The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-21
The Hessians.

AN
|. y RICHARD HENRY LEE. 4,,s'.t
A Boston paper has been shown the original
OF letter written from Baltimore something
more than-a hundred years ago BY Richard
Henry Zee, and addressed TO 20 Honorable
John Page, ESQ. at Williamsburg, Va. /"
The letter is clearly written and very well
preserved. 1t has both personal and his
toric interest, and is so imbued with the in
domitable spirit OF the times that we are
persuaded that our readers will be glad to
have the following copy OF it:
BALTIMORE, I'd January, 177-.-Dear
Sir,--By the express lately sent from hence
enclosed you both the printed accounts
that we have had of the Generals success
against the enemy in New Jersey. Colonel
Boyton, who brought lis the Generals let
ter, says that party OF Hessians more was
brought in just as he came away, which
makes the number Of prisoners between
1000 and 1,100. Rcinforcements are daily
going up and in such numbers that the
General intends to push the enemy, and we
hope successfully, out OF the Jerseys. The
Hessan officers in general behaved infa-
mously in this battle, and the British light
horse, with the Tories that were in town,
scampered off at the beginning of the en-
gagement. A few days before this attack
flag was sent over to Trenton to this
! Colonel Roll, now prisoner. He
received and treated the officer kind
ly, asked him il twas not reported
that the Hessians plundered much,
and that they were the only pluE derers.
| The officer answering in the affirmative,
Colonel Rohl replied that the English had
! address enough to have it so believed, but
that it was notorious that the British officers
and soldiers plundered more than the Hes
slams. Two British officers present denied
! it not Soon after this 1000 Hessians that
were at Bordentown, below Trenton, on
| Delaware, marched off, having previously
| sent away 100 wagons loaded with plumber
directly toward New York. III the Hessians
are the smallest plunderers, what are the
British? In truth we hear THAT the people
are cnraged to great degree at the
brutal treatment they have met with. Our
worthy friend, General Lee, has re-
tired to house but a little way from
his army land by the advice Of man
! who lived in the parts, and who affected
great resentment at the elIemy's condutD to
write few letters to General Gates and
others ON business of consequence, when
the villain who had brought him there went
privately express to the enemy and brought
Jlp the light horse, seventy Of them, who
made the General prisoner, carryingihim of
with0ut his hat. They had travelled very
last, their horses being'in q foam when they
arrived at the house. This is certainly a
l!hessy loss to the American cause, but still
it pests on ground'too strong to be shaken.
You say 1t is reported that my letters have
given up all for lost. You may rely upon it,
Sir, that this is false. j have related things
truly as they were, and whilst Pennsylvania
was in lethargy, supposed, as our General
vwgs without an army, that Philadelphia
might fall; but always subjoined that
Though this might hurt, the loss OF ten such
| cities would not ruin the American cause,
and called upon my correspondents to re-
member that at the beginning OF this
quarrel we told our enemies that we knew
they could take our cities land our
>sea-coast, but that still enough would
I be left to secure American freedom. These
have been my sentiments, and, therefore,
you see how grosslyI have been misrepre-
sentaa. But the treatment have received
this way from some mean-spirited, dirty,
.envious wretches, has been frequent and
gross. My contempt for these folks is
1 abundantly greater than I can express. L
.amperfectly satisfied that these little mali
.cioiis iiics will make no impressions on you
! or any sensible, yirtuous man, and. the rest
i may think Of me as they please. love their
/ ill-opinion, but should be miserable under
4 their esteem. ,-:e... c =.
/ The King OF Spain has certainly given us
1 free use of his ports for our ships OF all
kinds, including prizes. And eyeryWlcked
art, even lies OF the British ambassador at
.the'court OF France, cannot prevent them
from assisting us.
Farewell, dear sir; encourage the, enlist
ang business, because with our new army
American ifreedom and independence will
sae secure. RICHARD HENRY LEE.