A complete history of the Marquis de Lafayette, major-general in the American army in the war of the revolution. Embracing an account of his tour through the United States, to the time of his departure, September, 1825. By an officer in the late army.

MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE. 55
slight skirmishing ensued, in which very little damage was
done on either side.
When the first firing announced the commencement of
the action, the rear of the army threw off their- packs, and
advanced rapidly to the support of the front. Meantime
the enemy had pursued Lee across the ravine, and pressed
him hard before he had time to rally. In this critical moment, Washington arrived. As he approached the scene of
action, he rode forward in total ignorance of Lee's retreat;
and about noon, to his great astonishment and mortification,
met the advanced corps retiring before the enemy, without
having made a single effort to maintain their ground. Those
whom he first fell in with, 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, which he found closely pressed.
lie then met General Lee, to whom he spoke in terms of
some warmth, implying disapprobation of his conduct.
General Lee, instead of entering into that full explanation
which his own honour, duty to his superior, and the good of
his country, demanded, took offence at the manner in which
he had been accosted, and replied unbecomingly. Such
conduct, in an inferior officer, could not be brooked, and
met, as it merited, marked disapprobation. In fact, the
deviation of Lee from his instructions might have produced
the most fatal effects.
It was now necessary, without delay, to arrest for a few
moments the impetuosity of the English, in order to give
time for all the corps of the rear guard to come up. The
commander-in-chief, accordingly, ordered the regiments
commanded by Colonel Stewart and Lieutenant-Colonel
Ramsay, to occupy an important post on the left, behind.a
tuft of wood, and there to sustain the first efforts of the
enemy. General Lee was directed to take proper measures, with the residue of his force, to stop the British column on that ground, and the commander-in-chief rode