The Life of George Washington, Vol. 3 | Page 8

7: Letter of Sir Henry Clinton.]
General Lee had made dispositions for executing the orders given the
preceding evening, and repeated in the morning; and, soon after the
British rear had moved from its ground, prepared to attack it. General
Dickenson had been directed to detach some of his best troops, to take
such a position as to co-operate with him; and Morgan was ordered to
act on the right flank.
Lee appeared on the heights of Freehold soon after Lord Cornwallis
had left them; and, following the British into the plain, ordered General
Wayne to attack the rear of their covering party with sufficient vigour
to check it, but not to press it so closely as either to force it up to the
main body, or to draw reinforcements to its aid. In the mean time, he
intended to gain the front of this party by a shorter road, and,
intercepting its communication with the line, to bear it off before it
could be assisted.
[Illustration: Martha Washington
From the portrait by Gilbert Stuart
_After studying under Benjamin West, the American painter who
succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds as (second) president of the Royal
Academy in London, Gilbert Stuart established a studio in Philadelphia
where he met and painted the first of his famous portraits of George
Washington. This one of Martha Washington, the best known likeness
of her in existence, was painted in the city of Washington, where the
artist had a studio between 1800 and 1802. She gave him several
sittings at Mount Vernon._]
While in the execution of this design, a gentleman in the suite of
General Washington came up to gain intelligence; and Lee
communicated to him his present object.
Before he reached the point of destination, there was reason to believe
that the British rear was much stronger than had been conjectured. The
intelligence on this subject being contradictory, and the face of the

country well calculated to conceal the truth, he deemed it adviseable to
ascertain the fact himself.
Sir Henry Clinton, soon after the rear division was in full march,
received intelligence that an American column had appeared on his left
flank. This being a corps of militia was soon dispersed, and the march
was continued. When his rear guard had descended from the heights, he
saw it followed by a strong corps, soon after which a cannonade was
commenced upon it; and, at the same time, a respectable force showed
itself on each of his flanks. Suspecting a design on his baggage, he
determined to attack the troops in his rear so vigorously, as to compel a
recall of those on his flanks; and, for this purpose, marched back his
whole rear division. This movement was in progress as Lee advanced
for the purpose of reconnoitring. He soon perceived his mistake
respecting the force of the British rear, but still determined to engage
on that ground, although his judgment disapproved the measure; there
being a morass immediately in his rear, which would necessarily
impede the reinforcements which might be advancing to his aid, and
embarrass his retreat should he be finally overpowered.
This was about ten. While both armies were preparing for action,
General Scott (as stated by General Lee) mistook an oblique march of
an American column for a retreat; and, in the apprehension of being
abandoned, left his position, and repassed the ravine in his rear.
Being himself of opinion that the ground was unfavourable, Lee did not
correct the error he ascribed to Scott, but ordered the whole detachment
to regain the heights. He was closely pressed, and some slight
skirmishing ensued without much loss on either side.
As soon as the firing announced the commencement of the action, the
rear division of the army advanced rapidly to the support of the front.
As they approached the scene of action, General Washington, who had
received no intelligence from Lee giving notice of his retreat, rode
forward, and, to his utter astonishment and mortification, met the
advanced corps retiring before the enemy, without having made a
single effort to maintain its ground. The troops he first saw neither
understood the motives which had governed General Lee, nor his

present design; and could give no other information than that, by his
orders, they had fled without fighting.
General Washington rode to the rear of the division, where he met
General Lee, to whom he spoke in terms of some warmth, implying
disapprobation of his conduct.
Orders were immediately given to Colonel Stewart and Lieutenant
Colonel Ramsay to form their regiments for the purpose of checking
the pursuit; and General Lee was directed to take proper measures with
the residue of his force to stop the British column on that ground. The
Commander-in-chief then rode back to arrange the rear division of the
army.