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diff --git a/26647.txt b/26647.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..118d21d --- /dev/null +++ b/26647.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4239 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Nuts for Future Historians to Crack, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Nuts for Future Historians to Crack + +Author: Various + +Release Date: September 17, 2008 [EBook #26647] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NUTS FOR FUTURE HISTORIANS *** + + + + +Produced by Irma Spehar, Christine D. and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + [Transcriber's note: Many instances of misspelled words and + inconsistent punctuation occur in this e-book. They have been + retained as printed in the original. The most obvious instances + have been marked [TN].] + + + + +NUTS + +FOR + +Future Historians to Crack. + +COLLECTED BY + +HORACE W. SMITH. + + +CONTAINING THE + +CADWALADER PAMPHLET, VALLEY FORGE LETTERS + +etc., etc., etc. + + PHILADELPHIA: + HORACE W. SMITH, 20 SOUTH SIXTH STREET. + 1856. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +For some years I had been engaged in collecting material for a life of my +great grandfather, the Rev. William Smith, D. D., Provost of the University +of Pennsylvania, and in doing so, I read all the Bibliographical and +Historical works which I thought could in any way make mention of him. In +no case did I find anything said against his character as a man, until I +read Wm. B. Reed's Life of his grandfather, Gen. Joseph Reed. His remarks +were uncalled for and _ungentlemanly_; what they were, _amount to nothing_, +as they were _untrue_; and therefore not worth repeating. My first idea was +to speak of Gen. Joseph Reed in the same manner, though with more truth; +but finding the truth had been suppressed, and that to publish all I could +wish in regard to Reed, would take up too much room in my work, and be +departing from my original design, I therefore, concluded to publish all +the historical facts in regard to Reed in a small volume by itself, and to +publish such an edition, that it could not be bought up and destroyed. + +I have taken the liberty of using the following extracts from an article +published in the Fireside Visitor--by J. M. Church. Whom it was written by +I do not know, but the writer evidently understood his subject. + + * * * * * + +"When it was announced that Mr. Irving was about to present to the public a +life of Washington, we hailed the information with feelings of delight, not +unmingled with gratitude, that the illustrious author of 'Columbus,' the +Sketch Book, and Knickerbocker should make the crowning work of his life +and literary labors, the history of the greatest and purest of patriots, so +dear to the hearts of all his countrymen, and one who, the more time and +investigation develop and explain his motives and actions, the greater and +nobler he appears. Our expectations were great when we contemplated the +vast field that time had laid open to the historian; and though Marshall +and Sparks had left but little to do, we felt there was still enough to +make Mr. Irving's the greatest history of that greatest of men. + +On the appearances of the first volume, a number of errors were noticed by +the press, which were subsequently corrected. The most important one, that +in relation to Major Stobo, we are glad to see fully explained and +corrected in a note at the end of the second volume. In the early part of +the second volume, however, a far graver error occurs, we mean Mr. Irving's +estimate of the conduct and character of Gen. Reed, and is it mainly the +object of this communication to set that matter in its true light. + +Who can read without emotion of the trials and difficulties that beset +Washington throughout the whole of his career? A Congress so corrupt, that +Livingston writes, 'I am so discouraged by our public mismanagement, and +the additional load of business thrown upon me by the villainy of those who +pursue nothing but accumulating fortunes, to the ruin of their country, +that I almost sink under it.' False friends and traitors intrigue against +him--even Gen. Reed, the very man Mr. Irving so delighted to honor, and an +inmate of his household, writes a letter to Gen. Lee, the aspiring rival of +Washington, reflecting, with harsh severity, on the conduct and character +of his commander and benefactor. Lee's answer fell into the hands of +Washington, and was read by him during the absence of Reed, who made no +attempt at an explanation until Lee was taken prisoner. He then endeavored +to explain the delay, by saying that he had been in the meantime +endeavoring to get possession of his letter, in order that he might show to +Washington that it contained nothing to call forth the violent answer of +Gen. Lee, and, 'In the meantime,' writes Reed, 'I most solemnly assure you, +that you would see in it nothing inconsistent with that respect and +affection which I have, and ever shall bear to your person and character.' +Who can read this without being shocked at the falsehood of the man! + +It was, indeed, fortunate for Reed, that Washington never saw that letter. +But how could Mr. Irving quote a portion of so important a document, while +he suppressed the material part? Indeed, we are tempted to believe that +some other hand had supervised those pages, before they were presented to +the public. + +We conceive it to be the duty of an impartial historian to collect facts, +and present them to his readers, and he is guilty of falsifying history who +suppresses them. His readers have the same right to _all_ the evidence that +bears upon important occurrence that he has, and though the author may give +his views and conclusions, the reader is not of necessity compelled to +agree with him. We for one, must beg leave to differ from Mr. Irving in his +estimate of Reed's character, and we doubt not that every one reading his +letter will sustain us in our opinion, that his conduct was false and +treacherous in the extreme. + +In order properly to appreciate the baseness of Reed's conduct, it is +necessary to consider the circumstances under which it occurred. It was +immediately after Washington had experienced the most trying reverses. Fort +Washington had just been captured; over two thousand men had been taken +prisoners, and his own eyes had beheld his men, partners of his toil, +bayoneted and cut down while they begged for quarter. The Jerseys were +overrun, and Philadelphia threatened by the enemy. Add to this, the +accounts he received from Congress of the state of affairs at home, and it +wanted but the discovery of such treachery to crush a spirit less mighty +than his. + +It appears strange that Mr. Irving should form such an undue estimate of +Reed's character, nor can we believe him to be ignorant of what was his +real position and standing among his brother officers. As early as 1776, +when Reed contemplated resigning his commission as Adjutant General, the +announcement was hailed with pleasure, for Reed had few friends. Col. +Trumbull, writing to a member of Congress on the subject, says, "I heard +Jos. Reed had sent his resignation some time ago; in the name of common +sense, why is it not accepted? That man's want of abilities in his office +had introduced the greatest disorders and want of discipline into the army; +it ought to originate from that office. Then he had done more to raise and +keep up a jealousy between the New England and other troops, than all the +men in the army besides. Indeed, his _stinking pride_, as General George +Clinton expresses it, has gone so far, that I expect every day to hear he +is called to account by some officer or other; indeed, he is universally +hated and despised, and it is high time he was displaced." If Mr. Irving +has not seen that letter, we refer him to the New York Gazette, of December +the 9th, 1776, or to Mr. Peter Force's American Archives, if that work be +more accessible to him. + +We have still another complaint of omission to make against Mr. Irving, and +we think it too important a point in the history of Gen. Reed to be +overlooked. + +A few days previous to the battle of Trenton, when affairs were most +gloomy, and not a single star appeared to give the faintest glimmer of +hope, Reed appeared despondent: "He felt the game was up, and there was no +use of following the wretched remains of a broken army; he had a family, +and it was but right that he should look after their interests; besides, +the time had nearly expired during which they could avail themselves of the +pardon offered by Gen. Howe to all those who should go over to the enemy." +Such were the lamentations of Gen. Reed, until, in the agony of his fears, +he communicated them to Gen. Cadwalader. The feelings of that high-minded, +chivalrous soldier can hardly be imagined--his first impulse was to order +Reed under the arrest, but was deterred for fear of the effect the example +might have on the men. He, however remonstrated with him, and his arguments +appeared for the time to restore his composure. During the night previous +to the battle of Trenton, Reed lay concealed in Burlington, in anxious +expectation of the result of Washington's great master-stroke. + +He had opposed the enterprise in his communications with Washington, by the +most discouraging representations, and now anxiously awaited the result. + +His fears were worked up to the highest pitch; and the burthen of his +conversation was, how he should protect himself. He had with him a +companion in his weakness, and the determination they both came to was, to +go over to the enemy early in the morning. Before, however, they could +execute their intentions, the news arived[TN] of the victory of the +Americans, the turning point in our country's fortunes, which gave hope to +the people and courage to Gen. Reed. + +A few years after these transactions, Reed was accused in the public +newspapers of having meditated a desertion to the enemy. He replied in a +pamphlet, in which he attempted to defend himself, and addressed it to Gen. +Cadwalader, whom he conceived to be the author of the charges and between +whom and himself there was some unfriendly feelings, arising out of +pecuniary transactions between them. Cadwalader came out with a crushing[A] +"Reply," in which though he denied having published the statements in the +newspapers, he yet affirmed the truth of them, and brought such +overwhelming _proofs_ to sustain his charges, that the public lost all +confidence in Reed, and failed to re-elect him to the office he had just +held. It is not within the limits of an article like this to go through +Gen. Cadwalader's pamphlet, suffice it to say, he was supported by +Alexander Hamilton, Dickinson, Doct. Rush, Bradford, and numerous others. +Among other things, it was proved that previous to the battle of Trenton, +Reed had sent to Count Dunop, who commanded at Bordentown, to ask if he +could have a _protection_ for himself and _a friend_. The messenger +narrowly escaped being hanged, through the intercession of a friend of +Count Dunop. This is corroborated by an extract from the