DOCUMENTARY HISTORY, &c.

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RICHARD HENRY LEE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, August 1, 1775.

DEAR SIR: After the fatigue of many days, and of this in particular, I should not sit down at eleven o’clock at night to write to a gentleman of whose goodness of heart I have less doubt than I have of yours. But well knowing that you will pardon what flows from good intentions, I venture to say, that my hopes are, you will find from what the Congress has already done, and from what I hope they will do tomorrow, that it has been a capital object with us to make your arduous business as easy to you as the nature of things will admit.

The business immediately before us being finished, the approaching sickly season here, and the great importance of our presence in the Virginia Convention, have determined a recess of a month, it standing now, that the Congress shall meet here again on the fifth of September. The capital object of powder we have attended to as far as we could, by sending you the other day six tons, and tomorrow we shall propose sending six or eight tons more; which, with the supplies you may get from Connecticut, and such further ones from here as future expected importations may furnish, will, I hope, enable you to do all that this powerful article can in good hands accomplish.

We understand here that batteries may be constructed at the entrance of the Bay of Boston, so as to prevent the egress and regress of any ships whatsoever. If this be fact, would it not, Sir, be a signal stroke to secure the Fleet and Army in and before Boston, so as to compel a surrender at discretion. While I write this, I assure you my heart is elated with the contemplation of so great an event —a decisive thing, that would at once end the war, and vindicate the injured liberties of America. But your judgment, and that of your brave associates, will best determine the practicability of this business.

I think we have taken the most effectual measures to secure the friendship of the Indians all along our extensive frontiers; and by what we learn of the spirit of our Convention, now sitting at Richmond, a spirit prevails there very sufficient to secure us on that quarter. The particulars of their conduct I refer you to Mr. Franer for, who comes fresh from thence, and who goes to the camp a soldier of fortune. You know him better than I do, and I am sure you will provide for him as he deserves.

We are here as much in the dark about news from England as you are, the London ships having been detained long beyond the time they were expected. The indistinct accounts we have tell us of great confusion all over England, and a prodigious fall of the Stocks. I heartily wish it may be true; but if it is not so now, I have no doubt of its shortly being the case.

I will not detain you longer from more important affairs than to beg the favour of you, when your leisure permits, to oblige me with a line by post, to let us know how you go on.

There is nothing I wish so much as your success and happiness, and safe return to your family and country; because I am, with perfect sincerity, dear Sir, your affectionate friend and countryman,

RICHARD HENRY LEE.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO A GENTLEMAN IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED FREDERICKTOWN, MD., AUGUST 1, 1775.

Notwithstanding the urgency of my business, I have been detained three days in this place by an occurrence truly agreeable. I have had the happiness of seeing Captain Michael Cresap marching at the head of a formidable company of upwards of one hundred and thirty men, from the mountains and back-woods, painted like Indians, armed with tomahawks and rifles, dressed in hunting-shirts and moccasins, and though some of them had travelled near eight hundred miles, from the banks of the Ohio, they seemed to walk light and easy, and not with less spirit than at the first hour of their march. Health and vigour, after what they had undergone, declared them to be intimate with hardship and familiar with danger. Joy and satisfaction were visible in the crowd that met them. Had Lord North been present, and been assured that the brave leader could raise thousands of such like to defend his Country, what think you, would not the hatchet and the block have intruded upon his mind? I had an opportunity of attending the Captain during his stay in Town, and watched the behaviour of his men, and the manner in which he treated them; for it seems that all who go out to war under him do not only pay the most willing obedience to him as their commander, but in every instance of distress look up to him as their friend or father. A great part of his time was spent in listening to and relieving their wants, without any apparent sense of fatigue and trouble. When complaints were before him, he determined with kindness and spirit, and on every occasion condescended to please without losing his dignity.

Yesterday the company were supplied with a small quantity of powder from the magazine, which wanted airing, and was not in good order for rifles; in the evening, however, they were drawn out to show the gentlemen of the Town their dexterity at shooting. A clapboard, with a mark the size of a dollar, was put up; they began to fire off-hand, and the bystanders were surprised, few shots being made that were not close to or in the paper. When they had shot for a time in this way, some lay on their backs, some on their breast or side, others ran twenty or thirty steps, and firing, appeared to be equally certain of the mark. With this performance the company were more than satisfied, when a young man took up the board in his hand, not by the end, but by the side, and holding it up, his brother walked to the distance, and very coolly shot into the white; laying down his rifle, he took the board, and holding it as it was held before, the second brother shot as the former had done. By this exercise I was more astonished than pleased. But will you believe me, when I tell you, that one of the men took the board, and placing it between his legs, stood with his back to the tree while another drove the centre. What would a regular army of considerable strength in the forests of America do with one thousand of these men, who want nothing to preserve their health and courage but water from the spring, with a little parched corn, with what they can easily procure in hunting; and who, wrapped in their blankets, in the damp of night, would choose the shade of a tree for their covering, and the earth for their bed.