Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-08-09
A Surprised General.

Engllsnman Dy Dlrtn, ana under the
half-pay of colonel in the British
army, he early took decided stand in
favor of the cause of the colonies. He
and Gates bought plantations in Vir-
ginia, and they Became neighbors of
Washington previous to the war. Be-
ing soldiers of experience. it was the
chief cause of Washington's recomenda-
tion of them to Congress as general
officers, at the time he received his own
commission. Lee was made major-gen-
eral and Gates adjutant-general.
Lee had served in Portugal with
Burgoyne, and participated with him
in the several engagements on the
frontiers Of Spain, particularly at the
surprise of fAlcantara. He was as brave
as he was eccentric, and in some cases
his eccentricity bordered upon super
stition. He never had less than three
dogs about him, for he was very fond
of those faithful animals. Whenever
be rode out on review days he was al
ways preceded by these four-footed
avant-coureurs and it came finally to
be a jocular saying among the officers,
"Lee is coming for here are his aids-de-
camp" His attachment to dogs is said
to have arisen from the fact of noble
wolf-hound's having saved the life of
an ancestor, Sir Henry Lee of Ditchley,
from the hand of midnight assassin.
Lee was warm in his attachments and
bitter in his hatred. At times he was
jocular and droll in the extreme then
again he was morose and short to his
best friends. He was generous to a
fault, as his favorite aid-de-camp, Ma
jor Edwards, long afterwards told me.
All that it required to get along with
Lee was to know the nature and habits
of the man.
In December, 1776, Washington was
in the neighborhood of the Delaware,
and Lee was in command lear Hacken-
sack. Washington ordered Lee to join
the army as quickly as possible: but
the latter general, from unaccountable
reasons, delayed to appear at head
quarters. Perhaps l can explain lit
tie the reason, although it may seem
Scdndalum magn0tum.
| 1t is generally supposed that Lee was
a woman-hater. In regard to the gen.
eral society of women, he was indiffer-
ent; nor was he favorite of them, for
he was not very particular about his
language.
While in command in New Jersey he
had formed an attachment or kdiSon
with the daughter of an inn-keeper !;
and the possession of man standing so
high as Gen. Lee was to the simple girl
like being elevated to throne. To
speak plainly, she became his mistress.
Like Samson reposlng in the arms of
Delilah, he forgot the order of his COM
mander, and sacrificed to pleasure du-
ties that required his presence else
where.
Washington became somewhat irrita-
ted at his non-appearance. for Lord
CORVALLIS was advancing, and he need
ed all aid and assistance. l was dis
patched from headquarters with small
escort, bearing message in writing to
Gen. Lee for his instant advance with
out any further delay whatever.
The great difficulty was to find the
whereabouts of Lee. 1t was known he
had commenced his march, but what
road he had taken was uncertain. II
was morning when we left camp-a bit
ter cold day in December and an icy
sleet falling.
To avoid the enemy we took circui-
tous by-roads, and about noon we reach.
ed small farmhouse on the border OF
Morris county. Chilled and hungry, !
ordered halt, for the purpose of warm
ing ourselves, eating something, and
feeding our horses. We found the in.
mates of the farmhouse taking their
own meal, in the large old-fashioned
kitchen, in the fireplace of which a no.
BILE fire was blazing.
We were received with cordiality
and the seven of US were invited to par.
take of their meal, most of the farmers
family rising from the table to give US
room. This, however, declined-fol
we had brought our provisions with us
asking permission only to warm our
selves for little while, and eat our owl
meal by the fire, and to bait our horses
All was granted instantly. Two o.
three huge pitchers of cider were placed
before US. and one of the farmers sons
went out to feed our horses.
"You belong to the right cause, l SEE
by your uniform, said the farmer.
IL hope so," | answered for | dit
not like to be to communicative, as tha
part of Jersey was thought to be rathe
attached to the tory cause. He seem
ed to divine my meaning, for he said
"l have two sons in the army, Colone
Ogdens regiment. Here l have to re
main neutral to save my dwelling ant