Major General Charles Lee to George Washington
30 June 1778
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| Maj. Gen. Charles Lee wrote to Washington on 28 June 1778 complaining of an insult received from Washington upon Lee's retreating against orders during the fighting at Monmouth, New Jersey, on that day. Lee received a rebuking reply from Washington on 30 June 1778. In his reply, Washington pointedly noted that Lee had misdated his letter of 28 June as July 1st. Lee wrote the letter below to Washington, again misdating his correspondence (this time as 28 June), asking that he be allowed to justify his actions immediately and requesting that, in the meantime, he be relieved of his duties as Major General. Soon after writing this letter, Lee wrote again to Washington and asked that a court martial be put into effect in order that Lee would have the chance to vindicate himself as soon as possible. |
| Camp June the 28th [30th] 1778-- Sir I beg your Excellency's pardon for the inaccuracy in misdating my letter--you cannot afford me greater pleasure than in giving me the opportunity of shewing to America the sufficiency of her respective servants--I trust that the temporary power of office and the tinsel dignity attending it will not be able by all the mists they can raise to offuscate the bright rays of truth, in the mean time your Excellency can have no objection to my retiring from the army--I am Sir your most obt. hble srvt. Charles Lee |
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