Diary of "Mrs. +Margaret Morris." + +Extract from a Journal kept by Margaret Morris, for the amusement and +information of her sister Mitcah Martha Moore. Her residence at the time, +was on the "bank" at Burlington, N. J., at the corner of Ellis Street. + + * * * * * + +"January 4th, 1777, we were told by a woman who lodged in the same room +where General Reed and Colonel C---- took shelter, when the battle of +Trenton dispersed the Americans, that they (Reed and C----) had laid awake +all night consulting together about the best means of securing themselves, +and that they came to the determination of setting off next day as soon as +it was light to the British Camp, and joining them with all the men under +their command. But when the morning came an express arrived with an account +that the Americans had gained a great victory. The English made to flee +before the ragged American Regiments. This report put the rebel General and +Colonel in high spirits, and they concluded to remain firm to the cause of +America. They paid me a visit, and though in my heart I despised +them--treated them civilly, and was on the point of telling them their +conversation the preceding night had been conveyed to me on the wings of +the wind, but on second thought gave it up--though perhaps the time may +come when they may hear more about it." + +There is still another page in the life of Gen. Reed that remains to be +told, and that is the attempt alleged to have been made by Mrs. Ferguson to +bribe him. All are familiar with his intensely patriotic reply, refusing +_ten thousand pounds_, and the best office in the colonies, in his +Majesty's gift. To be sure, Gov. Johnstone,[B] in a speech before +Parliament, most emphatically denied having employed[C] Mrs. Ferguson to +offer to Gen. Reed any bribe whatever, while at the same time he admits +that _other_ means besides persuasion were used. Does he allude to the pair +of elegant pistols that Reed accepted after the attempt to bribe him, and +with which he was charged in the public papers? But Mr. Irving has not yet +approached this delicate subject, and to his able hands we leave it, fully +conscious he will give it the attention so important a circumstance +requires. + +Should he fail, however, to do justice to Gen. Reed in this matter, he will +pardon us if we again take the liberty of addressing him on the subject. + +We have been careful in our strictures upon the character and conduct of +Gen. Reed to assert nothing that unquestionable evidence does not sustain; +and if by our remarks we have lowered him from the undeserved eminence to +which the injudicious zeal of interested parties has so industriously +labored to elevate him, this result must rather be attributed to the +weakness of the support, and the frailty of the statue, than to the vigor +of the blows we have bestowed upon it. + +The most we have done has been to remove the deceptive varnish, and the +idol has fallen to pieces. + + T. S. P. + +Proceedings of a General Court Martial of the line, held at Raritan in the +State of New Jersey, for the trial of Major General Arnold, Published by +order of Congress, Philadelphia. + +Printed by Francis Bailey in Market Street, 1780. + +Extract from the defence of General Arnold. + + * * * * * + +"On this occasion I think I may be allowed to say, without vanity, that my +conduct, from the earliest period of the war to the present time, has been +steady and uniform. I have ever obeyed the calls of my country, and stepped +forth in her defence, in every hour of danger, when many were deserting her +cause, which appeared desperate. I have often bled in it; the marks that I +bear, are sufficient evidence of my conduct. The impartial public will +judge of my services, and whether the returns that I have met with are not +tinctured with the basest ingratitude. Conscious of my own innocence, and +the unworthy methods taken to injure me, I can with boldness say to my +persecutors in general, _and to the chief of them in particular_, that in +the hour of _danger_ when the affairs of America wore a _gloomy aspect_, +when our illustrious general was retreating through New Jersey, with a +handful of men, I did not propose to my associates basely to quit the +general, and sacrifice the cause of my country to my personal safety, by +going over to the enemy and making my peace. + +"I can say I never basked in the sunshine of my general's favour, and +courted him to his face, when I was at the same time treating him with the +greatest disrespect, and villifying[TN] his character when absent. _This is +more than a ruling member of the Council of Pennsylvania can say," as it is +alleged and believed._ + +The first edition of the Cadwalader Pamphlet was published in the year +1782, within the last twenty years all the copies, or nearly so, have been +spirited away--where or by whom no one knows. They have been stolen from +the public libraries and from the book cases of private individuals. In +1848 a second edition was issued. The publisher of this edition was +threatened with prosecution, and although but six years have passed, it is +now looked upon as a valuable curiosity. To the second edition was prefixed +the following Introduction. + +"A few years since a writer, over the signature of "Valley Forge," +published in an evening paper of Philadelphia, called the "_Evening +Journal_," and put forth certain statements connected with our +revolutionary history, which caused a great excitement, and led to a +challenge of an interview with the author, by the descendants of a person, +whose character was considered as involved in doubt, as to his being a +patriot of 1776. The party challenged failed to attend the proposed +meeting, and this pamphlet will give a clue to the whole writings of +"Valley Forge," and justify completely the course pursued by the editor of +the "_Evening Journal_," who is not now of this world, and of course a +matter immaterial perhaps to his friends and relatives. + + NOTES.--"The allusion to the disrespectful treatment of the + General refers in part, (I fancy) to the letter addressed by + General Charles Lee to Reed, which came to head quarters and + was opened by Washington."--See Life of Joseph Reed. + + "Joseph Reed at the time of the prosecution of Arnold was + President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, + and as is well known, took an active and prominent part + against him."--See Spark's Life of Arnold, page 140. + +The letter of Major Lennox and P. Dickinson refer to a person whose name is +not mentioned, who was included in the application to Count Donop for a +protection. There certainly must be in the possession of some of the +descendants of revolutionary families, evidence to show who this person +was: and it may yet be produced, to do justice to the memory of the men who +figured in those times. + +_Trenton, December 26th, 1846._ + +The Valley Forge Letters were originally published in the Evening Journal, +edited by Reuben Whitney, Esq., in the year 1842. I have given the printer +the cuttings from that paper, so that the reader will get them in the exact +condition in which they appeared, perhaps not in the same order. + + + + +A REPLY + +TO + +Genl. JOSEPH REED'S Remarks + +ON A LATE PUBLICATION IN THE + +INDEPENDENT GAZETTEER; + +WITH SOME OBSERVATIONS ON HIS + +ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA. + +By General John Cadwalader. + +WITH THE LETTERS OF + + Gen. George Washington, Gen. Alexander Hamilton, Major David + Lennox, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Gen. P. Dickinson, + Gen. Henry Laurens and others. + + * * * + +PHILADELPHIA: + +PRINTED AND SOLD BY T. BRADFORD. + +In Front Street, the fourth door below the Coffee-House. + +1783. + + + + +TO THE PUBLIC. + + +When an appeal is made to the public by a person who has interested himself +in the affairs of America from the beginning of the present revolution, he +has a claim to their attention, with respect to transactions that reflect +either upon his political conduct or principles as a patriot. + +I wish, most sincerely, that all prejudices in favor or against General +Reed or myself, may be laid aside on the present occasion, and that truth +and justice may influence the determination of the public. + +The world is now in possession of General Reed's address to me, relating to +a conversation I had with him at Bristol, in the winter of 1776, and as it +contains the grossest reflections upon my character, as a man of veracity +and a patriot, it is incumbent on me to reply. + +Mankind have been much the same, in every age, with respect to their +conduct in political life. Their minds have been inflamed by the same +passions, prejudices, and resentments, and parties have been supported by +complaints and representations, which naturally grow into invective and +personal abuse. + +From these principles, General Reed has deduced those arguments and +conclusions, which he vainly affects to think will justify him in +asserting, that my conduct has been influenced by motives of hatred, +resentment, and disappointed ambition. But when it shall appear, from the +testimony I have inserted in the following sheets, that the conversation +alluded to was spoken of by me in confidence, at a time when he asserts +that all former personal dislike was removed, and that "we united in +confidence and danger at the battle of Monmouth;" at a time, too, when he +admits, that "no party or prejudices existed, (at least as to him,") the +premises from which he has drawn his conclusions must be removed, and +consequently his arguments fall with them. + +If my bare affirmative against his negative was the only foundation on +which the public were to found their judgment, our several characters, in +the article of veracity, would be fairly weighed by candor, and a verdict +given in favour of the preponderating scale. If, then, I had hazarded an +assertion, without other (the most respectable) testimony to support it, +the consciousness of my own integrity would have suppressed any fears with +respect to the public opinion. + +The many and hasty movements of my family during the present contest, have +displaced several valuable papers relating to property as well as military +affairs. I do not, however, despair of yet finding important ones relating +to this matter, that may some time hence be published. But what need is +there of more than I shall here adduce; since every prejudiced mind must +feel (if not acknowledge) the testimony too respectable and powerful to +admit of apology or reply. Testimony, too, obtained, (in many instances,) +from persons to whom I am scarcely known,--persons residing in other +States, who cannot be supposed to be the particular enemies of General +Reed, or in any way connected with the politics of Pennsylvania. + +Many other certificates, supporting and confirming those I shall here offer +to the public are omitted, as it is thought they will swell the publication +to an unnecessary size; and affidavits may, if required, be obtained to all +the certificates which appear in this pamphlet. + + * * * * * + +As the publication signed "Brutus," addressed to General Reed, containing +certain queries, is