Excerpts and Selections from the Lee Papers [pp. 261-272]

Selections and Excerpts 2from the Lee Papers.
You wish to know how your delegates favor to receive this address, instead of my
have acted in this affair, and whether personal attendance, and deign to lend
they were tbor the viva voce narrative? me for some moments your attention to
Amidst the variety of questions that the same.
are propounded in Congress, it is not easy You know, Sir, for what purpose I came
to remember what side particular meni- to this country; you remember my mebers take, nor do I recollect whether or morial to Congress and their resolves
not Mr. Lewis was present, but as well as thereon. My former Commissions and
my memory serves me, I think your State discharges of Office, my open certificates
was against the written narrative, and for and letters of recommenidation have passits being viva voce. Tihat matter is a ed thro'your hands. I was particularly
thing determined, and therefore, I am at recommended to yourself byyour worthy
Liberty to answer your questions as well Brother, Mr. Win. Lee. You have then
as I am able on that point, but many other honoured me with your protection and
subjects of your enquiries I could answer now in the dismal and melancholy situato your satisfaction, if I were not re- tion of my affairs, I crave your continstrained by the Rules of the House, re- uance thereof.
specting unfinished affairs. That large Congress with an allowance of 125 dolsums of money have been expended in lars per month, gave me leave to repair
France is indubitable; that no adequate to the army as volunteer, which I immeaccount is yet obtained is certain, and to diately did, and there presented to Gen.
me the reasons for its not being so, are by Washington the same heads of military
no means satisfiactory. He who under- affairs which I had presented to Congress,
takes public business without competency praying his Excellency to give me orders
is culpable, and a capable man will at all to comment thereon, to which I received
times be able to shew satisfactorily, how no answer. During the Campaign I
his business has been conducted even to never had the least part in the service, so
the greatest minutiae. It is an insult on that without any fault of mine I was put
common sense to produce a Banker's to a contemptible inactivity.
charge of money issued, to account for I am now upon the point to address
the expenditure of millions during the Congress praying to be appointed Brigatransactions of near a year and a half. dier General of the army. And I must
We have a letter written by Cunningham, entreat your honor to grant me your supwho commanded the Cutters fitted out at port of this my reasonable reque,st. As
Du,,kirk, and which have cost the public I have from my earliest years been edumore than 100,000 Livres, complaining cated in the King of Prussia's seminary
heavily for himself and his people, of of Officers, and as such during her last
finding themselves the commander of a septennial wars served in his army. As
private armed vessel, when he and they I have borne the character of Lieutenant
conceived themselves in the service of the Colonel now sixteen years ago, been inUnited States. trusted with the command of whole regi ments, and in the service of two Mon archs employed in procuring new regula tions of the army and the exercise, and
as I came to this country furnished with
COL. B. DEKNOBELAUCH TO -R. H. LEE. very good recommnendations, in particular
that of the Minister of the War Depart Philadelphia, March 15th, 1779. ment in France, Count De St. Germain,
who was Field Marshall at Danemark
SIR. when I was in the King's service, I think
I was going a few days ago to wait no officer in the Continental Army should
upon your Honor, and not being so happy have cause to be disgusted at my preferas to meet you at home, I now beg the ment. And when I apply for that Post
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1860.]