at the battle of Brandywine—­I could never have it authenticated.  He asked excitedly of General Lee, by what ill-timed mistake the disaster had occurred, which was forcing his retreat.  Lee was a passionate, bad man, and disliked to serve under Washington’s command.  He had served with distinction in the British army in Europe, and felt, in adopting the cause of the colonies, he should have been proffered the chief command.  There had been an intrigue at Philadelphia, headed by Dr. Rush, aided by others, to prejudice Congress against the commander-in-chief, to have him displaced, that Lee might succeed him.  If Washington was aware of this, it never escaped him to any of his military family; and certainly never influenced his conduct toward Lee—­for he had confidence in his military abilities, and always gave him the position where the most honor was to be won.  Lee’s reply to Washington was violent, profane, and insolent.  He said to General Lafayette that his reply was:  ’No man can boast of possessing more of that damned rascally virtue than yourself.’  He was arrested, court-martialed, and by its decision, suspended for one year from command.  He never returned to the service, but retired to the interior of Virginia, and lived in great seclusion until his death.

“Toward the young officers Washington was more indulgent than to the older and more experienced.  He would not see the smaller improprieties of conduct in these, unless brought officially to his notice.  Then they were uniformly punished.  He frequently counselled and advised them, but was ever severe toward intemperance, with old and young.

“Upon one occasion, a certain Maryland colonel came suddenly and quite unexpectedly upon the General, who was taking a walk.  The colonel attempted to salute, but in doing so, disclosed his inebriety.  ’You are intoxicated, sir,’ said the General, with a humorous twinkle of the eye.  The colonel replied:  ’I am glad you informed me, General; I will go to my quarters before I make an ass of myself;’ turned and walked away.  Without the slightest movement of feature the General continued his walk.  Nothing more was heard of it until the battle of Monmouth, in which the colonel distinguished himself.  The day after, in going the grand-rounds, he approached the colonel, and remarked:  ’Your gallantry of yesterday excuses your late breach of discipline;’ and saluting him, passed on.

“In a conversation over the mess-table, at West Point, some severe remarks upon the conduct of Washington, in hanging Andre, escaped Hamilton.  He said, warmly, that it was cruelly unjust, and would assuredly sully the future fame of the General; that he felt aggrieved that the ardent solicitations of his staff, and most of the field-officers, in the unfortunate young man’s behalf, had been so little regarded.  These remarks reached the ears of the General.  We were not aware of this, until some weeks subsequently he summoned his staff to his presence, and stated the fact.