referred to, it is thought necessary to reprint it. + + _To the Printer of the Independent Gazetteer._ + + SIR,--It is much to the honor of America, that in the present + revolution, there have not been many instances of defection + among officers of rank in the Continental army. In Oliver + Cromwell's time, we frequently see a general fighting one day + for the King, another for the Parliament; so unstable and + wavering were the opinions of those republicans. + + The corruption of the times is now become a universal + complaint, and one would be almost tempted to believe, that + the former days were better than these; that our forefathers + were possessed of greater moral rectitude than the present + generation, did not history and experience convince us of the + contrary. There is, however, one great evil peculiar to this + age--that of assuming the credit of being endowed with virtues + to which we are perfect strangers. Cunning, address, and + eloquence, have often misled the honest but too credulous + multitude, and they have been taught to consider many a man as + a patriot and a hero, whose real character was marked with + nothing but deceit and treachery to his country. It is also + amazing, that such men should meet with the highest success, + and bear their blushing honors thick upon them, whilst modest + merit and true patriotism could neither gain the suffrages of + the people, nor the approbation of those who held the reins of + government. + + The reflections I am now making have, in a striking manner, + been verified in this State. I should be extremely sorry to + accuse without a just foundation, or to adduce a charge, were + I not convinced that it is of the utmost importance that the + public,--the people at large--should be enabled to form a + right opinion of such men, who have been honoured, or may be + honoured with their suffrages, and thereby exalted to places + of the highest trust and confidence. + + Impressed with this idea, and with a design to elucidate such + characters, I shall take the liberty to propose to the public + the following queries: + + 1. Was not General R----d, in December, 1776, (then A----t + G----l of the Continental army,) sent by General Washington to + the commanding officer at Bristol, with orders relative to a + general attack intended to be made on the enemy's post at + Trenton, and those below, on the 25th, at night? + + 2. Two or three days before the intended attack, did not + General R----d say, in conversation with the said commanding + officer at his quarters, that our affairs looked very + desperate, and that we were only making a sacrifice of + ourselves? + + 3. Did he not also say, that the time of General Howe's + proclamation, offering pardon and protection to persons who + should come in before the 1st of January, 1777, was nearly + expired, and that Galloway, the Allens, and others, had gone + over, and availed themselves of the pardon and protection + offered by the said proclamation? + + 4. Did not he, General R----d, at the same time say, that he + had a family, and ought to take care of them; and that he did + not understand following the wretched remains of a broken + army? + + 5. Did he not likewise say to the said commanding officer, + that his brother, (then a colonel or lieutenant-colonel of + militia,) was at Burlington with his family, and that he had + advised him to remain there, and if the enemy took possession + of the town, to take a protection and swear allegiance? + + It is well for America, that very few general officers have + reasoned in this manner; if they had, General Howe would have + made an easy conquest of the United States. And it is very + obvious, that officers of high rank, with such sentiments, can + have no just pretensions to patriotism or public virtue, and + can by no means be worthy of any post of honour or place of + trust, where the liberties and interest of the people are + immediately concerned. + + BRUTUS. + + _Philadelphia, September 3, 1782._ + + + + + + +TO GENERAL JOSEPH REED. + + +In the first part of your late publication, which is no less an invective +against me, than it is a defence of yourself, you have, with sufficient +art, insisted on my remarkably contentious, factious,[D] and jealous +spirit, which suffers no man, undisturbed, to enjoy his well-earned fame; a +circumstance in my character you expected to derive considerable benefit +from in the controversy between us. For this point being once gained, every +suggestion, every article of charge against you, which has its foundation +and support in me, would naturally be referred to those fierce and +malignant passions you have so unsparingly bestowed on me, and no longer +rest upon the general credit and reputation I trust I have acquired and +maintained. But as I cannot, without injustice to myself, make this +concession to you, I must declare my general tenor of conduct to have been +far otherwise,--that in my private life I have been at peace and harmony +with all mankind; and in my public, at enmity only with such public men as +have disgraced their country by their vices or injured it by their crimes. + +Wherein until the present, except in a single instance, have I drawn the +public attention by attacks upon the character of any man? and that +instance, an impostor, like yourself, who had got into a seat of honor. In +this, it was virtue to become his accuser. + +If you rely upon _your_ instance, as affording a proof of my eagerness for +controversy, it will not answer your purpose. I have not brought you to the +public bar; for, whatever was the amount of your offences, I neither urged +nor wished a public inquiry; another has brought you there, and I appear +only as a witness against you, challenged and defied by yourself. + +This being premised, I shall enter upon my subject, and reply to such parts +of your pamphlet as respect me, and therefore specially concern me to +notice. + +Your remarks, you say, are with propriety addressed to me; because though +not the actual author, it is to me you are really indebted for the +insidious attempt on your reputation. + +That the public may have the most authentic proofs of the manner in which I +have been involved in this controversy, I think it necessary here to insert +the original letters that passed in the course of our correspondence, last +fall, on this subject. + + SIR,--I have, for a long time, treated the anonymous abuse + which disgraces our public papers with the contempt it + deserves. But in Oswald's paper, of last Saturday, are a set + of queries, signed Brutus, in which the author, not daring to + make an open assertion, has insinuated, that in 1776 I + meditated a desertion to the enemy. Though my soul rises with + indignation at the infamous slander, I should treat it with + scorn, if it did not seem to deserve some credit from a + reference to you. Prejudiced, as I know you are, I should be + sorry to suppose you capable of propagating such a sentiment, + or decline the opportunity of doing justice to my character, + and in some degree your own. And this for two reasons: first, + the gross falsehood of the insinuation; and, secondly, to + preserve a consistency in your own character, which must + suffer from your placing such confidence in me, with respect + to the military operations of that period, and permitting + General Washington to do the same, after such a conversation + as these queries suppose. I need make no apology, in this + case, for requesting an immediate answer,--and am, sir, + + Your obedient humble servant, + JOSEPH REED. + + _Market Street, Sept. 9, 1782._ + Gen. Cadwalader. + + + SIR,--In answer to your letter, which I received last evening + by Mr. Ingersoll, relating to queries published in Mr. + Oswald's paper of last Saturday, signed Brutus, I can assure + you, (as I did Mr. Ingersoll,) that I am not the author of + that publication; nor have I published one single word, since + I came from Maryland, relating to the politics of this state; + yet my character has, unprovoked, been traduced by you, or + some of your friends. But, sir, I have repeatedly mentioned + the substance of those queries to individuals immediately + after the conversation alluded to happened; and since that + time in many mixed companies. As charges of the same nature + had some time since been made against you, to which you never + made a reply, the world very justly concluded they were true; + especially as the rank and character of the person who made + the charge (at that time) merited your notice. From this + circumstance, it occasioned an additional surprise, that you + should, in this instance, undertake to investigate the matter, + and declare in your letter to me, that the "insinuation" was + "a gross falsehood." I therefore now assert, that in a + conversation with you at the time and place mentioned in the + above publication, signed Brutus, that you expressed the + substance, and I think the very words, contained in the + queries. If my character for veracity wanted credit with the + world, one or two other gentlemen could be named, who, at + nearly the same time, heard expressions from you, which + created in them sentiments unfavourable to your character. You + seem to insinuate that there is an inconsistency in my + conduct, because I afterwards reposed a confidence in you, and + because I permitted General Washington to do the same. It + would have been very dangerous, at that critical period, to + have exposed your weakness and timidity to the militia, as + such an example might have been attended with the most fatal + consequences to our cause. And as your conduct, upon this + occasion, appeared to me to proceed from want of fortitude, + and not the baser motives,--and as from the observations I + made to you at the time, you seemed to resume more spirited + sentiments in conversation, as well as from political motives, + I continued to show an appearance of confidence, and concluded + it best not to mention it to the General. The successes that + soon followed gave a happy turn to our affairs, and thus, you, + (with many others,) appeared to possess firmness in prosperity + who had shown a want of it in times of imminent danger. + + If your conduct in civil life had been such as could have been + approved of, former transactions might have been buried in + oblivion. But when I see a man endeavouring to injure the + reputation of those, whose principles and conduct, from the + beginning of the contest, have been uniformly exerted to + obtain those ends intended by the revolution; and when he + denies all merit to those who are not equally violent with + himself, it is difficult to be silent. + + I am, sir, your obedient servant, + + _Philadelphia, 10th Sept., 1782._ JOHN CADWALADER. + + General Reed. + + + _Philadelphia, Sept. 10, 1782._ + + SIR,--After waiting some time, and being just about to set off + for Bucks, I received your letter of this morning, and am at a + loss which to admire most, the depravity of your heart, or the + weakness of your understanding. Your quoting General Arnold's + testimony to vindicate your own falsehood is perfectly + consistent. You shall hear further from me on my return from + Bucks. In the mean time, I have made inquiry of Messrs. T. + Smith and Shippen, whom you mentioned to Mr. Ingersoll as + hearing from you sentiments similar to those in the queries, + with a view of communicating them to me; which they never did, + because they deny the least recollection of any such + information; which must have been too striking to them, and + interesting to me, to have passed unnoticed. Your talent for + invention is also displayed on this occasion most probably. + + Whatever you may suppose, several of my friends well know, + that I have been anxious to trace some loose reports that I + had heard, which your residence in Maryland, and the + improbability of your saying such things, had induced me to + neglect. + + As to your insinuation of my writing against you in the + newspapers, or its being done with my privity, it is equally + groundless with all the rest. I have not wrote in the + newspapers for a long time, nor at any time in my life + respecting you. + + I am, sir, your very humble servant, + + General Cadwalader. JOSEPH REED. + + _To General Reed._ + + SIR,--I shall make no reply, _at this time_, to the + expressions contained in your letter of the 10th inst.; but as + you inform me that you are on the point of setting off for + Bucks, I do not think it incumbent on me to remain here until + you return, especially as I informed Mr. Ingersoll, that I + intended leaving town as soon as the dust was laid, and wished + you to take your measures as soon as possible, as I should + make my arrangements accordingly. Some of my servants are + gone, and I have every thing packed up; it will, therefore, be + very inconvenient to detain my family, as you do not mention + when you purpose returning. As you say I shall hear from you + on your return from Bucks, I must inform you, that the post + leaves this city for the Eastern Shore every Wednesday, at + three o'clock; be pleased to direct to me, in Kent County, + Maryland, to be left at Stewart's. You shall have my answer by + the return of the post, or if necessary, I shall attend in + person for further investigation. + + I am, sir, your obedient servant, + + _Philadelphia, 12th Sept., 1782._ JOHN CADWALADER. + + SIR,--Mr. Clymer delivered me your letter of the 12th instant. + Your sudden departure from this city was indeed + unexpected,--your declaration to Mr. Ingersoll not implying it + to be so very soon;[E] and I should have supposed that my + letter of the 10th, would have some weight to protract your + journey. Before I received yours of the 10th, I had prepared a + small publication, which the receipt of your letter did not + influence me to alter or delay; as no signature could change + the nature of things, and make falsehood truth, or truth + falsehood. Having there declared the insinuation in Oswald's + paper of the 7th instant to be false, I now apply the same + epithet to your avowal of them; and am sorry, though not + surprised, that your violence of temper should have occasioned + such a deviation from the line of veracity so essential to the + character of a gentleman. + + I am already possessed of sundry authentic documents; a few + days will complete them,--not to show my innocence,--the + improbability of your charge, and inconsistency of your own + conduct, making that unnecessary; but to show to what lengths + a rancorous heart, puffed up by sudden and accidental wealth, + can push a man of weak judgment and ungovernable passions. + + I need not give you my address, though I think it incumbent on + me to assure you, that if by investigation you mean a personal + interview, I will endeavour to make it as convenient as + possible, and will shorten the distance between us. + + I am, sir, your obedient humble servant, + + _Philadelphia, 23d Sept., 1782._ JOSEPH REED. + + General Cadwalader. + + _Maryland, 30th September, 1782._ + + SIR,--I received yours of the 23d inst. by the post. From the + style of your first letter, (9th Sept.) in which you required + an "immediate answer," I fully expected an immediate + interview. As you declined the interview I proposed through + Mr. Ingersoll, and left town the next morning, without saying + when you proposed returning, and having determined not to + "alter or delay" the "small publication," which you "had + prepared before the receipt of my first letter,"--I am at a + loss to know what could have occasioned your surprise at my + departure, before your return from Bucks. After having + promised to the public the most satisfactory proofs, that no + such conversation as alluded to in the queries ever passed, it + was reasonable to allow you some time to prepare your + "authentic document." Your last letter (23d Sept) informs that + they were not _then_ completed. And could you reasonably + expect that I should have remained in town till this is + completed? or could you suppose I would suffer your + publication, worked up, as it no doubt will be, with all the + cunning and misrepresentation you are master of, to pass + unanswered? As you have protracted this affair by your + _engagement_ to the public, I shall not put it in the power of + _accident_ to deprive me of the opportunity of laying the + facts I am possessed of open to public view. The question will + then be, whether what I have avowed is true? My wealth, + judgment, or passions, can have no influence, either way, with + impartial men. My own character, the character of others + concerned, and all the circumstances combined, will determine + the judgment of the public. This business being ended, an + interview may reasonably be expected. + + I am, sir, your humble servant, + Gen. Reed, Philadelphia. JOHN CADWALADER. + + +Having for several years given over every expectation of seeing those +changes made in the constitution of Pennsylvania, which I have ever thought +necessary to secure that happiness and liberty intended by the revolution, +I retired, and have never since even expressed my sentiments concerning the +politics of this state, except among my particular friends. Your vexatious +administration hath furnished an example, to what a dangerous length the +authority of government may be carried under such a constitution. + +The particular circumstances of my family made it necessary to spend a few +months in this city, last summer, without an intention of taking up my +residence here till the conclusion of the war; and though I never +interfered in politics here, except among my particulr[TN] friends, I was +attacked, in the public papers, by a party blindly devoted to you and your +measures; I made no reply, from a confidence that such intimations could +not injure me with those whose good opinion I regarded. But whether a +friend published the piece signed Brutus, in the mere spirit of +retaliation, or whether it was calculated for political purposes, at the +last election, let the author determine. The conversation, alluded to in +the queries, was known to many long before that period; among whom were +some of your friends, in proof of which I offer Mr. Prior's +certificate.[F] + +Having mentioned the conversation _publicly_, those who heard it were +certainly at liberty to make what use of it they saw proper. + +Being entrusted with the command of the militia and a New England brigade, +which lay at Bristol in December, 1776, I had permission from the +Commander-in-chief to make an attack on the enemy, whenever I thought it +could be done with success; I was prepared on the evening of the 22d +December, to attempt the enemy's post, above the Black Horse, with seven +hundred men; and about nine or ten o'clock, P. M., I received a letter from +the general, requesting, if the enterprise was not too far advanced, to lay +it aside, as he intended a general attack on the enemy's posts in a few +days. From this circumstance, it appears, that the general gave me the +information relating to the intended attack, the evening before you +received his letter of the 23d December, in which the precise time was +fixed. As he knew my intention to command the party myself, and therefore I +might not be at Bristol the next day, this will account for his letter, of +the 23d being directed to you. But here you mean to convey an idea that a +preference in this communication was intended to you, though he had given +me, in effect, the same information the evening before. This, too, you +adduce as a proof of the general's "unbounded confidence in you," and you +say you were sent by General Washington for the "express purpose of +assisting me;" and "whatever my abilities were, that I had less experience +of actual service than you had,--that you were received with cool civility, +and very few marks of private attention;" though you acknowledge that I, at +the same time, consulted you without reserve on our "military affairs." I +will admit, that your opportunities of acquiring experience were greater +than mine; and considering the extensive command I then had, (which was in +number nearly equal to the force under the immediate command of General +Washington,) I should have thought it no reflection on my abilities; nor +would it have hurt my feelings, if an officer of superior abilities and +rank had been sent to take the command,--or even an _inferior_ officer to +assist me. But whether your appointment was of the mere _motion_ of the +commander-in-chief, or at your instance, (for assisting me or _other +purposes_,) may at least become a _question_. + +That I received you "with cool civility, and very few marks of private +attention," I do not remember; but to give what you mean to convey its full +force, I will not hesitate to acknowledge it in its fullest extent; as you +have granted, that I consulted "without reserve on our military affairs." +In this instance, the world will do me justice, as it appears that I did +not suffer personal dislike to interfere with public duty. + +Though the world have little to do with the causes of private animosities, +I shall think myself perfectly excusable, here to say a few words on this +subject, as you have assigned causes for the interruption of our intimacy +different from the true ones, and with a view of creating prejudices +against me. + +I acknowledge that such intimacy subsisted between us in early life, and +you malignantly date its "dissolution" at the time of my sudden accession +of fortune as owing thereto. If I were to admit, that you could properly +date this breach from the moment you mention, I flatter myself, you would +find it very difficult to persuade those who know me, to believe that to be +the true cause. But this was really not the fact. The unworthy measures you +took to evade the payment, (till compelled by a judgment of the court,) of +Mr. Porter's order on you in favor of my brother and myself, which you had +accepted, (to be paid out of a bond assigned by said Porter to you in +trust,) was the true motive of that dissolution you complain of. If you +turn to the records of the court, or review the correspondence with my +brother on that subject, you must blush at such a subterfuge. From _that_ +time, and owing thereto, I avoided your company. I could here make the +proper reflections, with respect to your veracity and