the command Of the army of tht
South, - make way for Greene; over his head
lowered a heavy cloud Of public cXGcratior
almost, and Congress, it was said, had pre-
pared its thundcrboltS to strike him. But tho
bolt never fell. The sad soldiers sorrow was
respected. They left him to die in pcac,
herc--cnough punishment that the magniti
cent drama of the Revolution was played out
indcpcncnt Of one who had enacted so splen
did a part in its earlier acts.