fome others of the moft inveterate refugees, who had fled from America, and were dif appointed that the, fubjugation of their country was thus long delayed, Much cenfure fell on the ministry for their reforting to the teftimony of American refugees, penfioners, and cuftom-houfe officers, whofe places, penfions, and existence, depended on their adherence to minifterial measures, to invalidate the evidence of military men of high rank and great profeffional knowledge. Sir William Howe was not again vefted with command during the American war. Some other officers, either difgufted or difcouraged, returned to England after the fummer campaign. Several of them were advanced and fent out again in the fucceeding spring, to pursue the work of flaughter, or to humble the haughty fpirit of Americans at the feet of monarchy. A number of these illfated officers, whofe merits were confpicuous in their line, did not again return to the bofom of their native country, the beloved ifland of Britain; where their furviving friends were left to weep at the recollection of the afhes of the brave, fcattered over the heights and plains of the American world. CHAP. XII. 1778. CHAP. XIII. 1778. CHAPTER XIII. Evacuation of Philadelphia.-Battle of Monmouth.--General Lee cenfured.-General Clinton reaches New York. The Count de Eftaing arrives there-Repairs to Rhode Island-Expedition unfuccefsful-French Fleet rendezvous at Boston, to refit after the Damages fuftained by a Storm.-Lord Howe leaves the American Seas.-Marauding Exploits of General Grey.~ Destruction of Wyoming.--Expedition into the Indian Territories. THE new commiffion with which fir Henry Clinton was now vested, was prompt, arduous, and replete with confequences of the highest magnitude to his country, and to his own reputation. The Trident man of war had arrived in the Delaware early in the month of June, one thousand seven hundred and feventyeight. In this fhip came the British commiffioners for conciliation; and through the hand of fir William Eden, general Clinton received peremptory orders to evacuate the city of Philadelphia, within fix days after their reception. Accordingly the whole British army decamped, and began their march toward New York on the eighteenth of June. The fudden defertion of a city that had been fo much the object of their warmest 1778. wifhes, tended at once to difhearten the adhe- CHAP. XII. rents to the royal caufe, and to invigorate the operations of their antagonists. It could not be expected, that general Washington would remain a quiet fpectator of this movement of the British troops. He immediately dispatched a reconnoitering party under general Maxwell, to harass their march.* The marquis de la Fayette alfo marched at the head of a detachment, to meet them and impede their progress; and general Lee with two brigades, was ordered to follow and support him. The British commander prepared for this interruption, fuddenly attacked and routed the cavalry under the marquis. By this the infantry were deranged: and general Washington, finding an action of moment was likely to enfue, pofted himself, after several military movements, as advantageoufly as poffible, near the heights of Monmouth. The Americans fpirited and courageous, the British refolute, brave, and defperate, a fharp * Before general Washington moved, he called a council of officers to confult on the expediency of attacking the British on their march. They were almost unanimously oppofed to the measure, as the failure of fuccefs would be ruin to the American army. But the American commander, with two or three of his best officers, had no reluctance at hazarding the confequences of a general action. CHAP. XIII. 1778. conflict fucceeded. The military game of death and retreat, of recovery and flaughter, was kept up for feveral hours without decifion. But a misunderstanding on a disobedience of orders by general Lee, occafioned fuch a derangement on the American fide, as gave the opportunity for a fafe retreat to the royal army, in fpite of the valor and intrepidity of their opponents. Many on both fides fell by the intenfe heat of the weather. It was one of those days not unusual in the fouthern clime, when the ftroke of the fun is inftantaneously fatal to human life, without the agitation and fatigue infeparable from the hour of battle. Some warm expreffions in the heat of engagement from general Washington, drew feveral letters from Lee, that could not be paffed over in filence. For thefe, and for his deportment through the events of the day of action, he was fufpended from his command, and afterwards tried by a court-martial. The exigencies of affairs, as well as his misconduct, made it necessary, that he should lie under cenfure for difobedience, and disrespect to the commander in chief:* yet many of his brother officers advocated, or at least extenuated his conduct. *The court-martial adjudged, that he fhould retire from the army, and lie under fufpenfion for one year. 1778. Perhaps it might not have been either treach- CHAP. XIII. ery, cowardice, envy, or any other unworthy motive, that influenced the conduct of general Lee. He had but recently recovered his liberty after he was captured at Hackinfack. Previous to that time, the American army was too juftly confidered by him, an undisciplined rabble. They had indeed, in his abfence, made great improvements in the art of war, and the neceffary arrangements of military difcipline; however, he had not yet a proper confidence in the infant troops he commanded, when opposed to the fuperiority of British battalions, actuated by neceffity in addition to conftitutional bravery. He might retreat more from the cautious prudence of an experienced officer, than from any defign to betray, or disobey the orders of the commander in chief: but it is certain he did not on all occafions, discover a due respect, either for the character or talents of general Washington. General Lee was never again employed in American fervice; and undoubtedly died a martyr to chagrin, difappointment, and perfonal abufe, in confequence of the ingratitude of fome of his former friends, arising from the popularity of a more favored, fortunate, and meritorious officer. After his trial and fufpenfion, general Lee retired to a little farm in Baltimore, where he |