integrity, but the +world will do you justice. + +The critical situation of our affairs, in the winter of 1776, is well known +to every inhabitant of the United States; but those only who were at that +time in the field, can have a true idea of the circumstances which often +threatened the dissolution of the militia. My situation gave me better +opportunities of knowing the feelings and temper of both officers and +privates, than any other person; and the happy expedients used on several +occasions, to prevent their going home in a body, are well known to many +officers whom I then had the honour to command. + +The first intimation we had of the capture of General Lee, was received by +a flag which arrived at my quarters. To determine whether this was a +misfortune, or an advantage to the cause of America, is at this time +immaterial. It was then, however, generally thought a matter of great +magnitude, in the British as well as in the American camp. The effect it +had on our army is well remembered by those who were present, but +particularly on the militia. + +That men attached to a cause upon principle, should persevere in a +prosperous situation of affairs, is not uncommon. We were at that time +separated from our enemies only by a river, which we expected every day +might be passable on the ice,--greatly inferior in number and discipline, +and almost destitute of everything necessary even for defence. Add to this, +a proclamation of General Howe, offering pardon and protection to those who +should submit and swear allegiance before the first of January, 1777, and +this time nearly expired. I say, under such circumstances, it would be +wonderful indeed, if no officer of the army sunk under the apprehension of +those dangers that threatened him. That there were more than _yourself_, I +well know, whose expressions discovered a timidity unworthy an officer and +a patriot, who, notwithstanding, from the well-timed and spirited +remonstrances of their friends, were induced to assume a firmer tone of +behaviour, and have since rendered their country considerable services. + +Having fully stated the temper of men's minds at this alarming period, and +the situation of public affairs, I shall now recite the conversation and +circumstances relating thereto, which I have avowed in my letter to you of +the 10th September, as having passed between us at Bristol. + +I had occasion to speak with you a few days before the intended attack on +the 26th December, 1776, and requested you to retire with me to a private +room at my quarters; the business related to intelligence; a general +conversation, however, soon took place, concerning the state of public +affairs; and after running ever a number of topics,--in an agony of mind, +and despair strongly expressed in your countenance and tone of voice, you +spoke your apprehensions concerning the event of the contest,--that our +affairs looked very desperate, and we were only making a sacrifice of +ourselves; that the time of General Howe's offering pardon and protection +to persons who should come in before the first of January, 1777, was nearly +expired; and that Galloway, the Allens, and others, had gone over, and +availed themselves of that pardon and protection, offered by the said +proclamation; that you had a family, and ought to take care of them, and +that you did not understand following the wretched remains (or remnants) of +a broken army; that your brother (then a colonel or lieutenant-colonel of +militia,--but you say of the five months' men, which is not material,) was +then at Burlington, with his family; and that you had advised him to remain +there, and if the enemy took possession of the town, to take a protection +and swear allegiance; and in so doing he would be perfectly justifiable. + +This was the substance, and I think nearly the very words; but that "_you +did not understand following the wretched remains (or remnants) of a broken +army_," I perfectly remember to be the _very words_ you expressed. + +That our situation was critical, and the dangers that threatened us great, +were universally acknowledged; but I was astonished to hear such +expressions from the _Adjutant-General_ of the army, as your conduct had +been approved of by report; for your good behaviour was not personally +known to me. Judging from appearances, and from all circumstances at the +time, I imputed these sentiments _solely_ to timidity; and therefore, to +rouse your feelings, and give new vigor to a mind weakened by fear, I +recalled to your memory your former public professions and conduct, and +endeavoured to paint, in the strongest colours, the fatal consequences, +that would ensue from such an example, particularly to the militia; that if +officers, (more especially one in your station,) discovered a want of +firmness, we could not reasonably expect private soldiers to remain in the +field; and added, that as I was commanding officer there, I should not pass +over such expressions in future; appearing to be invigorated by these +remonstrances, your subsequent conversation induced me to hope from you a +more honourable resolution. The immediate turn in our affairs confirmed +this hope. I had, besides, at the moment, a still stronger dissuasive. I +foresaw that an "arrest," or discovery, on my part, would produce all the +bad effects naturally to be apprehended from actual desertion; I mean with +respect to the discouragement which such an example would have caused in +the army, but particularly in the militia; and especially, as at that time +the militia were assembling at Philadelphia, under General Putnam, from +every part of the country, influenced by the example of the city troops, as +well as by a sense of danger and duty. If, then, the city militia had +disbanded, no person can hesitate to determine what would have been the +fate of those from the country. + +The reasons of my concealing it from the General were, that nothing but an +arrest, on his part, could have prevented the execution of this plan of +desertion, and the bad consequences ensuing from it, the betraying of +secrets; and such arrest would have wrought the _other_ ill consequences I +have spoken of. In this dilemma, I used a discretion which I considered +most advantageous to my country; and trusted to my hopes, that so important +an event, as your defection, would not happen, and thus avoid the +_immediate_ and _certain_ EVIL. And besides, I have, in every stage of the +war, shown a disposition to overlook political weaknesses, conceiving that +every man we could retain in the service an acquisition, tending to draw +forth the whole strength and abilities of my country against the common +enemy. + +That the conversation alluded to is a new tale, devised in the malignancy +of party, has been asserted by you; and on this assertion is founded many +of your strongest conclusions in favour of your own innocence. But what +must the world think of your effrontery, when they read the following +letter of Col. Alexander Hamilton, who was then Aid-de-Camp to the +Commander-in-chief, and now a delegate in Congress; whose conduct and +character are well known and approved by the citizens of every State in the +Union,--a gentleman, who, being a resident of the State of New York, cannot +be supposed in any manner concerned in the politics of Pennsylvania? + + + PHILADELPHIA, _14th March, 1783_. + + DEAR SIR:--Though disagreeable to appear in any manner in a + personal dispute; yet I cannot, in justice to you, refuse to + comply with the request contained in your note. I have delayed + answering it, to endeavour to recollect, with more precision, + the time, place and circumstances of the conversation, to + which you allude. I cannot, however, remember with certainty + more than this: that some time in the campaign of + seventy-seven, at head-quarters in this State, you mentioned + to me and some other gentlemen of General Washington's family, + in a confidential way, that at some period in seventy-six, I + think after the American army crossed the Delaware in its + retreat, Mr. Reed had spoken to you in terms of great + despondency respecting American affairs, and had intimated, + that he thought it time for gentlemen to take care of + themselves, and that it was unwise any longer to follow the + fortunes of a ruined cause, or something of a similar import. + It runs in my mind, that the expressions you declared to have + been made use of by Mr. Reed were, that he thought he ought no + longer to "risk his life and fortunes with the shattered + remains of a broken army:" but it is the part of candour to + observe, that I am not able to distinguish with certainty, + whether the recollection I have of these words arises from the + strong impression made by your declaration at the time, or + from having heard them more than once repeated within a year + past. + + I am, dear sir, with great esteem, your obedient servant, + A. HAMILTON. + To General Cadwalader. + + +At the time I communicated the contents of Colonel Hamilton's certificate +to him, in confidence, it appears by your own acknowledgment, that[G] "no +party or prejudices existed, (at least as to you,")--"the intercourse +arising from these mingled duties and services, which were continued until +the army went into winter quarters, at the VALLEY FORGE, soon did away the +coolness which had for some years subsisted, and in no small degree revived +our former habits of friendship;"--"but it was our lot to meet again, a few +days before the battle of Monmouth; here we were again united in confidence +and danger. After the battle, we left the army together, and that period +closed our friendly intercourse forever." From these, (your expressions,) +you affect to believe, and wish the world to think, that our former +friendship was restored. It was not so; I cannot call it friendship. The +transaction I have mentioned occasioned the dissolution of that intimacy, +contracted in early life, which but little accorded with my notion of +perfect integrity. From that time, and owing solely to that cause, I took +the resolution to avoid your company, as a private gentleman, and which I +constantly adhered to. Meeting in the army, where we served most of the +time in the character of volunteers, I did not think it right to suffer +former dislikes to interrupt the duties and services required of us by the +commander-in-chief, so necessary for mutual and general safety. If, then, +my dislike to you did not proceed from such motives as sometimes induce men +to seek for opportunities of gratifying their resentments, for what purpose +could I have invented such a "_tale_?" or if my resentment was such as you +represent, why did I not gratify it by making it public immediately? at +that time, my mind could not have been "inflamed by party;" because you +admit, that no parties then existed, ("at least as to you;") nor could my +ambition have been disappointed,--because, being commanding officer of the +Pennsylvania Militia, (the council of safety, who then held the powers of +government,) could not gratify me further. I could not have "mistaken a +conversation with some other person," because there was not that "distance +of time," which you suppose, nor