Letter to Thomas Bee from John Mathews, July 1, 1778
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Title
Letter to Thomas Bee from John Mathews, July 1, 1778
Creator
Date
July 1, 1778
Subject
Description
John Mathews reports to Thomas Bee on the matter of Lee's retreat
06/18/2019
600 dpi, 24-bit depth, color, Epson Expression 10000XL, Archival masters are tiffs.
Contributor
Bee, Thomas
Cox, Danielle
Silberberg, Jules (Metadata)
Fenn, Debbie (transcription)
Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Charleston Library Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Special Collections Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Charleston Library Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Format
image/jpeg
Type
StillImage
Source
Ms. 14, Thomas Bee Correspondence, 1778-1780.
Language
English
Identifier
ms14let02
Text Item Type Metadata
Transcription
Philadelphia July 1st, 1778
Dear Sir -
I inclose your own account of the action of the 20th June a day that I imagine will be remembered by Clinton all his life. It is very remarkable that we have never fought a battle, but while some of our general officers, have behaved ill, & those whose means, it has been principally owing. Why we have not been so successful as the bravery of our troops have instilled us to be. Had Lee’s conduct been such as we had reason to expect from him on this action, in all probability, we should have gained a compleat victory. The body he commanded was the cream of the army, selected for that service when the General came up & found him retreating, he was very much provoked indeed, & when he asked Lee his reasons for doing so, he replied the service he was sent upon was impracticable to be performed & that Gen'. Washington knew that he had given it, -as his opinion in the Council that is was so. The General ordered him to return to the rear & with all the intrepidity, & coolness, that he so eminently possesses put himself at the head of the troops, led them back again, and conquered. The troops he had to contend against were the Granadiers light infantry, & cavalry of the British army, but both our officers & men - were determined to conquer & nothing could, stand against them, when led on by their Great & illustrious Commander. Some of the Deserters who have come in since the action say that it is allowed by their officers, they have never yet been so shamefully, beaten, not that the loss of men, have been so great but that their choicest troops, were defeated. It is said that the foreign troops preemptorily refused to fight. There was not one of the General’s family, except himself, but what was either wounded, or had their horses shot.
We are thrown into a good deal of confusion with regard to the Confederation. Before we left York Town, Congress proceeded to the consideration of the amendments offered by the different States to the confederation - every one of which have been rejected. It was then ordered to be ingraved to be ready for ratification when we came to Philadelphia. Now, that it is so, Mr. Laurens, Mr. Drayton, & Mr. Hutson say the will not sign it because they do not think themselves authorized by our instructions to do so, unless the other twelve States will agree to sign it likewise. Maryland has refused to ratify. Mr. Heyward & myself are of a different opinion, & think we are authorised, notwithstanding one or even two states were to refuse, nor do I apprehend that inconsistency will arise in the Confederation, from the defection of one or two states which these three gentlemen seem to imagine, however they mean, I believe, to write their sentiments on the subject either to the Pres*, or to you, to be laid before the Assembly. I do not think it necessary for Heyward & myself to write on the subject in our public characters as we think we are authorised to sign it, but as three are necessary to a final ratification we must wait for your decision. This I am clear in, from what I have seen, & known, since I have been in Congress, that if we are to have no Confederation untill the Legislatures of the thirteen States, agree to one, that we shall never have one, & if we have not one, we shall be literally a rope of sand. & I shall tremble for the consequences that will follow, at the end of this war. France I have good reason to think would never have entered into the Treaties she has done with us, had she known we were not Confederate, & when the present misunderstanding comes to be spread abroad, I am afraid it will give such an alarm that those powers who have lately shown so good a
