George Washington to Major General Charles Lee

30 June 1778

«back | home

Following the Battle of Monmouth on 28 June 1778, Washington received a letter from Maj. Gen. Charles Lee in which Lee claimed that Washington had unfairly accused him of disobeying orders during the course of the fighting that day. In that letter, Lee requested the chance to justify his actions "to the army, to the Congress, to America, and to the world in general." Washington's reply is below, in which he defends his statements, which were spoken after Lee's troops beat a hasty and unexpected retreat towards the lines of the entire Continental army rather than engage the British troops as ordered. Lee's retreat helped bring the British and American armies face to face for the first time, and could have dealt a harsh blow to the entire American military force if the ensuing battle had not been an American success. After receiving this letter, Lee replied almost immediately with another letter to Washington.

Head Qr. English Town June 30th 1778.

Sir,

I received your letter, (dated, thro' mistake, the 1st of July) expressed, as I conceive, in terms highly improper. I am not conscious of having made use of any very singular expressions at the time of my meeting you, as you intimate. What I recollect to have said was dictated by duty and warranted by the occasion. As soon as circumstances will permit, you shall have an opportunity either of justifying yourself to the army, to Congress, to America, and to the world in general; or of convincing them that you were guilty of a breach of orders and of misbehaviour before the enemy, on the 28th inst. in not attacking them as you had been directed and in making an unnecessary, disorderly, and shameful retreat. I am Sir, your most obt. servt,

Go Washington

Introduction | Transcription | Original