. The first American Civil War, first period 1775-1778, with chapters on the continental or revolutionary army and on the forces of the crown . s, were all thedirect consequence of the incompetence of Washington,to whom it would be dangerous, he thought, to entrustthe management of a sergeants guard. After allthe complicated manoeuvres on the White Plains,Lee, by his superiors orders, had withdrawn to thenorth side of the Croton, and had taken up a strongposition in the Highlands, there to await instructions,1776. and now, in December, he saw himself evidently theheaven-sent deliverer of a dis
. The first American Civil War, first period 1775-1778, with chapters on the continental or revolutionary army and on the forces of the crown . s, were all thedirect consequence of the incompetence of Washington,to whom it would be dangerous, he thought, to entrustthe management of a sergeants guard. After allthe complicated manoeuvres on the White Plains,Lee, by his superiors orders, had withdrawn to thenorth side of the Croton, and had taken up a strongposition in the Highlands, there to await instructions,1776. and now, in December, he saw himself evidently theheaven-sent deliverer of a distressful country. Couldhe secure the co-operation of Gates, he would bepowerful enough to move across the Hudson and downthrough the Jerseys on the flank of the British army,threatening lines of communication, cutting off rein-forcements and supplies, and sweeping before him thejaded and weakened battalions of Britain into theDelaware or the sea. An urgent command fromWashington to come southward Lee reluctantly pro-ceeded to obey, advancing as far as Morristown. Here ^ Cf. Appleton, Dictionary of American Biography, 8 vols. Charles Washingtons Headquarters, Morristown, New Jersey, 1777. i? :}i (#rf H. Rahls Headquarters, Trenton, New Jersey. XIV THE CRISIS 195 his forces were augmented by some troops sent fromLake Champlain by Major-General Schuyler, to rein-force the defence of Philadelphia, With about 6000troops at his disposal, Lee felt himself equal to theextinction of Howe, a sentiment expressed in a messageto Washington, saying it were better for him (Lee)to remain hanging about the rear of the British thus flatly disobeyed superior orders, and beingas fond of letter-writing as Micawber, he spent eachday in moving forward a few miles and in penningdespatches. But resting at a short distance of his Capturecommand, in the tavern of one White, at Baskinridge, ?[^^^ , , , . - 1 ° December and under the protection or a few troopers, he was 13,
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