Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-08-15
MAJOR GENERAL CuAs. LEE.
How He Insulted Washington and Lived
in Retirement-His Home.

| i'm Retirement-Hls Home.
| Written for the Sunday Register.
The subject of this article was a peculiar,
naughty, intelligent man. He could har-
Dor an insult with all the bitterness Of hui
man nature, and to show that this Is no
mere assertion, let leaf from history ten
the tale.
In the spring of ITS Washington and
the American army were encamped at Val
ley Forge. The severe winter had made
the stay in winter quarters one OF dire sui
fering and privation. The severe criticism
of Washington's "Fabian slOwness" in not
attacking the enemy, had inspired the
| Commander-in-C Chief to determine that the
enemies from abroad and those also at
home should no longer have Oc-
casion TO place the slow progress OF the
American army at his door, He manifested
an earnest intent to attack the ked COalS'
Gen. Howe, at his own request, was re-
called by the British government, ana DIT
Henry Clinton, n brave, sagaclous, ana
stubborn officer appointed In ms stead
He was ordered to concentrate all his forces
at New York, which he Immediately SET
about doing. Washington suspected
| Clinton would march for Philadelphia,
and in order to guard against such emer-
rency detached 1000 men under La
| Fayette to cover the country between the
Delaware and Schulykill river.
Shortly afterwards, while holding q
council of war, Washington received inior-
nation of the march OF Clinton towards
Philadelphia. He Immediately crossed
over to Hopewell, and convened council
of war to discuss the best mode of attack
ing the enemy. The council was divided,
| i'm its opinion. Gen. Lee and others OPP
posed a direct attack, tavOrlnS the plan oil
| harrasSing the enemy upon flank ana rear
But Washington followed his own Juug-
mcnt, and sent forward 1000 men 10
make an attack, while the main body
remained behind, ready to support the adj
vance, Unnecessary. The command OF tins
force was given to Lafayette and wayne,
and Gen. Lee, who occupied the next rank
tn ten. Washington, was ordered to JON
these generals, with two batallionS. Clln-
ton perceived the threatening movement oil
the Americans, and placed his baggage
train in front and his best men to the rear,
and with his army thus arranged, camped
pcar Monmouth Court HOuSe-ln very
strong position. Early on the morning
of June -, the lighthouses OF Lafayette
attacked the British, who whlrled, under
the command of Clinton ana C0rnwalllS,
and made Il furious charge. Lafayette
fell back. Gen. Lee advancing with o,WO
men, seeing Lafayette rctreatlnS, also leil
back, continuing the retreat until the adj
vance guards of the main army were met:
Washington was greatly surprised and
mortified at the uncalled-tOr retreat, and
with much warmth, Indignantly addressed
Lee ordering him to rally his troops anu
bring them into action Immediate
| w. This Lee promptly did, anu
succeeded in Offering powerful
check 10 the advancing enemy untll
the main body came up. lee was greatly
irritatrd by the rcprimand OF washington.
Ills naughty pride WAS touched, and the
next day h. addressed two very offensive
letters TO the COmmandcr-in-C Chief, de-
manding satisfaction lie was immediate
IL arrested, charged with diSobedicnce OF
odd rs, miSbchaviOT before the enemy ana
diSreSp2ct To the COmmandcr-in-Chlci. lie
waS found guilty OF all the charges and dis
missed from the army for year. lie never
allcrwurd ttturnGd to IT,
This much is an intrOducliun, Gen.
Lee lived some nine miles from the present
Nartinslurg, w Va. Lcctown was named
after him Shortly after the event re-
fcrrrd to above, Washington, who seldom
bore malice, in order to rc-introducc Gen.
Lee into active life, wrote to him to the
effect that al certain day he would call
and dine with hlIn. So, when the time
set arrived, Washington, attended by his
servants. drew up il front Of Lees lione.
Everything about the place was
uuirt The doors were closed and
locked. 4 piece of paper was
tackled upon the front door, upon
which was inscribed in Lees handwriting:
u'Np bread or bacon here to-day Wash
ington was i.i.Lly ip9pltcd, and never
again attempted u reconciliation. i@." the
same evening. Lee came home with ms
dos, and often, afterwards, laughed at his
contomptGqHs treatment OF George Wash
ingtoh.
/ have time and again heard 1t SAID by
Old persons, that Lee was 4 peculiar man-
moi ONLY in his habits but in his surround
ingS lie feared neither God, man, nor
devil.
The faith that clcvatcS the just
kfnr anil when thGy die
never entered his heart. He WAS mis-
cradle man, living alone with 4 hired
woman and an assistant. He spent his
days in sleep or in roaming over the hills
and through the dark forests, following
his fleet footed hounds. His three dogs
were named Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
His residence contained but one large
room. This was divided into three apart
nights, pqtlor, kitchen and dog kennel, by
means of three chalk linG5 on t4e smooth
floor.
While examining some old data in the
County Clerks office, of Berkeley county
recently, came across the old English
book in which WAS rccordeda copy Of Gen.
Lees will give one Of the strange pro
viSioaS, which shows the nature OF the
man:
81 desire most earnestly that | may not
be buried in any church orchurch yard, or,
within mile of any Presbyterian, or amy
Baptist meeting house. For since have
resided in this country ! have kept
50 much bad company when living,
that do not choose To continue it
when dead recommend myself TO the Gre
atoy of all yolllS and Of al creatures, who
must from his visible attributes be ipditler-
ent TO their modes of worship OF crecdS,
whether Christian, M0hammcdaRs OF Jews;
whether inStilled by education or taken up
by reflection; whether more or less absurd,
rs a weak mortal can no more be answer
able for his persuasion or notions than for
the color of his skin.
Gen. Lao suffered with bad health during
the last year of his life. He became con-
WINGED that trip to Europe would benefit
him, but he only got rs tar rs Phlladcl-
phia, where, in lTS:!, he died. lie has de
SccndantS Living in Back Creek Valley,
about ! miles from NqrtinSburg, W. Va.
Strange old man! His pride was his
ruin. Had he been less arrogant he might
have liycd, and died, honored and re-
spccted by the American people. Alas!
( it WAS not for him
7 "'Thc applause Of listening Scnatcs Ia command,
Tux thoughts uf pain AMI ruin Ia diSpeli
To scatter pjelly Der smiling lHnd.