5th.-Major General Lee has gone through his trial, before a court martial, appointed for the purpose. The charges exhibited against him were, 1st. Disobedience of orders, in not attacking the enemy on the 28th of June, agreeably to repeated instructions. 2d. For misbehaviour before the enemy on the same day, in making an unnecessary, disorderly, and shameful retreat. 3d. For disrespect to the Commander in Chief, in two letters dated June 28th, and July 1st. To these several charges the General made a very able and excellent defence; particularizing all the circumstances attending the unhappy affair, and to the utmost of his ability extenuating and vindicating his conduct. The court, nevertheless, pronounced him guilty, and their sentence was, "that Major General Lee be suspended from his command, in the armies of the United States, for the space of one year." This sentence is like a mortal wound to the lofty aspiring spirit of General Lee; few men are less calculated to sustain a rebuff to pride and ambitious views.*

6th.-A duel was fought a few days since between General G. and Colonel W. Two shots were exchanged without bloodshed, and a reconciliation was effected. The gentlemen, it is said, displayed a firmness and bravery becoming their rank and character, and have established their claim to the title of gentlemen of honor. As their courage has never been called in question, the present rencontre was unnecessary, unless it be to evince that they possess malice enough in their hearts to commit a murderous deed. The example of superior officers will have great influence with those of inferior rank, whether contending with the dogs of war, or in adjusting the minor points of honor.

8th.-Major General Putnam has arrived in this vicinity, with the division of Virginia and Maryland troops under his command, and they have encamped on the borders of the river. Brigadiers Woodford and Muhlenburg have taken up quarters in apartments in our hospital. This is my first interview with this celebrated hero. In his person he is corpulent and clumsy, but carries a bold, undaunted front. He exhibits little of the refinements of the well-educated gentleman, but much of the character of the veteran soldier. He appears to be advanced to the age of about sixty years,

* See Appendix, for General Lee's character and abuse of General Washington.

and it is famed of him that he has in many instances, proved himself as brave as Cæsar. He visited our hospital, and inquired with much solicitude into the condition of our patients; observing a considerable number of men who were infected with the ground itch, generated by laying on the ground, he inquired why they were not cured. I answered, "because we have no hog's lard to make ointment." "Did you never," says the General, (6 cure the itch with tar and brimstone?" "No, Sir."" Then," replied he good humoredly, "you are not fit for a doctor,"*

Dr. Ferguson, secretary to the British commissioners, forwarded to Congress a declaration, signed by George Johnstone, respecting the resolve of Congress relative to his attempt on the fidelity of one of their members, which resolve he thinks to be calculated by Congress to delude the people of America, and to defeat the design of the commissioners in effecting an accommodation, which he says he would not prevent, and therefore declines acting any more as a commissioner. Another declaration signed by the three commissioners, Carlisle, Clinton, and Eden, in which they disclaim all knowledge of the conduct of Governor Johnstone, in tampering with a member of Congress, till they read it in the newspapers. This paper contains ungenerous reflections on France, and intimates their astonishment that the Americans should prefer an alliance with France to a submission to the government of England. This, their last manifesto, has been published, and by permission of Congress, circulated through the United States. It was addressed to the members of Congress, the members of the general assemblies or conventions of the several colonies, plantations, and provinces, and was to be in force forty days from the date. It offers a general or separate peace to the colonies, with the revival of their ancient government, secured against future infringements and protected forever from taxation by Great Britain, if they will relinquish their independence, break their faith with France, Congress having formed a treaty of alliance with that nation, and submit to the British yoke. These, if not the positive, are the implied terms on which they offer peace. But if their terms are not complied with, then are we to expect more severe expressions of British vengeance than we have hitherto experienced. Hostilities are, they say, to be conducted in a

*See Appendix, for his character.

more rigorous and terrific form, that the United States may be rendered of less importance to the French King, their inveterate enemy, and our new ally. We are, therefore, if we persevere in our obstinacy, threatened with the cruel extremes of war, and a desolation of our country. This last manifesto contains a recital of what the commissioners term the blessings they are empowered to confer, and a warning of the continued train of evils to which the colonies are at present blindly and obstinately exposing themselves, &c. &c. The commissioners explicitly declared that they had neither authority nor inclination to acknowledge the colonies to be independent-and Congress having informed them that they would treat with Great Britain on no other terms, it put an end to the negotiation, and the commissioners, it is understood, are preparing to depart from the continent. The British government manifests extreme chagrin and disappointment, on account of the prosperous career of the United States, and are very indignant that their conceited omnipotent authority should be so presumptuously called in question by those, whom they still affect to consider in the light of dependant colonies.

