On 27 June 1778, Maj. Gen. Charles Lee sent the following letter to General Washington. On that day Lee had taken over command of troops near English Town, New Jersey, from General Lafayette. Lee was instructed by Washington to attack the rear of the British troops when the British moved from their position at Monmouth Courthouse. In this letter, Lee relates the placement of his troops. The next day would bring the Battle of Monmouth and in Lee's next letter to Washington he would complain of a perceived slight from words spoken by the General during the day's fighting.
Near English Town June the 27th 7 o clock
Dr General--
I did not receive your order to halt until the head of the Detachment was within a mile of English Town Creek--I immediately halted on the receipt--indeed it was not my intention to proceed further than the first brook or water--I have taken a tolerable strong Post in the wood where I shall wait for further orders. unless the expediency of making some movement is so forcible as to oblige me--the enemy certainly lay at Monmouth last night at least the rear of 'em; but whether They mov'd or no this morning is uncertain--The People here are inconceivably stupid. I have sent two lively young footmen (for they have no horses) to reconnoitre. I am, Dr Sir, Yours--
C Lee
P.S. I wish your Excellcy woud order me some axes--a little spirits for the men and two or three (if they can be spared) active well mounted light Horsemen.
At 7 o'clock on 27 June 1778, Maj. Gen. Charles Lee sent a letter to George Washington informing Washington of Lee's troop movements near the town of Monmouth Courthouse, New Jersey. On the following day, 28 June, the Battle of Monmouth took place. Lee had been ordered to attack the rear of the British troops as they withdrew from Monmouth Courthouse. Washington and the rest of the American troops, positioned behind the lines of confrontation, were unexpectedly faced with retreating American soldiers under the command of Lee and the pursuing British forces under Gen. Sir Henry Clinton. The Americans regrouped and fought, winning the day in their first direct confrontation with British troops. However, Lee was accused by Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne and Brig. Gen. Charles Scott with retreating without warning when he should have fought and thereby bringing the entire Continental army under threat.
When Lee first approached Washington on the day of the battle, in the midst of the disorder of the momentary retreat, he explained to Washington that confusion over orders and a mistake by Brigadier General Scott had caused the retreat and reminded Washington that Lee had not been in favor of the attack from the beginning. Washington reportedly responded that Lee should have obeyed orders despite his personal feelings. Lee's letter, below, is his first written response to what he perceived as a severe slight from General Washington. Lee misdated this letter of June 28 as July 1, an error that Washington conspicuously noted in his reply.
Camp, English Town, July 1st [June 28] 1778
Sir,
From the knowledge I have of your Excy's character--I must conclude that nothing but the misinformation of some very stupid, or misrepresentation of some very wicked person, coud have occasioned your making use of so very singular expressions as you did on my coming up to the ground where you had taken post--They implyed that I was guilty either of disobedience of orders, of want of conduct, or want of courage. Your Excellency will therefore infinitely oblige me by letting me know on which of these three articles you ground your charge--that I may prepare for my justification which I have the happiness to be confident I can do to the army, to the Congress, to America, and to the world in general. Your Excellency must give me leave to observe that neither yourself, nor those about your person, could from your situation be in the least judges of the merits or demerits of our maneuvers--And to speak with a becoming pride, I can assert, that to these maneuvers the success of the day was entirely owing--I can boldly say, that had we remained on the first ground, or had we advanced, or had the retreat been conducted in a manner different from what it was, this whole army, and the interests of America, would have risked being sacrificed. I ever had (and hope ever shall have the greatest respect and veneration for General Washington) I think him endowed with many great and good qualities, but in this instance I must pronounce that he has been guilty of an act of cruel injustice towards a man who certainly has some pretensions to the regard of every servant of this country--and, I think Sir, I have a right to demand some reparation for the injury committed--and unless I can obtain it, I must in justice to myself, when this campaign is closed, which I believe will close the war) retire from a service at the head of which is placed a man capable of offering such injuries. But at the same time in justice to you I must repeat that I from my soul believe, that it was not a motion of your own breast, but instigated by some of those dirty earwigs who will for ever insinuate themselves near persons in high office--for I really am convinced that when General Washington acts from himself no man in his army will have reason to complain of injustice or indecorum.
