Charles Lee (general)

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Charles Lee (general) : biography

February 6, 1732 – October 2, 1782

Charles Lee (February 6, 1732 – October 2, 1782) was a British soldier who served as a General of the Continental Army during the American War of Independence. Lee also served earlier in the British army during the Seven Years War. After the war he sold his commission and served for a time in the Polish army of King Stanislaus II. In 1773 Lee, who had Whig views, moved to America and bought an estate in Virginia. When the fighting broke out in the American War of Independence in 1775 he volunteered to serve with rebel forces. Lee’s ambitions to become Commander in Chief of the Continental Army were thwarted by the appointment of George Washington.

During 1776, forces under his command repulsed a British attempt to capture Charleston, which boosted his standing with the army and Congress. Later that year he was captured by British cavalry under Banastre Tarleton and held as a prisoner until exchanged in 1778. During the indecisive Battle of Monmouth later that year, Lee led an assault on the British which miscarried. He was subsequently court-martialed and his military service brought to an end. He died in Philadelphia in 1782.

Early life

Lee was born in Cheshire, England, the son of General John Lee and Isabella Bunbury (daughter of Sir Henry Bunbury, 3rd Baronet). He was sent to school in Switzerland and became proficient in several languages. He returned to England in 1746 at the age of fourteen to attend grammar school at Bury St Edmunds. That same year his father, then Colonel of the 55th Foot (later renumbered the 44th), purchased a commission for Charles as an Ensign in the same regiment.

Later life

Lee tried to get Congress to overturn the court-martial’s verdict, and when this failed, he resorted to open attacks on Washington’s character. Lee’s popularity then plummeted. Colonel John Laurens, an aide to Washington, challenged him to a duel, one in which Lee was wounded in his side. He was challenged to many more duels. He was released from his duty on January 10, 1780. He retired to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was stricken with fever and died.

Lee was very fond of dogs, and was seldom seen without half a dozen at his heels.

Fort Lee, New Jersey, on the New Jersey side of the Hudson river, across the river from Fort Washington, was named for him, as were Lee, Massachusetts, Lee, New Hampshire and Leetown, West Virginia.

American Revolution

Continental Army

When war appeared inevitable, he volunteered his services to the colonies. He expected to be named Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, being the most experienced candidate. On the other hand, he was born in Britain, somewhat eccentric, slovenly in appearance, coarse in language, and perhaps most of all, he wanted to be paid: by joining the rebellion, he forfeited all his properties in England, and wanted to be compensated. George Washington, on the other hand, was sober, steady, calm, and best of all, would work without pay, asking only that the Continental Congress should cover his expenses. Washington also was a good political choice: a southern commander to pair with a primarily New England fighting force. Washington received the appointment, and Lee was offered the subordinate rank of Major General. Because of this, Lee had nothing but the utmost disdain for his superior. He once remarked, "Washington is not fit enough to command a Sergeant’s Guard". Lee was often considered second in command of the Continental forces, although Artemas Ward, who was not in good health, officially held this position.

During the encampment at Valley Forge in late-1777 and early-1778, his headquarters was at the David Harvard House. Note: This includes

Southern command

Lee also received various other titles: in 1776, he was named Commander of the so-called Canadian Department, although he never got to serve in this capacity. Instead, he was appointed as the first Commander of the Southern Department. He served in this post for six months, until he was recalled to the main army. During his time in the South, the British sent an expedition under Henry Clinton to recover Charleston, South Carolina. Lee oversaw the fortification of the city. Fort Sullivan was a fortification built out of palmetto logs, later named for commander Col. William Moultrie. Lee ordered the army to evacuate the fort because as he said it would only last thirty minutes and all soldiers would be killed. Governor John Rutledge forbade Moultrie to evacuate and the fort held. The spongy palmetto logs repelled the cannonball from the British ships. Thus a British assault on Sullivan’s Island was driven off and Clinton then abandoned his attempts to capture the city.