Beschreibung:

WASHINGTON, George. Letter signed ("G: o Washington"), as Commander-in-Chief of Continental Army, to Brig. Gen. William Woodford (1734-1780), Norrington, 19 June 1778. 1 page, folio, small tears at folds, seal remnant , WITH AUTOGRAPH FREE FRANK SIGNED ("G: o Washington") on address panel . Text in hand of James McHenry.
WASHINGTON, George. Letter signed ("G: o Washington"), as Commander-in-Chief of Continental Army, to Brig. Gen. William Woodford (1734-1780), Norrington, 19 June 1778. 1 page, folio, small tears at folds, seal remnant , WITH AUTOGRAPH FREE FRANK SIGNED ("G: o Washington") on address panel . Text in hand of James McHenry. WASHINGTON ON THE MOVE TOWARDS THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH A RARE, UNPUBLISHED WAR-DATE LETTER. "I request you to inform me by the return of the Bearer," Washington tells Woodford, "how far you have proceeded on your march and of the precise place of your encampment tonight. I am told by some accident you have not pursued the same route which General Lee has. I have advanced myself with the remainder of the Army to Norrington, about eight or nine miles, and shall proceed precisely at four tomorrow morning. My latest intelligence from Jersey was from Gen l s Dickinson & Maxwell who advised me that the enemy moved from Haddonfield yesterday towards Evesham." Washington's intelligence was excellent at the outset of this first campaign after the Valley Forge winter. One day prior to this letter, British General Henry Clinton withdrew his army from Philadelphia and reached Haddonfield, New Jersey, heading for New York City. Washington immediately gave chase and started towards Coryell's Ferry. "The speed with which the Americans started north is testimony to the transformation brought about at Valley Forge by Steuben, Greene, and Jeremiah Wadsworth" (Boatner). Washington convened a war council on 24 June, asking whether he should merely harass Clinton's march or attempt a general engagement. Charles Lee convinced Washington to avoid a decisive battle, but when a general battle came on at Monmouth on 28 June, Lee's failures cost the Americans a chance at victory. Lee disobeyed Washington's orders to attack Clinton promptly and instead his forces crept slowly towards the enemy, then began retreating in disarray. This was the famous episode when Washington came up to the battle line, took personal command and confronted Lee. Why was Lee retreating? Lee lamely pleaded contradictory intelligence that made him unwilling to attack but then said he was opposed to Washington's plan in any case. Washington berated Lee, and wheeled away from him in a rage. Washington's defense prevented a rout, and in spite of the confusion and the punishing 100-degree heat, the American lines held, demonstrating their ability to fight as disciplined professionals. Clinton, however, slipped away under cover of night on the 28th. By 30 June he was at Sandy Hook, and on 5 July in New York City. Monmouth was one of the great lost chances of the American cause. The destruction of Clinton's army, coming so soon after the devastating British loss at Saratoga, might have won American independence and spared three more years of fighting. Lee was court-martialed and eventually dismissed by Congress from the service. Not in Fitzpatrick or the Papers of George Washington .