can it be conceived by the most credulous +to be "some jocular expression;" because the situation of affairs rather +suppressed than excited in you the appearance of mirth. Having mentioned +this conversation long before parties were formed here, it must appear to +every impartial person, that it could not have been the mere invention of +my own "brain," suggested in the spirit of party; and it is still more +absurd to suppose, that I could have foreseen that you, who then thought as +I did concerning the essential objections to the constitution of +Pennsylvania, should refuse the appointment of Chief Justice, because you +could not, in conscience, take the oath of office; that Mr. Wharton (the +first President,) should die; and yet that you should afterwards accept the +chair of government. It is, however, incontestibly proved, that the +conversation alluded to was spoken of by me at an early period, and long +before your appointment to the chair of government; and yet you say, "the +prosecution of General Arnold, I have no doubt, gave rise to it." If I was +to leave it to your ingenuity to explain to the world my motives for +inventing such a "tale," to what purposes could you possibly impute my +design? It could not be to gratify my resentment for the injury you +attempted upon my property; because I did not then make it public; it could +not be occasioned by any personal offence taken in 1777, (when I privately +mentioned it to Colonel Hamilton,) because you contend that our "former +habits of friendship" were revived, and acknowledge, that I never made it +public for several years afterwards. Here, then, the man of humanity may +ask me, why did you, at so late a date, publicly mention a circumstance +injurious to General Reed's reputation, as adjutant-general of the army and +a patriot, which after-services ought to have consigned to oblivion? The +question is a natural one, and I will give it an answer. The first occasion +of my mentioning this matter publicly was this: soon after our return to +the city, in the year 1778, among the victims selected for public examples, +there was a young gentleman, with whom I had formed an intimacy in early +life. I considered him, as he was by many, (and his acquittal justified the +opinion,) as unjustly persecuted; but General Reed, who had resumed his +original profession, _voluntarily_ aided the prosecution, and with all the +force of declamation, labored to inflame his judges and jury against him. +It was then, recollecting how near he once appeared to the commission of +the same offence which he charged upon the other, or at least to a +defection from the cause, that my indignation broke out at the trial, +saying to those around me, that "_it argued the extremity of effrontery and +baseness, in one man to pursue another to death, for taking a step which +his own foot had been once raised to take_!"[H] This was anterior to his +elevation to the Presidency, and whilst his powers of doing mischief, were +he so inclined, were circumscribed by the narrowness of his sphere of +action; at such a time, could I think his loss of fame so essential to the +public good, or, if he will, to the purposes of party, as to be willing to +attempt it, at the expense of my private veracity, my honour and +conscience. + +The inconsistency of such ostensible conduct, and the baseness of a +meditated defection, is not irreconcilable to those who have had +opportunities of knowing that he is not incapable of such vast extremes; +who have seen him at the bar of the assembly he himself disqualified by the +non-compliance with the test of laws, as since fully appears by a +publication signed Sidney, unblushingly attempt to set aside the famous +Chester election, upon the suggestion of its having been carried by +electors disqualified from the like circumstances. + +It is thus I would have answered the question, why I have mentioned +publicly your meditated defection, and I trust that such provocation +merited those reflections which might otherwise have remained in my own +breast. + +The objection to the force of my single testimony thus obviated, did no +other offer to corroborate it, I should not hesitate to submit it, under +such circumstances, to the judgment of the public, resting _their_ +determination upon the credit of _my_ veracity against _yours_. Having +supported an unblemished character, I dare defy any person to produce an +instance where I have even been suspected of an untruth, or of a base or +dishonourable action. Conscious of the truth of what I have asserted, I +have no fears that my conduct will ever "dishonour me with the wise and +virtuous." + +The reason I have assigned for the dissolution of our intimacy antecedent +to the war, will afford a better proof of your ingenuity than your +integrity; and further, (with respect to your veracity,) if any other +instance is necessary, let me add one which happened at camp, (at +head-quarters,) in the year 1777, soon after the battle of Germantown, when +in my hearing, and in the presence of three officers of the first rank in +the army, you was charged to your face with a falsehood, and which was +fully proved the next day, by the general officer who made the charge. + +And now, before I introduce the concurrent testimony in support of my +assertion, I shall take but a momentary notice here of those disrespectful +expressions with which you have decorated your pamphlet. Weakness of head, +is an accusation of a kind which it would equally puzzle the fool and the +wise to reply to; but against that of badness of heart, my known tenor of +conduct, in private and public life, must be my defence; if that fails, it +must be needless in me to set up any other. + +But if even prejudiced men should still doubt the truth of my assertion, +with respect to the conversation alluded to, in the above representation, +every doubt must be removed upon reading the following certificates. + + + _Hermitage, 5th October, 1782._ + + DEAR GENERAL,--In the winter of 1776, after we had crossed the + Delaware, General Reed, in conversation with me, said that he, + and several others of my friends, were surprised at seeing me + there. I told him, I did not understand such a conversation; + that as I had engaged in the cause from principle, I was + determined to share the fate of my country; to which he made + no reply, and the conversation ended. As I had the honour of + commanding the militia of New Jersey, both duty and + inclination led me to use every exertion, in support of a + cause I had engaged in from the purest motives. I was really + much surprised at General Reed's manner, considering the + station he then acted in, and his reputation as a patriot; but + I considered it as the effect of despondency, from the then + gloomy prospect of our affairs. + + This I mentioned to several of my friends at the time, who all + viewed it in the same point of light. + + I am, dear General, yours, + + General Cadwalader. P. DICKINSON. + + + I do hereby certify, that in December, 1776, while the militia + lay at Bristol, General Reed, to the best of my recollection + and belief, upon my inquiring the news, and what he thought of + our affairs in general, said that appearances were very gloomy + and unfavourable; that he was fearful or apprehensive the + business was nearly settled, or the game almost up, or words + to the same effect. That these sentiments appeared to me very + extraordinary and dangerous, as I conceived they would, at + _that time_, have a very bad tendeney[TN], if publicly known to be + the sentiments of General Reed, who then held an appointment + in the army of the first consequence. + + + _Philadelphia, March 12, 1783._ JOHN DIXON. + + A few days before the battle of Trenton, on the 26th of + December, 1776, I rode with Mr. Reed from Bristol to Head + Quarters near New Town. In the course of our ride, our + conversation turned upon public affairs, when Mr. Reed + expressed himself in the manner following. + + He spoke with great respect of the bravery of the British + troops, and with great contempt of the cowardice of the + American, and more especially of the New England troops. So + great was the terror inspired by the British soldiers into the + minds of our men, that he said, when a British soldier was + brought as a prisoner to our camp, our soldiers viewed him at + a distance as a superior kind of being. + + Upon my lamenting to him the supposed defection of Mr. + Dickinson, who it was unjustly said, had deserted his country, + he used the following words: "Damn him--I wish the devil had + him, when he wrote the Farmer's letters. He has began an + opposition to Great Britain which we have not strength to + finish." + + Upon my lamenting that a gentleman, of his acquaintance, had + submitted to the enemy, he said, "that he had acted properly, + and that a man who had a family, did right to take that care + of them." + + The whole of his conversation upon the subject of our affairs, + indicated a great despair of the American cause. + + Upon my going to Baltimore, to take my seat in Congress, the + latter end of January, I mentioned the above conversation to + my brother. I likewise mentioned it to the Hon. John Adams, + Esq., with whom I then lived in intimacy, a day or two after + his return from Boston to Congress. I did not mention it with + a view of injuring Mr. Reed, for I still respected him, + especially as I then believed that the victory at Trenton had + restored the tone of his mind, and dissipated his fears, but + to show Mr. Adams an instance of a man possessing and + exercising military spirit and activity, and yet deficient in + political fortitude. To which I well remember Mr. Adams + replied in the following words: "The powers of the human mind + are combined together in an infinite variety of ways." + + BENJAMIN RUSH. + + _Philadelphia, March 3, 1783._ + + I went with Congress to Baltimore, in 1776. On the arrival of + my brother there, a few weeks afterwards, I called to see him. + To the best of my recollection, Mr. Clerk and Dr. Witherspoon, + delegates from New Jersey, were in the room with him. The two + former, after some time withdrew, and my brother then + mentioned the conversation as related by him above. He + informed me, also, of some _other_ conversation that passed + between Mr. Reed and him, which is not necessary at present to + repeat. + + JACOB RUSH. + + _Philadelphia, March 3, 1783._ + + Joseph Ellis, a Colonel of Militia, in the county of + Gloucester, and State of New Jersey, doth hereby certify, that + upon the retreat of a body of militia from before Count Donop, + in the neighborhood of Mount Holly, in Burlington county, in + the month of December, 1776, he met with Charles Pettit, Esq., + _then Secretary of the said State_, that a conversation ensued + between them respecting the situation of the public dispute at + that period; that Mr. Pettit, in said conversation, + representing that our affairs were desperate, Col. Ellis + endeavoured to dissuade him from such an opinion, when Mr. + Pettit replied, "What hurts me more than all is, my + brother-in-law, General Reed, has, (or I believe he has,) + given up the contest." That a good deal more