Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-12-22

| is drawn up with such skill and plauSblitv
that it is difficult to resist the conviction of
deep injustice on the part of his opponents.
But the weight of argument on the other side
is, unfortunately for the general, quite irresis
tible. Washington was not an unjust man
| and Washington declared that Lee had dis
tinctly dsobeyed his orders, and nearly caused
/ on irreparable disaster to the American cause
Congress was not disposed to commit a de-
lberate wrong, md one which would deprive
the Revolution of a great military leader, who
| had done good service and was capable Of
more But Cong egs ratified the action of
the Court Martial which suspended his com
mission aud banshed him from the contest. 1t
is impossible to believe that this deliberate ac-
ton on the part of the General, his officers,
and the representatives of the colony, was the
cruel wrong which Lee declared it to be--and
history has given her decision against him.
The charge of treachery has been elabOratey
urged by later writers but whether the act
of Lee was treason or mere bluudrr it is not
necessary here to examine.
II retired in high dudgeon to his estate in
Berkeley County, Virginia. The property
had been bought some years before, at the
suggestion OF General GateS-aud Que Of the
singular incidents connected with the lives o
these two men, is the fact that both were dis
graced and come to live within few miles of
each other Lee occupied small stone house
near the preselt village of Leetown command
ing fine landscape terminating in azure noun
taIns. Many stories are told of his eccentrici-
ties, which have been often repeated. The house
was divided by imaginary lines into kitchen,
selting-room, a chambeT etc, and in this
chccress abode the soldier lived surrounded
by his books his dogs, and his servants, among
whom was an Italian named Guisepp Ming
hini. whose dcccndents still reside in the neig h.
borhood. Tie house of Gates, | haze said
called "TravelIer's Rest was only a few
miles distant, aud thther Lee often went, no
doubt to compare bitter notes upon the re.
spective incidents Of their careers. Gates had
writtcn to him long before, Inviting him to
visit Travellers II st, " where good bed is
provided for you, two or three slaves to supply
all your wants and whimSes and space enough
about rs for you TO exercise away all your
spleen and gloomy mooGS, whenSoyever they
distress you" lIrS Gates joined in the re
quest bat whether that lady aud the cynical
soldier agreed very we'll is doubtful. Local
tradition declares that she WAS too foud Of
an extra glass Of wine :" woaid quarrel With
her husband and that Oh an occasion Of this
description, when she appealed to Lee for his
opinion of herself, he replied, lad0m, VoU
are tragedy IN priU1ts life, and n farce 10 all
The lrorLdm ~ 4 more bitter piece OF wit could
scarcely be found in JuAlus. Another cX.
hib;tion Of Lees malryo!ent sarcasm may be
found in a correspondence with gentleman
Of South Carolina, who had supported his dis
m>sll from the aray Until very lately,
he writes 81 was taught to consider you only
as a fantastic, pompou<, dru@atlS Pfrsona, q
mere J0lcoil1. never to be spoken Of or thought
Of bat for the sake Of laughter and when the
humOr for laughter SUbsided, never to be
spoken Of or thought of more. But ] find
that am mistaken | fnI that You are as
malignant a scouudrel, as you are universally
allowed to he a ridiculous and disgusting cox
comb" Weary Of the SamencSs and tedInm
of his life in the country, he busted himself
with his celebrated "Queres, Political and
Military" which contained bitter attact mp
on Washington. They were published in Bal
timore but the indignation which they oc
caSioued soon subSjded iuto contempt. The
hero was above the shaft Of his foe, and Lee
saw himself consigned forever 10 what was
worse than hatred-iudiTcrcnc Finally he
grew tired of his m0not0nouS life-of his dogs,
whom, according to tradition, he had blaSphe-
mou,Iy named after the Holy Trinity and the
twelve ApoStIes-0f his books, his hunting,
and the motoness mountain rampant which
greeted him daily as lie went to his front door
He repaired to Philadelphia and taking Iodg-
Ings at an inn in Market street, which bore
the sign Of the "Convestigoe Wagon" was
there seized with chilis, which Terminated in Il
violent fever. He expired on the % Of De-
tober, 1882, eHc'aining as has been said, in
bis dying moments, Stand by me, my brave
grenadierS !"
Thus died a remarkable man. whose name
will always be remembered for its connection
with the great Revolution. His character
was composed of fierce and inpetuous eIe-
mens aud the pages of the volume from
which manv of these details are taken, present
a vivid picture of the individual. The first
point ] shall notice is the evidence here pre-
Scnted that Lee was no mere vulgar adven-
turer, military gladiator or free lance sprung
from the dregs of society and without social
rank or family He was distinctly enc of the
English gentry, and probably connected with
more than one Of the nobility. This might
be deduced froG the tone Of his varionS
writings, public and private which are those
of ii man conscious of social position. He
writes to a lady from Wa"raw: To speak
proudly, do not see why the declaration of
my passion should so heinously of, nd you. |
am born of reputable family, my character
hope is fair one and as my fortune is
sufficiently ample to make an honest man in,
dependent, and an honest woman content, |
cannot see the mighty crime in wishing to unite
your fortune with mine" The Earl Of Penn
broke signs himself your most afectionate
friend and humble servant" Edmund Burke
writes. 1t was extremely kind in yoa to re-
member your friends in our dull, worn-out
hemisphere" and the leading men of America