I am, Sir, and hope I ever shall have reason to continue your most sincerely devoted humble servt
Charles Lee.
Following the Battle of Monmouth on 28 June 1778, Washington received a letter from Maj. Gen. Charles Lee in which Lee claimed that Washington had unfairly accused him of disobeying orders during the course of the fighting that day. In that letter, Lee requested the chance to justify his actions "to the army, to the Congress, to America, and to the world in general." Washington's reply is below, in which he defends his statements, which were spoken after Lee's troops beat a hasty and unexpected retreat towards the lines of the entire Continental army rather than engage the British troops as ordered. Lee's retreat helped bring the British and American armies face to face for the first time, and could have dealt a harsh blow to the entire American military force if the ensuing battle had not been an American success. After receiving this letter, Lee replied almost immediately with another letter to Washington.
Head Qr. English Town June 30th 1778.
Sir,
I received your letter, (dated, thro' mistake, the 1st of July) expressed, as I conceive, in terms highly improper. I am not conscious of having made use of any very singular expressions at the time of my meeting you, as you intimate. What I recollect to have said was dictated by duty and warranted by the occasion. As soon as circumstances will permit, you shall have an opportunity either of justifying yourself to the army, to Congress, to America, and to the world in general; or of convincing them that you were guilty of a breach of orders and of misbehaviour before the enemy, on the 28th inst. in not attacking them as you had been directed and in making an unnecessary, disorderly, and shameful retreat. I am Sir, your most obt. servt,
Go Washington
Maj. Gen. Charles Lee wrote to Washington on 28 June 1778 complaining of an insult received from Washington upon Lee's retreating against orders during the fighting at Monmouth, New Jersey, on that day. Lee received a rebuking reply from Washington on 30 June 1778. In his reply, Washington pointedly noted that Lee had misdated his letter of 28 June as July 1st. Lee wrote the letter below to Washington, again misdating his correspondence (this time as 28 June), asking that he be allowed to justify his actions immediately and requesting that, in the meantime, he be relieved of his duties as Major General. Soon after writing this letter, Lee wragain to Washington and asked that a court martial be put into effect in order that Lee would have the chance to vindicate himself as soon as possible.
Camp June the 28th [30th] 1778--
Sir
I beg your Excellency's pardon for the inaccuracy in misdating my letter--you cannot afford me greater pleasure than in giving me the opportunity of shewing to America the sufficiency of her respective servants--I trust that the temporary power of office and the tinsel dignity attending it will not be able by all the mists they can raise to offuscate the bright rays of truth, in the mean time your Excellency can have no objection to my retiring from the army--I am Sir your most obt. hble srvt.
Charles Lee
Maj. Gen. Charles Lee ordered the retreat of his troops from an engagement with British forces on 28 June 1778, thereby precipitating a much larger battle with the British than was originally intended by the orders under which he was acting. Lee was rebuked in person by Washington on the day of the battle, and again in a letter from Washington on 30 June 1778. Lee protested that his actions had been justified, and demanded in letters to Washington that he have the chance to justify his actions (see Lee's letters of 28 June and 30 June). Soon after writing the latter note to Washington, Lee wrote again, updating his request by asking that a court martial be called as soon as possible in order that he be able to justify his actions right away.
Camp June 30th 1778
Sir
Since I had the honour of addressing my letter by Col. Fitzgerald to your Excellency I have reflected on both your situation and mine, and beg leave to observe,that it will be for our mutual convenience, that a court of inquiry should be immediately ordered--but I could wish it might be a court martial--for if the affair is drawn into length it may be difficult to collect the necessary evidences, and perhaps might bring on a paper war betwixt the adherents to both parties which may occasion some disagreeable feuds on the Continent--for all are not my friends nor all your admirers--I must intreat therefore from your love of justice that you will immediately exhibit your charge--and that on the first halt, I may be brought to a tryal--and am Sir your most obt. hble servt.
Charles Lee