passed between + Mr. Pettit and Col. Ellis, during the said cnnversation[TN], but + omitted here, as being thought unnecessary. + + JOSEPH ELLIS. + + _Woodbury, March 9, 1783._ + + I do certify that I was present at the conversation alluded to + above; that although I cannot recollect the express words made + use of in the said conversation, yet such conversation did + take place, and that the substance of it answers to the + certificate of Col. Ellis. + + FRANKLIN DAVENPORT. + + _Woodbury, March 9, 1783._ + + These are to certify, that in December, 1776, and January, + 1777, I, the subscriber, was Major of the second battalion of + Philadelphia Militia, whereof John Bayard was Colonel, and + then lay at Bristol, and part of the time opposite Trenton, on + the Pennsylvania side. That while we lay at Bristol, Joseph + Reed, Esq., joined us; that during his being there and near + Trenton, he often went out for intelligence, as Col. Bayard + told me, over to Burlington, in which place the enemy + frequently were; that being absent frequently all day and all + night, I as frequently inquired what could become of Gen. + Reed. Col. Bayard often answered me, he feared he had left us + and gone over to the enemy. One time in particular, being + absent two days and two nights, if not three nights, Col. + Bayard came to me with great concern, and said he was fully + persuaded Gen. Reed was gone to join the enemy and make his + peace. I asked him, how he could possibly think so of a man, + who had taken so early a part, and had acted steadily. He + replied, he was persuaded it was so; for he knew the General + thought it was all over, and that we would not stand against + the enemy; and at the same time wept much. I endeavoured all I + could to drive such notions from him, but he was so fully + persuaded that he had left us and gone over to the enemy, that + arguing about the matter was only loss of time; Col. Bayard + often making mention, that he knew his sentiments much better + than I did. After being absent two or three nights, Gen. Reed + returned, and I never saw more joy expressed than was by Col. + Bayard; he declared to me, that he was glad Gen. Reed was + returned, for he was fully convinced in his own mind that he + was gone over to the enemy. + + WILLIAM BRADFORD. + + _Manor of Moreland, Philadelphia County, March 15, 1783._ + + Having been called upon by General Cadwalader respecting a + report which has been propagated concerning Mr. Joseph Reed--I + declare on my honour, the circumstances are as follows. In the + spring of 1780, I obtained permission for an interview with my + brother at Elizabethtown. In the course of conversation, one + day, he happened to mention that there were men among us, who + held the first offices, who applied for protection from the + British while they lay in New Jersey. I was alarmed at this + assertion, and insisted on knowing who they were;--he said, + that when the British army lay in Jersey, in 1776, Count Donop + commanded at Bordentown; that he was often at that officer's + quarters, and possessed some degree of his confidence; that + one day, _an inhabitant came into their lines, with an + application from Mr. Joseph Reed, the purport of which was, to + know whether he could have protection for himself and his + property_, (there was another person included in the + _application_, whose _name_ it is not necessary here to + mention.) The man was immediately ordered for execution, but + it was prevented by the interposition of my brother and some + other persons, who had formerly known him. Perhaps Mr. Reed + and his friends may say, that Count Donop would not have + ordered the man executed, had he not thought he came for + intelligence. No doubt that officer would have justified his + conduct by putting upon the footing of a spy, but why was + another person included in the application, and one who was + not looked on as a trifling character? his name I will mention + to any one who will apply to me; however, my brother said, the + man who was sent with the application was a poor peasant, and + the most unfit person in the world to send for intelligence; + this argument was what had weight with Count Donop, and which + saved his life.[I] These circumstances being mentioned by a + brother, and which he declared to be true, naturally produced + an alteration in my sentiments of Mr. Reed; for previous to + this, there were few men of whom I entertained so high an + opinion. On my return to Philadelphia, I made no secret of + what I heard; indeed, I thought it my duty to mention it + publicly, that it might prevent further power being put into + the hands of a man who might make a bad use of it. The report + circulated daily, and I was often called on to mention the + circumstances, which I always did, and which I should have + done to Mr. Reed, had he applied to me. I remember, among the + number who came to me, was Major Thomas Moore, who said he + intended to inform Mr. Reed; but whether he did or not, I + cannot pretend to say. + + There is another thing I wish to mention. My brother came into + the river in a flag of truce, on special application of our + commissary of prisoners, to take a number of prisoners who + were exchanged, to save us the expense and trouble of sending + them by land; this was in the month of May, 1781. He was + detained, about nine miles below the city, upwards of four + weeks, and never permitted to visit it, although application + was made for that purpose, by several captains of vessels, who + had been prisoners, and to whom he had rendered civilities. I + declined making application myself, as I supposed my being in + the service from the commencement of the war, and having + endured a rigorous confinement for eighteen months, in the + worst of times, to have been sufficient to have obtained + permission for a brother to have been in my house, in + preference to a cabin in a small vessel in a river;--however, + I endeavoured to make his situation as agreeable as possible, + by visiting him often, and by taking my friends with me. I + REMEMBER Col. Francis Nichols went with me one day, to whom my + brother mentioned Mr. Reed's intended desertion, and who, I + doubt not, will acknowledge it, on any person's applying to + him; he is at present in Virginia, but is expected in town in + a few days. + + DAVID LENNOX. + + Having been called upon by General Cadwalader, to certify, so + far as my knowledge extends, as to the matter hereinafter + mentioned, I do declare, that in the spring of the year 1781, + I went with Major Lennox, of this city, on board of a flag of + truce vessel, then lying in the river Delaware, where she had + arrived from New York, and heard Mr. Robert Lennox, deputy + commissary of prisoners under the British king, say, that in + the year of 1776, a person had arrived at Count Donop's + quarters, near Bordentown, in New Jersey, who told the Count, + that he had been sent to him by Gen. Reed and another person, + whose name I do not think necessary to mention, to procure a + protection for them; that the Count refused to grant them a + protection in that manner, and was about to treat the person + who had applied to him as a spy, but was prevented by the + entreaties of the said Robert Lennox, and some other + gentlemen. + + _Philadelphia, 17th March, 1783._ FRANCIS NICHOLS. + + +Here, then, it fully appears, that the testimony contained in the above +certificates, all point to the same object, and to the same period +mentioned by me, supporting and confirming each other. They likewise +clearly prove the whole progress of your meditated defection; they prove +that you deceived me by those professions, by which I had been induced to +trust to your appearances of fidelity, as you absolutely made an +application for a protection to Count Donop, in which an intimate friend of +yours was included. + +But what opinion must the world form of your veracity, when you are +detected in falsely asserting, that you had not mentioned such sentiments +to your most intimate friends and relations. "Is it not utterly +incredible," you say, "that I should hold such communication or sentiments +from my most intimate friends and relations, and make it to a person with +whom I had held no friendship for many years; who had received me with +coldness." Mr. Pettit is your relation, and Col. Bayard your most intimate +friend, with whom, at that time, you had the freest intercourse. To these +you communicated your sentiments, as appears by the certificates of Col. +Bradford, Col. Ellis, and Mr. Davenport; but your friend, hinted at in +Major Lennox's certificate, had consented to accompany you in your intended +desertion. The height of your iniquity does not end here; you endeavoured, +by your influence, to spread general disaffection, in order to lessen your +share of the infamy, by dividing it among many. Had you conferred with men +whose principles were in every instance like your own, you might have +succeeded, as every person concerned might have carried off his particular +friend with him. + +If all the evidence which now appears against you, had been produced at +that time, what would have been your fate, as you then, (being +_Adjutant-General_ of the army,) was subject to the Continental articles of +war? + +In the 10th page you say, you can "truly declare, that the subject of the +present slander was not known to you, till its appearance in the +newspaper." Having mentioned it at the Coffee House, (as appears by Mr. +Pryor's certifiate[TN],) in the presence of some of your friends, it was +reasonable to expect they would have informed you of it; but it seems there +is some difference between private information and a public charge made in +the papers. As a gentleman, there can, in my opinion, be no difference; as +you say, in your letter of the 9th Sept. last, that this insinuation seems +to deserve some credit from a _reference_ to _me_. You insinuate, that if +you had heard it, you should have noticed it. To this, however, the world +will give little credit, as you made no public or private inquiry +respecting the charge made in Major Lennox's certificate, though he +communicated it to Major Thomas Moore, son of the late President, whose +permission I have for asserting publicly, that he informed you of what +Major Lennox had related, the very day he heard it. + +The matters mentioned in Major Lennox's certificate, and in that of Col. +Nichols reach vastly beyond me; here you absolutely apply for protection; +and if one report demanded your notice, in reference to my authorities, why +not another, more alarming to you, your notice in reference to Major +Lennox? + +But the consciousness of the communications made to confidential friends, +and others, suggested the fear of other proofs. As long as it was only +communicated by private information, you were willing to submit to private +censure. But when a charge, which originated from me, was made in the +papers, it reduced you to the disagreeable alternative of a tacit +confession, or the hazard of public proof. And in the present instance, if +I am rightly informed, you was perfectly disposed to treat the publication +signed Brutus, with that "silent contempt," which, you say, you have for a +"long time observed, with respect to the anonymous abuse which disgraces +our public papers;" but your friends, feeling the weight of the charge, +goaded you into so unfortunate a measure. _"Unhappy man! against whose +peace and happiness all are combined."