Page:Charles Lee Papers 1873 Vol 3.djvu/281

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262 THE LEE PAPERS.

they had to encounter with a body of troops, both in point of spirit and discipline, not to be surpassed in the whole world, headed by an officer of experience, intrepidity, coolness, and decision. The Americans were composed, in part, of raw lads and old men, half armed, with no practice or discipline, commanded without order, and God knows by whom. Yet what was the event? It is known to the world the British troops, notwithstanding their address and gallantry, were most severely handled, and almost defeated.* The troops under the command of General Montgomery, in his expedition against St. John's, Chambly, and into Canada, who were chiefly composed of native Americans, as they were from the Eastern States, displayed, by his own account, in a letter I received from that illustrious young man, not only great courage, but zeal and enterprize. The assault under Arnold, on the lower town of Quebec, was an attempt that would have startled the most approved veterans ; and, if they miscarried, it cannot be attributed to a deficiency of valour, but to want of proper information of the circumstances of the place. The defence of Sullivan's Island, by Colonel Moultrie, might be termed an ordeal. The garrison was, both men and officers, entirely raw ; the fire furious, and of a duration almost beyond example; their situation extremely critical and dangerous, for the rear was in a manner open ; and, if General Clinton could, as it was expected, have landed on the island, there were no resources but in the last desperate resolutions. With respect to the transactions on Long and York Islands, I must be silent, as I am ignorant of them ; but, from some observations after I joined the army, I have reason to think the fault could not have been in the men, or in the common bulk of officers.

The Colonels Stark, Prescot, Little, Gardner, Read, Nixon, and the two Brewers, were entitled to immortal honour for their actions on that day ; but, according to the usual justice of the writers of newspapers and gazettes, their names have scarcely been mentioned on the occasion.