Washington Journal., 1942-09-18

on Ine troops under OteuDen'S temporary
command was repulsed, resumed his on
slaught on the American right wing, but was
stopped by General Nathaniel Greene, sup
ported by heavy artillery fire under the com
mand of Chevalier du Plessis de Mauduit.
Now General Anthony Wayne there led his
troops into the thickest of the fight and kept
up so well directed a fire that the British had
to fall back to their first position behind a
defile.
Meanwhile Won Steuben had turned over
his temporary command on the left wing to
Lord Stirling, all Of whose troops were come
into the action. Then Steuben was requested
by General Washington, who by this time also
had returned to the battlefield, bringing re
Inducements, to reform his rearguard, hurry
ing behind the main body toward English
town. So soon as this had been accomplished,
Steuben was ordered by the Commander-in-
Chief to hasten to the front to pursue the
advantages there gained. The old general
gallOped there with his aides-de-camp and
threw himself into the fight. But now night
fell and put a quietus on the combat, which
Washington wanted to renew on the morrow.
Therein he was disappointed, for Clinton,
leaving his watch fires burning, silently with
drew his forces under cover of darkness. AT
break of day it was found that he had left
his wounded to the mercy of the Americans,
while all his able-bodied troops resumed their
n1l IudICH JOWdIu Dduuy IlOOk, Iu6lE rear
as heretofore, ably covered by Knyphausen's
Hessians
A Drawn Battle
Both sides to the struggle, as usual after
drawn battles, claimed to have been victor
ious. The British because they had foiled
Washington's plan of cutting them in two,
sothat they could resume their strategic re-
treat despite its interruption. TIL Americans
because their enemy had abandoned the field
with a loss of all his badly wounded men.
Frederick the Great, when the conflicting re-
ports reached him in distant Potsdam, pro-
nOunced it a bad British reverse, in view of
Clinton's heavier losses, including some 1000
Hessian deserters. "Clinton'', said the old
king, "gained no advantage except to reach
New York with his badly demoralized army.
But for Knyphausen, it would have been
wrecked. That part of America probably will
be lost to England"
Charles Lees Disgrace
The most disappointed man of all the actors
In the scene was Charles Lee. Though un-
revealed at that time, it is now known through
the publication Of long hidden British
archives that Lee, while a pretended prisoner
Of war with the British, had become a bought
and paid for traitor to the American cause,
which he had espoused ostensibly as a dis
g%runtled Englishman. Back among his old
British brethren he had promised, in case of
his release to the Americans, to cross Wash
ington's plans and at the first favorable OPP
%portunity to play whatever American troops
he might be given to command into British
hands. That promise of double-dealing Lee
did his utmost to keep.
When the smoke Of battle had died down,
and Lees treacherous scheme lay in ashes,
he had the hardihood to write an impudent
letter to Washington, demanding an apology
for the Commanders in Chiefs hot words to
him. Washington replied that his severe
censure was dictated by duty and warranted
by the occasion. So soon as feasible, Lee
should have a. chance to explain his breach
OF orders and misbehavior on the battle field,
in failing to attack as ordered and in making
"an Unnecessary, disorderly and shameful re-
treat"
With characteristic effrontery Lee re-
t0rted:
You cannot afford me greater pleasure than in giving
me the opportunity Of showing to America the suffciency of
office and the tinsel dignity attending it will not be able,
by all the mists they can raise, to ~obfuscate the bright
rays of truth.
Forthwith Lee was ordered in arrest pend
ing appearance before a court martial com
posed OF general officers. 1t convened at inter
walls and varying places during the midsum-
mer march of the Continental Army through
eastern New Jersey and across the Hudson to
White Plains.
During that march Steuben led Lees
former division and brought it in excellent
shape to it's destination with a minimum of
deserters, though it was harvest time and all
the militiamen were farmers anxious to
garner their crops. Because of Steubens
duties connected Herewith he appeared but
once in the c0urtmartial proceedings as a wit
ness. Concerning his observations Of General