disposition to an alliance with us will immediately fall back, & stand aloof untill they can see on what footing our jaring interests are to stand, but, suppose they were ever so well inclined who are they to enter into an alliance with? It can’t be with the united states. Nor can I conceive they will ever do it, with such a body as Congress at present is bound together by no other Laws than that of the bare necessity of the present situation of our affairs, & lyable to fall to pieces, from the ambition, or caprice of one or two states, but the alarm will operate still more strongly, when it is known, that we have attempted to confederate & can’t. All Europe for some time past, have looked upon us, as in a State of Confederacy. But the greatest danger in my opinion yet remaining. Is not the sovereign will & [illegible] of Congress, at this time, the law of this Continent? some men may deny it. & will, but a late act of theirs. (I mean the case of the embargo) proves it beyond a doubt. If they can do this, they can do anything else. Are they bound by any Law? Have they any limit made out for that Rule of conduct? No they have not, and it’s my [hole in paper] men, wish it to continue so. As an individual I have very strong objections to the Confederation, exclusive of what were pointed out by our State, but still, I would rather have this, than none. I think it is beyond a doubt that in the course of the next six months, Great Britain would have offered us, our own terms, for peace she must have. But when they come to know that we have begun to split, why it’s just the very thing they have all along been endeavoring to effect. Divide & conquer has been their favorite maxim. This will to be seen encourage her to risque another Campaign, it will certainly be their best policy, to try the experiment, & they will hardly let so favourable an opportunity slip, without doing something.
I have wrote to you for leave to come home in December for God’s sake procure it for me. & I’ll be Darn’d if ever you catch me here again. Those who have dispositions for Jangling, & are fond of displaying their Rhetorical abilities, let them come. I never was "as sick of any thing in my life. This is all under the rose tho’, for notwithstanding, it’s only my private sentiments of things, yet I would not wish to impress on the mind of any one the least disrespect of Congress. I should be obliged to you for the particulars, respecting the application, now made with regard to the Confederation, when decided upon by you.
The enemy are now almost all over on Staten Island, Our army are moving slowly up the No. river.
I am, D. Sir,
with the most sincere regard
your most obed. Serv.
Jn°. Mathews
1778 John Mathews from Congress
July 1st. 1778.
The Honbl. Thomas Bee, Esqre.
Charles Town
South Carolina
Genl. Lee’s misconduct at Monmouth
Mr. M. disgusted with
the [illegible] in Congress
The confederation discussed -
Congress will be omnipotent, unless restrained by it -
Dear Sir -
I inclose your own account of the action of the 20th June a day that I imagine will be remembered by Clinton all his life. It is very remarkable that we have never fought a battle, but while some of our general officers, have behaved ill, & those whose means, it has been principally owing. Why we have not been so successful as the bravery of our troops have instilled us to be. Had Lee’s conduct been such as we had reason to expect from him on this action, in all probability, we should have gained a compleat victory. The body he commanded was the cream of the army, selected for that service when the General came up & found him retreating, he was very much provoked indeed, & when he asked Lee his reasons for doing so, he replied the service he was sent upon was impracticable to be performed & that Gen'. Washington knew that he had given it, -as his opinion in the Council that is was so. The General ordered him to return to the rear & with all the intrepidity, & coolness, that he so eminently possesses put himself at the head of the troops, led them back again, and conquered. The troops he had to contend against were the Granadiers light infantry, & cavalry of the British army, but both our officers & men - were determined to conquer & nothing could, stand against them, when led on by their Great & illustrious Commander. Some of the Deserters who have come in since the action say that it is allowed by their officers, they have never yet been so shamefully, beaten, not that the loss of men, have been so great but that their choicest troops, were defeated. It is said that the foreign troops preemptorily refused to fight. There was not one of the General’s family, except himself, but what was either wounded, or had their horses shot.
