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not permit such minuteness, as would enable us to give all that novelty to the narrative of them which general Lee has so happily done.

From this portion of the work we make an extract of the following anecdote, which is illustrative of the characters both of Washington and Hamilton.

"An unhappy difference had occurred in the transaction "of business between the general and his much respected "aid, which produced the latter's withdraw from his family. "A few days preceding this period, Hamilton had been en"gaged all the morning in copying some despatches, which "the general, when about to take his usual rounds, directed "him to forward as soon as finished.

"Washington finding on his return the despatches on the "table, renewed his directions in expressions indicating his "surprise at the delay; and again leaving his apartment, "found, when he returned, the despatches where he had left "them. At this time Hamilton had gone out in search of the "courier, who had been long waiting, when accidently he met "the marquis La Fayette, who seizing him by the button (as "was the habit of this zealous nobleman) engaged him in con"versation; which being continued with the marquis' usual "earnestness, dismissed from Hamilton's mind for some min"utes the object in view. At length breaking off from the "marquis he reached the courier, and directed him to come "forward to receive his charge and orders. Returning he "found the general seated by the table, on which lay the des"patches. The moment he appeared, Washington, with "warmth and sternness, chided him for the delay;` to which "Hamilton mildly replied, stating the cause; when the gen«eral, rather irritated than mollified, sternly rebuked him, "To this Hamilton answered,' If your excellency thinks prop66 er thus to address me, it is time for me to leave you,' He

"proceeded to the table, took up the despatches, sent off the "express, packed up his baggage, and quitted head-quarters.

"Although Washington took no measures to restore him "to his family, yet he treated him with the highest respect; "giving to him the command of a regiment of light infantry, "which now formed a part of La Fayette's corps."*

We have mentioned that general Greene had retired with his army to the high hills of Santee. In this secure retirement he remained, till his troops were refreshed and restored to health, when he commenced the march of his army toward the encampment of the British. His progress was tedious, as he had to move far toward the sources of the rivers which intervened between himself and his enemy, in order to secure a safe passage; but having passed them, he advanced directly toward Orangeburgh, where the British had remained, since lord Rawdon had conducted them thither after the evacuation of Cambden. Colonel Stuart, who was now the principal British officer, learning Greene's approach, retired, for the purpose of meeting some supplies from Charleston, to Eutaw Springs; but he had no expectation that he should be so soon overtaken by general Greene, as he was. The American light troops encamped within eight miles of the enemy, and the whole army at seventeen miles distance, without any suspicion of their vicinity having been produced in the mind of colonel Stuart; although no efforts had been used to conceal their march. The Americans even arrived within four miles of his camp before they were discovered; and then commenced an engagement which continued three hours, and was the most fierce and well contested battle that was fought during the southern campaigns. General Greene had gained great advantages, and even obtained possession of the enemy's camp; when the British rallied under the fire from a brick *Vol. ii. p. 341. note.

house, which they had filled with their troops, and compelled the Americans to retire. But they were not pursued; although they were obliged to march several miles from the field of battle to obtain water. Immediately after the battle, colonel Stuart commenced a retreat toward Charleston, with such rapidity that Greene was unable to overtake him, which clearly evinced his own opinion of the effects of the contest. The British army took post at Monk's Corner, not far from Charleston; while Greene again retired to the high hills of Santee, to restore his troops, overcome by their exertions, and by the intense heat of the season. Thus at this propitious period, did success crown the arms of the Americans in every quarter; and the hopes of the final termination of their suf ferings from war were brighter than ever before.

All important warlike operations were now at an end, General Greene, sensible of the superiority which he had vindicated to himself at the battle of Eutaw, determined to act as the conqueror. With the intention of freeing the state of Georgia from its invaders, or at least of confining their control, he detached general Wayne toward Savannah; while he himself moved to the vicinity of Charleston, and soon suc ceeded in confining the enemy within the limits of the town. The garrison of Savannah was soon withdrawn, and Charleston was at last restored to the possession of the Americans, by a voluntary evacuation; for the prospect of immediate peace was a check upon all military enterprises. With the account of this event the work of general Lee concludes. The last part of it is agreeably filled with minute accounts of the small operations of the armies; and contains a somewhat interesting description of an intended expedition to John's Island.

We presume that we have now given our readers sufficient information, as to the narrative of the events of the war which is contained in general Lee's work. We have also

given several specimens of the numerous and valuable anecdotes by which it is enlivened. Of its style we think a correct opinion may be formed from the passages which we have quoted, and from the long extract which we have given in the former part of this number of the Repository.* We cannot say that he is always judicious or correct in his use of words, or that he is at all times free from obscurity; but he has written in a manner which we think will not fail to interest his reader. We have been pleased with the candor and modesty which he has displayed, in describing the characters of others, and in speaking of events in which he was personally engaged. Much of the value of his work consists in the acquaintance which it gives us with many individuals, by means of such anecdotes as do not often find their way into more studied histories.

Of his own military character he has induced us to form the most favorable opinion; or we should rather say that he has more deeply impressed that which other histories had given us. The excellent and active corps of which he was at the head, the confidence which appears to have been placed in him by general Greene, and the separate commands with which he was often entrusted, are testimonials of his merit. He has made good use of his personal experience to render his work entertaining; yet he is far from any thing like unpleasant self obtrusion. His accounts, we have little doubt, are accurate and faithful. We have been at some pains to compare them, where the same transactions were related, with those of several other writers of the best authority; and when he has differed from these in any particulars, we have often been inclined from the circumstances of the case, to give the preference to his testimony. If we err in the opinion which

* [This extract was the account of the attempt to seize general Arnold, contained in the thirtieth chapter of the Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 158. seq.]

we have now given of this work of general Lee, it must be that we speak too much in its praise. It is possible that we may be prejudiced in favor of the author, who has so much amused us, and of the man, who so faithfully served his country during our war, and who has lately excited additional interest, by the courage with which he has exposed his life to the attacks of ruffian violence in the protection of our choicest civil privileges. But we need not hesitate to recommend this book to the attention of all who wish for valuable information with respect to the history of our war, and interesting anecdotes concerning those who were engaged in it.

We cannot conclude our remarks without again expres sing our wishes for a complete and philosophical history of the United States. There have been no events more worthy of the most ample commemoration than those relating to the American revolution, the institution of our goverment, and the subsequent state of our country. Our nation was formed under the operation of feelings and principles, which were uncommonly free from the influence of those selfish and violent passions, by which great political changes are usually effected. Our government was established by the deliberate and uninfluenced choice of the people. Such was its nature and the method of its formation, that the attention of philoso

phers was universally attracted, and the fancies of political visionaries seemed to be realized. Since we have been a nation, our prosperity has been wonderful and unexampled. Our population has been rapidly increased by emigration from foreign nations; and our citizens have grown rich almost without exertion. But we have been inattentive to the preservation of those privileges which were the securities of our public happiness; we have become indisposed to that exertion, and those individual sacrifices, by which alone they could be maintained; the power which was given to the multitude has been abused; and we are now wretched as a nation, per

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