In their reply to the declarations of the commissioners, our Congress mention the causes which induced the people of America to array themselves in arms, that it was the oppressive and tyrannical measures of the British ministry, and after briefly reciting the cruelties that had hitherto been exercised by their troops, and navy, acting against us, they add, "that since their incorrigible dispositions cannot be touched by kindness and compassion, it becomes the duty of Congress, by other means, to vindicate the rights of humanity, and they conclude by saying, "that if our enemies presume to execute their threats, and persist in their present mode of barbarity, we will take such exemplary vengeance as shall deter others from a like conduct." They appeal to that God, who searches the hearts of all men, for the rectitude of their intentions, and in his holy presence declare, "that as they are not moved by any light or hasty suggestions of anger or revenge, so through every possible change of fortune they shall adhere to this their determination."

October. The regiment of cavalry, commanded by Colonel Baylor, being posted on our lines near Tappan, their situation was betrayed by some tories, and a party of the enemy surprised them while in a barn, in the night, and mas

sacred a part of them with circumstances of savage cruelty. The commander of the party who disgraced themselves by this foul deed, was the English General Grey. Colonel Baylor's detachment consisted of one hundred and four horsemen. The attack was so sudden, that they were entirely defenceless, and the enemy immediately commenced the horrid work of slaughter; their entreaties and cries for mercy were totally disregarded by their savage foes. It has been well ascertained that the British soldiers were ordered by their inhuman officers to bayonet every man they could find, and to give no quarter. Major General Lord Stirling, having by request ascertained the particulars respecting this execrable transaction, makes the following statement. "On its being intimated to me," says his Lordship, "that Congress were desirous to know the particulars of the massacre of Colonel Baylor's regiment, I desired Dr. Griffith, surgeon and chaplain to General Woodford's brigade, and who attended Colonel Baylor and the other wounded persons, to collect all the evidence he could of this barbarous affair. I have just now received collections on this subject." The collection contains the affidavits and depositions of a number of soldiers belonging to that unfortunate regiment, who solemnly declare, that after they had surren dered and asked for quarter, it was refused. Thomas Hutchinson, sergeant of the third troop, escaped unhurt; but heard the British soldiers cry out, Sliver him," repeatedly. Cullency, of the first troop, who received twelve wounds, says, "that when the enemy entered the barn, where his troops lay, he and the men asked for quarter, and were refused; that the British captain, Bull, after inquiring how many of the rebels were dead, on being told the num ber, ordered all the rest to be knocked on the head, and that his orders were executed on five or six of the wounded." Benson, of the second troop, received also twelve wounds; he declared he heard the men in the barn with him ask for quarter, which was returned with wounds, and abusive language; he thought it in vain to ask for quarter himself, as he heard the soldiers reply to others that begged it, "that their captain had ordered them to stab all, and make no prisoners." Thomas Talley, of the sixth troop, received six wounds; he declared, "that after the enemy had taken him and partly stripped him, the soldiers inquiring of their captain what should be done with him, he ordered him to be killed, and after that he received six wounds in his breast

with their bayonets at different times." Southward, of the fifth troop, says, "that five men out of thirteen of their regiment, in the barn with him, were killed outright, and the rest, excepting himself, bayoneted; that he heard the British officer order his men to put all to death, and afterwards ask if they had finished all-that they offered quarters to some, who on surrendering themselves, they bayoneted." The depositions of seven others, attested by Governor Livingston, of New Jersey, confirm the above declarations. Mr. Morris, lieutenant and adjutant in Baylor's regiment, received seven wounds; he declared that on begging his life after he had surrendered, they replied, yes, d-n you, we will give you quarters, and then rushed on and stabbed him with their bayonets, and stripped him of all his clothes. It is a melancholy and awful consideration, that any unnecessary severity should be put in practice to aggravate the common horrors of war. Britain, who boasts of her bravery, her progress in the polite arts, and generosity of temper, has, in her manner of conducting the war in America, most infamously outraged all the laws of humanity, and set an example of savage brutality, detestable to every civilized people, and to every friend of human kind. They are destroying the character of their nation in the eyes of all the world. Witness their fatal prison ships, their murders in cold blood, their wanton burning and devastations, their licentious abuses, which exhibit a picture of barbarity scarcely to be credited among civilized nations. What then must be our situation, should our country ever be reduced to an absolute subjection to such a mean spirited people? These considerations should awaken every motive that can animate a manly bosom, to despise every danger in repelling from our shores such barbarous invaders, and in humbling such unprincipled foes to our freedom.

His Excellency, the Commander in Chief, made a visit to our hospital; his arrival was scarcely announced, before he presented himself at our doors. Dr. Williams and myself had the honor to wait on this great and truly good man, through the different wards, and to reply to his inquiries relative to the condition of our patients. He appeared to take a deep interest in the situation of the sick and wounded soldiers, and inquired particularly as to their treatment and comfortable accommodations. Not being apprized of his intended visit in time to make preparation for his reception, we were not entirely free from embarrassment, but we had