We are thrown into a good deal of confusion with regard to the Confederation. Before we left York Town, Congress proceeded to the consideration of the amendments offered by the different States to the confederation - every one of which have been rejected. It was then ordered to be ingraved to be ready for ratification when we came to Philadelphia. Now, that it is so, Mr. Laurens, Mr. Drayton, & Mr. Hutson say the will not sign it because they do not think themselves authorized by our instructions to do so, unless the other twelve States will agree to sign it likewise. Maryland has refused to ratify. Mr. Heyward & myself are of a different opinion, & think we are authorised, notwithstanding one or even two states were to refuse, nor do I apprehend that inconsistency will arise in the Confederation, from the defection of one or two states which these three gentlemen seem to imagine, however they mean, I believe, to write their sentiments on the subject either to the Pres*, or to you, to be laid before the Assembly. I do not think it necessary for Heyward & myself to write on the subject in our public characters as we think we are authorised to sign it, but as three are necessary to a final ratification we must wait for your decision. This I am clear in, from what I have seen, & known, since I have been in Congress, that if we are to have no Confederation untill the Legislatures of the thirteen States, agree to one, that we shall never have one, & if we have not one, we shall be literally a rope of sand. & I shall tremble for the consequences that will follow, at the end of this war. France I have good reason to think would never have entered into the Treaties she has done with us, had she known we were not Confederate, & when the present misunderstanding comes to be spread abroad, I am afraid it will give such an alarm that those powers who have lately shown so good a
disposition to an alliance with us will immediately fall back, & stand aloof untill they can see on what footing our jaring interests are to stand, but, suppose they were ever so well inclined who are they to enter into an alliance with? It can’t be with the united states. Nor can I conceive they will ever do it, with such a body as Congress at present is bound together by no other Laws than that of the bare necessity of the present situation of our affairs, & lyable to fall to pieces, from the ambition, or caprice of one or two states, but the alarm will operate still more strongly, when it is known, that we have attempted to confederate & can’t. All Europe for some time past, have looked upon us, as in a State of Confederacy. But the greatest danger in my opinion yet remaining. Is not the sovereign will & [illegible] of Congress, at this time, the law of this Continent? some men may deny it. & will, but a late act of theirs. (I mean the case of the embargo) proves it beyond a doubt. If they can do this, they can do anything else. Are they bound by any Law? Have they any limit made out for that Rule of conduct? No they have not, and it’s my [hole in paper] men, wish it to continue so. As an individual I have very strong objections to the Confederation, exclusive of what were pointed out by our State, but still, I would rather have this, than none. I think it is beyond a doubt that in the course of the next six months, Great Britain would have offered us, our own terms, for peace she must have. But when they come to know that we have begun to split, why it’s just the very thing they have all along been endeavoring to effect. Divide & conquer has been their favorite maxim. This will to be seen encourage her to risque another Campaign, it will certainly be their best policy, to try the experiment, & they will hardly let so favourable an opportunity slip, without doing something.
I have wrote to you for leave to come home in December for God’s sake procure it for me. & I’ll be Darn’d if ever you catch me here again. Those who have dispositions for Jangling, & are fond of displaying their Rhetorical abilities, let them come. I never was "as sick of any thing in my life. This is all under the rose tho’, for notwithstanding, it’s only my private sentiments of things, yet I would not wish to impress on the mind of any one the least disrespect of Congress. I should be obliged to you for the particulars, respecting the application, now made with regard to the Confederation, when decided upon by you.
The enemy are now almost all over on Staten Island, Our army are moving slowly up the No. river.
I am, D. Sir,
with the most sincere regard
your most obed. Serv.
Jn°. Mathews
1778 John Mathews from Congress
July 1st. 1778.
The Honbl. Thomas Bee, Esqre.
Charles Town
South Carolina
Genl. Lee’s misconduct at Monmouth
Mr. M. disgusted with
the [illegible] in Congress
The confederation discussed -
Congress will be omnipotent, unless restrained by it -
Collection
Citation
Mathews, John, “Letter to Thomas Bee from John Mathews, July 1, 1778,” Charleston Library Society Digital Collections, accessed May 17, 2024, https://charlestonlibrarysociety.omeka.net/items/show/1318.