PROMINENT PERSONS
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assumed command of the right wing of the
army on Ilarlem Heights. The acceptance
of the resignation of Gen. Ward in May,
1776. made Lee senior-major-general. On
November 16, 1776, the British captured
Fort Washington, and forced Washington
to defend Philadelphia. Washington had
k-ft Lee with 7,000 men in Westchester
ccunty, and when ordered to join Wash-
ington's army in New Jersey, Lee failed to
obey. Washington was therefore forced to
fall back to Princeton with 3.000 men, which
place he reached December 2, 1776, and the
same day Lee moved across the river and
encamped at Morristown with 4,000 men.
Gen. Schuyler had sent Gates from Ticon-
deroga with seven regiments to reinforce
Washington, but Lee diverted the march
and detained three of the regiments at Mor-
nstown. Washington was subsequently
forced back across the Delaware river into
Pennsylvania. This situation gave Lee the
opportunity he desired, and he industriously
circulated reports of W^ashington's military
incapacity. Holding 1 strong position at
Morristown, he planned to fall upon the
flank of Howe's army and if possible secure
a victory that would give him the command
of the American army. On December 13,
^775- ^ party of British dragoons surprised
him at his headquarters at Baskingridge,
and made Lee, with his staff, prisoners,
carrying them to New York City. Gen.
Lee was refused the privileges of a prisoner
of war and was ordered sent to England
for trial as a deserter. Washington to pre-
vent this wrote Gen. Howe that he held
five Hessian field-officers as hostages for
Gen. Lee's personal safety, and on Decem-
ber 12. 1777. Lee was declared a prisoner
of war subject to exchange. (It is now
known that during his imprisonment in
New York he planned a campaign against
the American army which he claimed would
result in the easy subjugation of the colo-
nies, the identical plan, dated March 29,
1777, being discovered among the private
papers of the Howes in 1857). He was ex-
changed in March, 1778, and joined Wash-
ington at Valley Forge. In June, when Sir
Henry Clinton planned to retreat from Phil-
adelphia across New Jersey to New York,
Washington determined to oppose his
march. Gen. Lee advised against risking a
battle, and his opposition was so determined
that Washington appointed Lafayette to
the command of Lee's division. Lee solici-
tated restoration to the command and La-
fayette yielded, when Washington repeatea
his orders to Lee and made them peremp-
tory. When Lee overtook the British near
Monmouth Court House. June 28, 1778. his
conduct aroused the suspicion of Lafayette,
who despatched an aide to Washington,
who was bringing up the other division,
asking him to hasten to the front, and when
he reached Freehold Church he saw Lee's
division in retreat, closely pursued by the
British. The commander-in-chief charged
Lee with disobeying his orders, and. assum-
mg command, he rallied the Americans and
defeated the British, after which he ordered
Lee to the rear. The next day he reinstated
Lee in his old command, in spite of which
Lee addressed an exasperating letter to
Gen. Washington, to which Washington
made a severe reply. Washington ordered
Lee under arrest, and in August. 1778. he
was tried for disobeying orders, in not at-
tacking the enemy; for making an unne-
cessary and disorderly retreat: and for dis-
respect to the commander-in-chief in two
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