The Indianapolis journal., 1904-02-21
A Soldier Under Washington
Talked of Great Commander
Once Held b., the Dr.
of Creenoastle. with Revo Vetera

When Washington returned to his head
quarters he told his inspector general that
the British officer would represent himself
as a gentleman from the country who had
been prevented from visiting the army by
sickness and by embarrassing conditions
in business; that he would regret that he
could not come before. You will probably
find him too patriotic for comfort Wash
ington said. Take him at his word. Be
pleasant and sociable with him. AS soon
as we can get enough troops together TO
form good regiment we will have them
marched out to the proper place for review.
As soon as that can be done III send you a
written order to inspect a certain regiment
of the line. Invite him to go with you.
He will wish above all things to know the
number of our men. Clinton wants to at
tack us in camp you know The inspector
general carried out every letter or the In
structions. While he was pleasantly con-
versing with the visitor he received an order
to inspect the Seventeenth Regiment of the
line. The Britisher went with him and saw
q fine big regiment of fighters. They re-
turned to the headquarters, then another
order came TO inspect another regiment
Again the same process was gone through
and again those poor soldiers were marched
past the reviewing stand, their appearance
being changed in various ways, so much so
that the British spy believed he was seeing
the review of a fine army. He was evident
ly vastly surprised. And Clinton didn't at
tack us, either The inspector general had
the audacity to tell the spy that we Amer
leans were trying to coax Clinton out of
his winter quarters TO attack us. The spy
tucked away in every hidden corner of that
part of the country. And Clinton didn't at
tack US that time. We heard from private
sources later that a certain colonel, of one
of the Grenadier regiments had visited our
camp in the disguises described on that day
and that he had faithfully reported every
word the inspector general and others had
told him.
HAD A FIERCE TEMPER.
81 told Colonel Terhune that had heard
that Washington was man of no temper"
said DIR. Fisk
"'What. General Washington a man of
no temper? Why sir, 1 never saw and
never heard man of a rage so towering
and passion so violent. At the battle of
Monmouth he showed it at General Lee for
disobeying orders. l remember it distinct
ly. When the British began to send their
men out of Philadelphia with the seeming
intention of embarking them at Sandy
Hook, Washington suspected them of trick
cry and sent a force up the Delaware to-
ward Trenton. He had with him Major
Generals Charles Lee and Marquis De La
fayette, but ii was Lees turn to command.
However he opposed Washingtons plan of
sending the men out and he asked TO be
relieved Of the command Lafayette was
put in his place.
Il asked Colonel Terhune if the promi-
nent general of the American army served
cheerfully under as young man as Lafay-
Lafayette was a genuine gentleman and
deeply interested in the cause he served.
He was kind to all under him and uniform
ly acted with their judgment as we'll as
their consent. No, Lafayette did not COM
mand in that battle. Lee found out that
morning that his o5jecting to Washing gton' s
plan and asking to be relieved made many
officers think hard of him. They said he
was a coward didn't have the courage to
fight. Then Lee went to Washington and
asked to be restored. as he couldn't bear the
-aAo has af6 fl,,
begun Lee made serious mistakes in hand
ling the troops, and Lafayette sent dis
patch to Washington, saying: Your pres
ington went forward at once with more
troops. He met Lees force retreating in
disorder, but he stopped them. Then Lee
himself came up. Washington approached
him and said:
What does this mean, SIR? To which
Lee replied:
1T means what any God damn fool
might have known and what 1 told you yes
terday.
Colonel Terhune was between Lee. and
Washington partly. and he saw Washing
ton raise himself in his stirrups and begin
on Lee in concentrated epithets. Lee
couldn't get in a word. Washington used
the awfulest profanity. Terhune said, that
he ever heard. Just after Lee was left by
Washington he turned down a small stream
to where a regiment of the American force
Lee had been relieved by Washington asked
permission from Lee to charge a British
regiment which was facing them. / heard
Lee say to the colonel: What. are you such
a set of Internal, undamnable fools as to
want to run your heads into hell that way
TO charge regiment of British grenadiers p
To which the colonel replied: Yes: We'll
charge them and whale hell out of them in
two minutes Lee answered: If that's the
way you feel, charge and be damned The
regiment did ii. too. Their charge took
them across gorge six feet deep, but they
formed in good order on the other side and
went at the British with fixed bayonets, and
'whaled them most successfully"
Greencastle, Ind, Feb. Is.