The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-06-12

orders and that as a result, the Amer
lean army was retreating.
Washington took in the situation at
a glance. The patriots were falling
back. The British were everywhere
successful. His blue eyes ablaze with
anger, the chief galloped across to
Lee.
"In heavens name. General" he
shouted, what means this ill-timed
prudence!"
81 know of no one" sneered Lse,
"who has more Of that abominabla
virtue than your excel'ency."
At this retort the last barriers OF
Washingtons patience gave way He
hurled at Lee a public reprimand that
the latter never forgot nor forgave
It was case Of Just mans wrath
at bllckguard's misdeeds.
Charles Lee was born in England In
1881. He joined the British army az
a mere child. At the age Of eleven
he was a commissioned officer. He
fought in America during the French
and Indian war and rose fast In rank
to e lieutenant-colonelcy But he had
a sarcastic tongue and an ungovern-
able temper. He criticised his supe-
rior officers and made fun OF their
weaknesses. This sort Of thing does
not help man on In any walk OF life.
It led at last to Lees practical dis
3L4
Poland and Russia, where, serving as
a soldier Of fortune, he received the
rank Of major-general He also won
doubtful fame es feroclous duelist.
Leaving Russia, Lee made his way
to America a short time before the
Revolution. He hated England and he
loved intrigue. So he plunged into
the stirring politics Of the day. siding
with the patriots. The Revolutionary
army was short Of experienced Off
GERS and was delighted to accept the
services of so noted soldier as Lee.
He was offered the rank Of second
majorgeneral under General Wash
ington. He bargalned shrewdly with
congress before accepting this honor.
declaring that King Georges gov
ernment would surely confiscate his
British estates, and demanding to be
paid for them. Congress agreed to
give him $4,000 out Of the impover-
ished patriot treasury as recompense
for this possible loss.
Now began Lees American military
career From the first he seems to
have had two aims. One. to seize
Washingtons position as commander
in-chief; the other. to sell the Amer
lean cause, at the best possible terms.
to the British. After more than once
risking the army's welfare by dsobey-
ing Washington's orders. Lee was cap
tured at Basking Ridge N. j., by the
British. Whether or not he consented
to the capture in order to carry out
his treason plot cannot be known.
But during his captivity (most OF
which he spent in a suite of rooms In
New York City HalD he came to
terms of understanding with the Brit
ish general, Howe, and explained to
him his ideas on how best to crush
the Revolution. Thinking he would
be Of more use to them in the Revolu-
tionary army than In prison. the Brit
lsh set him free in 177S and he went
back to his duties (The complete
draft Of Lees plan. by which the col
onles might be overthrown. was found
in 1857 among General Howe's pri-
vste papeCs.)
Then came the battle Of Monmouth.
The English. under Clinton. in June.
l77s. evacuated Philadelphia and re-
treated across New Jersey to the
British headquarters at New York.
Washington resolved to smash part
J.. on Its march. Lee begged him not
to make the attempt. but Washington
sent him with an advance guard OF
5000 men to overtake the enemy.
Lee caught up with the British at
Monmouth on June 2S, 177S. and be-
gan the battle In so strange and In
competent way that Lafayette. In
alarm. sent a secret message begging
Washington to hurry to the front.
Washington arrived In time to meet
Lee In full retreat He rebuked the
traitor. rallied the army and saved the
day
No one could understand Lees odd,
behavior for no one then knew he
was false In rage at the rebuke, he
wrote two insulting letters to Wash
ington, who promptly ordered him ar
rested. 4 court-martlal suspended
him from active service for year.
In rage. he retired to mountain hut.
where for months. he lived like her
NIT.
AS his year Of suspension drew to
an end. Lee wrote an abusive letter TO
congress. and was at Snce dismissed
from the army. He went to live on an
estate he had bought in the Shenan-
doah Valley In 1882 he visited Phila-
delphia, where he fell Ill and died.