Richard Henry Lee to John Page

By the express lately sent from hence, I enclosed you both the printed accounts that we have had of the General's success against the enemy in New Jersey. Colonel Baylor, who brought us the General's letter, says that a party of Hessians more was brought in just as he came away, which makes the number of prisoners between one thousand and eleven hundred. Re-enforcements are daily going up, and in such numbers that the General intends to push the enemy, and we hope successfully, out of the Jerseys. The Hessian officers in general behaved infamously in this battle; and the British light-horse, with the Tories that were in town, scampered off at the beginning of the engagement. A few days before this attack, a flag was sent over to Trenton to this Colonel Rohl, now a prisoner: he received and treated the officer kindly; asked him if 'twas not reported that the Hessians plundered much, and that they were the only plunderers. The officer answering in the affirmative, Colonel Rohl replied that the English had address enough to have it so believed, but that it was notorious that the British officers and soldiers plundered more than the Hessians. Two British officers present denied it not. Soon after this rout, two thousand Hessians that were at Bordentown, below Trenton, on Delaware, marched off, having previously sent away one hundred wagons loaded with plunder, directly towards New York. If the Hessians are the smallest plunderers, what are the British? In truth, we hear that the people are enraged to a great degree at the brutal treatment they have met with. Our worthy friend, General Lee, had retired to a house but a little way from his army (and by the advice of a man who lived in the parts, and who affected great resentment at the enemies' conduct) to write a few letters to General Gates and others on business of consequence; when the villian who had brought him there, went privately express to the enemy and brought up the light-horse, seventy of them, who made the General prisoner, carrying him off without his hat. They had travelled very fast, their horses being in a foam when they arrived at the house. This is certainly a heavy loss to the American cause, but still it rests on ground too strong to be shaken. You say it is reported that my letters have given up all for lost. You may rely upon it, sir, that this is false. I have related things truly as they were, and whilst Pennsylvania was in lethargy, supposed, as our General was without an army, that Philadelphia might fall; but always subjoined that, though this might hurt, yet the loss of ten such cities would not ruin, the American cause, and called upon my correspondents to remember that at the beginning of this quarrel we told our enemies that we knew they could take our cities and our sea-coast, but that still enough would be left to secure American freedom. These have been my sentiments, and therefore you see how grossly I have been misrepresented.

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But the treatment I have received this way from some mean-spirited, dirty, envious wretches, has been frequent and gross. My contempt for those folks is abundantly greater than I can express. I am perfectly satisfied that these little malicious lies will make no impression on you or any sensible, virtuous man, and the rest may think of me as they please. I love their ill opinion, but should be miserable under their esteem. The king of Spain has certainly given us free use of his ports for our ships of all kinds, including prizes. And every wicked art, even lies of the British Ambassador at the Court of France, cannot prevent them from assisting us.

Farewell, dear sir; encourage the enlisting business, because with our new army American freedom and independence will be secure.

Richard Henry Lee.