The Baron DeKalb [pp. 141-202]

1852.]`The Baron D~KaTh. 149
Lee, of 18th September and 2d October. ButT would not be
charged, in case I was to stay, of having solicited the influence of
friends to be employed.
"I have the honour to be, with great esteem and respect, dear
sir, your most obedient and very humble servant
The BARON DEKALB."
The last paragraph of this letter exhibits the possession
of a decent dignity and becoming manliness in the Baron,
which is' singularly in contrast with the course usually
pursued, at that day, by the foreign officers in the service.
The Colonel Lee here spoken of was probably Richard
Henry, the De]egate from Virginia, who must not be
confounded with Harry Lee, the partisan. He appears
to have written to Washington in regard to the appointment of the Baron as a brigadier. Washington answers,
on the 17th Oct., 1777, "Your favour of the sth inst., as
also that of the 11th, by the Baron DeKalb, are both at
hand. It is not in my power, at present, to answer your
query respecting the appointment of this gentleman. But,
sir, if there is anything in a report that Congress have
appointed, or, as others say, are about to appoint, Brigadier Conway a major-general in this army, it will be as
unfortunate a measure as ever was adopted," etc. But
our business is not with Conway. Enough, in this place,
that, in spite of Washington's earnest expostulations,
Conway was appointed; and, but that the vessel was a
weak one, carrying more sail than ballast, more streamers
than steam, the appointment would have done incalculable mischief. It did some, as it was; but Conway's career was too short to realize all the results predicted. He
soon melted into "thin air."
Our third letter is dated "At Valley Forge Camp, 20th
Nov., 1777," but is endorsed by Henry Laurens, to whom
it is addressed, "Supposed to mean December, 1777." We
have proofs, meanwhile, that the Baron was in actual
service. We find him one of the Board of War, for example, called on the 24th Nov., to consider the question
whether an immediate attack should be made on the
enemy in Philadelphia. The propo~ition was submitted
at this moment, it being supposed to afford an admirable
chance for a coup de main, in consequence of the absence,
in New-Jersey, of Lord Coruwallis, with a large portion