The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-10-24
Revolutionary Men-Remiaiscen


Revolutionary Men-Remiaiscenee
A correspondent OF the Petersburg
Express, writing from near Leetown in
Jefferson county, W. Va, sends that
paper an interesting letter about Revo-
lutionary men and "reminiscences, from
which the following is extracted:
In the immediste vicinity OF the spot
from which l address you these lines,
are the dilapidated and antique resi-.
dences of three distinguished Major
Generals of the American Revolution.
Within a radius OF one mile and half
lived, long aud weary years, Charles Lee
the sinister hero OF Monmouth; Horatio
Gates, the loser of the battle OF Camden
aod the Southern campaign; and Adam
Stephen, the early friend of Washing
ton. In this village-under the shadows
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, their
swords in motl -eaten scabbards, no
more to be drawn. Here, if | mistake
not, two of them died, and soon even
the lingering memorials OF them will
crumble and disappear, as their figures
ere fading from the general mind.
Lees house is hundred PAGES from
the little sssemblage OF houses called
by his nape, and is an oblong building
OF stone. with chimneYs at each end
and midway, low, with q rude porch,
depending, as it were, about the rough
door, aud with few out houses. Gates
lived somewhat further from the town.
in a plain, undecorated building and
Stephen occupied mansion probably
built by the earliest pioneer OF the val
ley, in which everything is small and
confined but the Fireplace. But that is
neither small nor confined. ltisg grand
enormous. Around it how many good
companions must have gathered in the
olden day, and what sounds Of revelry
shook the ratters overhead You may
read Of Adam Stephen in Sparkes edl-
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 VIM
chester when the Indians ravaged the
valley hundred ysars ago, was Lieu
tenant Stephen. 4 large landed pro.
prietor hereabopts, he doubtless resent
ed the trespass OF the Indians upon his
grounds, stretching towards the foot OF
the great North Moantains-at least,
we know that he did good service. He
Was afterwards an effective officer in
the Revolutionary struggle, but lett the
army about the period of the battle OF
Princeton, disgusted at something or
other-aud so came home. and lived
and died.
OF Gates and Lee, more is known;
the story OF the woeul quarrel OF the
latter with Washington at Monmouth,
YOU may read in full in the recently
| published third volume Of Irviugs great
work /. is probable that history will
| finally show that Lee WAS not so much
in the wrong as the world supposes.
That he made blunder in ordering
his forces 10 retreat-and that this re-
treat very nearly turned all the plans Of
Washington. and lost US the battle
this ia certain. But it was probably an
error of judgment, not want o. cour.
age. In LeuiZ's great picture. he sits
upon his horse sullenly before the
Chief, whose hot anger flames out-all
that he did and said afterwards was sui.
len too, unfortunately. High words
Indignant Observation-Disclosures
cold and hsughty-Lee raging then a
court neutrality-suspicious. for year
Snd Lee, in utter disgust, threw up his
commission, and came hther ITO hoe
tohsCco-that being the bes; school for
q General he said, with a sneer at
Washington. And here in this poor
spd obscure dwelling, as | have said
rusted out the sharp spirit OF Lee, and
Tell into dust and oblivion. With few
neighbors-no friends; surrounded by
hounds ard horses, and making the
chase his only occupation, nearl y thus
lived the General and died. One day,
love afterwards, save q tradition of the
neigh borhood, Washington sent his old
adversary note, saying that he would
cSll on certain morning and see him
that he hoped all past contention and
bitterness had been forgotten-he WAS
coming TO see him So an old comrade
in arms-as friend.
On the dav fixed for the visit, Lee
sent away all bis serVants-plsced upon
the locked front door 9 paper with No
meat cooked here to-day" written
thereon-and then followed his SER
wants, leaving Washington to knock in
vain. He never returned, and with the
passing years the:eccentric soldier grew
more remose snd repelling. The ground
floor OF his house was divided by chalk
lines merely, forming thus four compsrt.
ments In the first he kept his books
in the second wss his bed-his sad-
dies and hunting gear in the third; the
fourth was used Tor q 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 m,santhropy at last, he commenc.
ed his Queries, 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 fed to othsr realms. His
last words were: Stand by me, my
brave sreuadiers" and so he ended.
a word now OF the third OF nv triad
Of warriors. Horatio Gates came to
the old house yonder after Camden. 1t
was the Gates who had taken Burgoyne,
and whose popularity at one time over
shaddowe3 Wsshington's. But now,
| ola Ln-u EnlunI LAa.l II