York, Nov. 25th, 1777.
My dear Sir.1
I shall endeavour to answer your several queries concerning Gen. De Borre, but in the first place permit me to lay down a certain general principle by which I am actuated.2
To counteract by all prudent and possible means a certain rage against foreigners that has unhappily possessed the American mind, and which I fear will injure our cause extremely in Europe.
Gen. De Borre is certainly an officer of rank and old service in France, and I believe of more military knowledge than many Continentals Generals that I could mention. It is not true that any real misconduct at Brandywine occasioned the proceedings against him that happened in Congress. The matter stands thus. The Maryland troops behaved ill that day, and their advocate, Mr. Chace, with some other noisy members, attributed the cause to the insufficiency of Generals Sullivan and De Borre. Many aspersions was thrown on the characters of both these officers, and they were both ordered before a Court of Inquiry. The former passed through his trial, and has been acquitted with much honor. The latter being old, passionate and fractious, was so disturbed that he, without knowing the consequences, hastily resigned. His enemies were satisfied, since all that they wanted was to remove him from the army. It is true that he afterwards desired the rank of Major General, but this is rather a fashion of his country than vice in the man. Eager after military honors, nothing stops their pursuit. I am of opinion that there is no person who can now produce any fact against the reputation of this gentleman. And therefore I might well say that he was rather unfortunate. Wishing him to return to his own country as little hurt with our treatment as possible, and knowing that he was to pass thro Williamsburg, I gave him the letter which has fortunately produced your civil notice of him. You do not mention Monsieur Balford [Valfort], to whom I gave a letter also, as he thought of visiting you on his way to Charles Town. This gentleman is of singular worth, and far above the action of our little paltry American Wits, who think it so clever to insult foreigners with their silly attempts at ridicule. It is certainly wise, dear sir, to be guarded against impositions from foreign Adventurers, but it is equally unwise to cast into one undistinguished group all of other countries, without distinguishing the good from the bad. This is a remnant of English unsociability and self sufficiency, which it becomes us now to get rid of as quickly as possible. In a former letter you desire to know my reasons for contending against Maj. Butler that Ticonderoga was an important post, and you concluded it was for the sake of argument.3 I am not fond of such practice, and consider it the product of vanity or idle amusement. The truth is that Ticonderoga in its modern sense, being the place where the French fortified on the West side of Lake Champlain, is not a place of consequence, altho Mount Independence, opposite it on the East side, is a very important Post. It was seen that the former might fall, as it was not a very good situation, and required a great number of men to hold it, while Independence was very tenable by a much inferior force, and really of more consequence. It was judged proper to guard the public mind against false conclusions in case of advancements, and therefore it was that I more than once in public contended for the same thing that I then did with Maj. Butler. Ticonderoga in the Indian language signifies the congregation of many waters, and comprehends the whole district, but the modern meaning of the word is the old French fort. I will not trouble you here with a minute recital of the foreign intelligence we have received. Suffice it to say that a war between France and G.B. seems inevitable immediate. Its certain that all homeward bound French West Indiamen are stopt Embargo to prevent their falling into the enemies hands. The French General has been ordered to put his hands into immediate state of defence, and is assured that 5000 additional troops shall directly be sent over.
Portugal has acceded to the family compact. Prussia has opened his ports to the Americans. M[adras] it is reported has been taken from the English by the natives. No foreigners would meddle with the last Parliament loan, altho the inducements were greater than usual. These are all favorable circumstances, yet we stand on precarious ground without immediate and extensive taxation, great economy, and wise attention to our military defences. How does it happen, my dear Sir, that the Barges of the men of war take our vessels at the mouths of our rivers, when we incur so great an expense in Gallies? These vessels, instead of being constantly at the mouths of the respective rivers, and the best of them in the Bay, looking the men of war in the face, are generally far distant in some snug creek or harbor, living at ease and diverting themselves on shore. This will not do. Our marines must be better managed, I am glad to hear we have got an able Engineer, and hope no time will be lost in strengthening and securing our harbors and rivers. Accessible as we are by water, this is of great consequence. Mons. Loyeaute declines the command of the Academy. He says that military honors and a desire to help secure the liberties of America by immediate action, not the desire of money, brot him to America. If he can’t be in the War, he will return to his own country. His father is a General of estimation in the Artillery of France, and has taken pains with the education of his son, who is sensible, well bred, and an able officer in the Artillery branch; but we have lost him, and I hope the person prefered to him in the command of our Regiment will be able to serve the public. I am sure we want such knowledge extremely, and unless skillful men are appointed to the principal commands in that Regiment, how shall the great expense it will create be compensated by real utility?
Bad water, bad air, and bad every thing else, joined to excessive business, have injured my health and compels me to go home for the winter season. When I am at Chantilly I shall be glad to hear from you when you are most at leisure, or when any important news shall reach you.
I am, dear Sir, most affectionately yours,
Richard Henry Lee
MS not found; reprinted from Magazine of American History 2 (October 1878). 614 - 16.
1 Although the recipient of this letter was not identified, Lee was writing in response to questions raised in Page’s 11 September and November 14 letters to Lee, which are in the Lee Family Papers, University of Virginia Archives.
2 In his 14 November letter Page had asked Lee to give him information about General de Borre’s character and his conduct at Brandywine. See also John Hancock to Washington, 13 September 1777, note 1.
3 In his 11 September letter Page had asked Lee to explain the statement that Ticonderoga was "a Place of little consequence," which Lee had made during a "Conversation with Majr. Butler of Chas. Town in the coffee House Porch at Williamsburg."