_ + +What answer can you make to the weight of testimony here produced against +you? I see nothing left, but to declare to the world, that the whole is a +wicked combination to destroy you; you may say, "you thought _me_ entitled +to the whole infamy of the insinuation," till the above mentioned witnesses +"consented to divide it with me;" and that, "if you did not sufficiently +measure the malignancy of their dispositions, or thought more favourably of +them than you ought to have done, you are content to acknowledge your +error, and do full justice in this respect hereafter;" and if any person +should ask you, would all these gentlemen hazard such assertions without +foundation? you may answer, "it is difficult to resolve what men of +ungovernable passions will or will not say, when their minds are inflamed +by party, and their breasts burning with disappointed ambition;" may they +not have "mistaken a conversation with some other person, or at this +distance of time, converted some JOCULAR EXPRESSION into such suspicions as +they have mentioned;" and you may add, "the MEMORIES of MEN may fail; their +minds are subject to the warp of prejudice and passion; they may convert +into serious import what was dropped in JEST; and, from false pride, +persist in what they have said, because they have said it, even against the +conviction of their own consciences." + +In your letter of the 23d of September last, you say, "you have declared +the insinuations in Oswald's paper of the 7th inst. false; and you apply +the same epithet to my avowal of them." This assertion has been fully +refuted by the concurrent testimony of your _intimate friends_ and others. +In your friends, you thought yourself perfectly secure; but the weakness of +two of them has betrayed you, and the third is proved your accomplice. + +It would, indeed, have appeared somewhat extraordinary, if you had not +discovered your intentions to some of your intimate friends and relations; +and that "no circumstance should occur to correspond with this imputation," +after having communicated the same to me. Nor are proofs wanting, if they +were here necessary, independently of those I have already adduced, with +respect to some of your friends, who at the time held considerable commands +in the militia. + +And "though specially sent by General Washington," as you say, "for the +express purpose of assisting me," it may not be here improper to make a +short observation, in which I conceive I shall be perfectly justifiable. +Though the duties of an Adjutant General would naturally confine you to the +Continental army, yet I can easily conceive that there was no difficulty, +by hints thrown out, or by the interposition of a friend, to induce the +commander-in-chief to permit you to come to Bristol, under the _pretence_ +of assisting me; being, as _you represent_, well acquainted with the +inhabitants of Burlington, through whom you might obtain information. But +from the evidence which appears against you, it will not be thought +uncharitable to conclude, that you conceived your plan could be better +executed at Bristol, than under the eye of General Washington. Besides, you +might reasonably hope to shake more easily the constancy of untried +officers of militia, than those in the army, whose minds might be supposed +better fortified against such attacks. + +I am at a loss for words to express my indignation for the attempt you made +on my integrity; for though I did not see it in that point of view at the +time, yet the whole testimony, as now collected, fully proves such to have +been your intention; and happy I conceive it to be for my own honour and +the safety of my country, that you found in me that strength of mind, which +you might not have experienced in some of your particular friends, had they +been in my situation. + +The circumstances relating to the letter you wrote Count Donop, created at +the time no suspicions; nor do I recollect any publication which alludes to +it. This affair, and that mentioned by Major Lenox[TN], are distinct +transactions; but it is not more than probable, that at the interview you +proposed under cover of serving the inhabitants of Burlington, you intended +to confer with Count Donop upon the subject of your own interest and +personal safety? This suspicion, in my opinion, is perfectly warranted by +the indubitable proofs of your intended desertion. Another circumstance +relating to this affair was equally unusual and improper. Mr. Daniel +Ellis,[J] by whom you sent the letter with a flag, was universally known to +be disaffected; having been so long in the service you could not be +ignorant of those obvious reasons, which prove the propriety of sending men +with flags, whose attachment to the cause is well known, and men of +observation. + +Every page, almost, of your publication is full of reflections against me, +and almost upon every subject; so intent have you been to injure my +reputation. The errors I committed during my command may serve a double +purpose; because he who committed them is subject to censure, and he who +points them out claims the merit of the discovery. That I committed +errors, I readily admit; my friends have marked some, and subsequent +experience discovered others; but I am conscious they proceed from want of +experience, not a want of integrity. Why, then, need I seek to justify +myself, when, from the nature of the war, considerable commands were, from +necessity, entrusted to young officers, there being few amongst us to whom +the profession was not entirely new. But, I confess, it would give me +infinite pain, if, by "a strange inattention of mine to the tide and state +of the river," and the not arriving "one hour" sooner at Dunk's Ferry, we +had lost the opportunity of striking a blow at Mount Holly, of equal glory +with that at Trenton. When you insinuated, in the former part of your +address, a superior knowledge in military matters, by saying you had more +"experience," I gave up the point, and left you the happiness of thinking +so; for why should I have contended a point with a man who, throughout his +pamphlet, assumes to himself the merit of all those brilliant successes, so +highly commended even by our enemies, and which determined the fate of +American independence. And if I was sensible that the charge you now make +was true, or could be thought so, by competent judges, I would scorn to +defend my error. + +My orders were, to make the attack one hour before day, and to effect a +surprise, if possible. The impropriety, therefore, of sending the boats +from Bristol to Dunk's Ferry, and marching the troops from the same place +in open day, is evident, as such a movement must have been observed, and +communicated to the enemy. And now, tell me the instance, where even +continental troops have arrived at the point of attack at the given time? +It was General Washington's intention to have made his attack on Trenton +before day; yet, from unavoidable delays, he did not arrive there till +after eight o'clock in the morning. We reached Dunk's Ferry a little before +low water, and can any person believe, that if we had arrived "one hour +sooner," we could have passed over near twenty-five hundred men, four +pieces of cannon, ammunition wagons and horses, and all the horses +belonging to officers, in that time, in the night too, and the river full +of ice, with only five large batteauxs and two or three scows; when it took +us at least six hours, (a day or two afterwards,) to cross above Bristol, +in open day and the river almost clear of ice. Strange "inattention," +unhappy commander! That "_a single hour_, which we might have enjoyed with +equal convenience and equal risk," should be the only obstacle to a scene +of equal glory with that of Trenton, and yet you have represented to +General Washington, as appears by his letter,[K] dated six o'clock, P. M., +25th December, 1776, to me, _being the very same night_, and before we +marched to Dunk's Ferry, that you gave him the most discouraging accounts +of what might be expected from our operations below. What, then, were those +discouraging accounts? Why was I not acquainted with them? or were they +thrown out to influence him from making his attempt on Trenton, by +representing that no co-operation from our quarter could favour his +enterprise? In the general's opinion, it is plain, it had that tendency. +But in the heedless fury of this stroke at me, you have incautiously +unguarded your most tender part. + +"Anxious to fill up the part of this glorious plan assigned to us," you +"passed over, you say, with your horse, to see and judge for yourself." You +did so. "Having seen the last man re-embarked, you proceeded before day to +Burlington." Here permit me to correct you, because there is no +circumstance better ascertained, than that many of the men were not brought +back till eight o'clock the next morning. + +Your motives for going to Burlington that night, were then thought a +mystery; 'tis now no longer so; and the "_other circumstances_," that +permitted you to join us again at Bristol, are now clearly accounted for. +General Washington's success or defeat was, no doubt, to determine whether +you were to remain a citizen of the United States of America, or to be a +shameful deserter of your country. + +You say, you went to Philadelphia, at my request, to confer with Gen. +Putnam; that you set out in the evening, (the 24th December,) and reached +Philadelphia about midnight; but what credit, can you reasonably expect, +will be given to your "detail of proceedings," in other particulars, when +you find yourself detected in such gross contradictions in the following +instance? + +In the 17th page you say, "Upon conference with General Putnam, (at +Philadelphia,) he represented the state of the militia, the general +confusion which prevailed, his apprehensions of an insurrection in the city +in his absence, and many other circumstances, in such strong terms, as +convinced me, no assistance could be derived from him;" and yet, in your +letter to me, dated Philadelphia, 25th December, 1776, 11 o'clock, you say; +"General Putnam has determined to cross the river, with as many men as he +can collect, which, he says, will be about five hundred; he is now +mustering them, and endeavouring to get Proctor's company of artillery to +go with them. I wait to know what success he meets with, and the progress +he makes; but, at all events, I shall be with you this afternoon." + +Here the representation stated in your pamphlet is contradicted by a letter +in your own handwriting. Having forgot, perhaps, that you had written such +a letter, your ingenuity furnished materials for a plausible narrative, +suitable to your purposes; not suspecting that such proof could be adduced +in opposition to it. + +Having returned to Bristol about daylight on the 26th December, with the +greater part of the troops, I received an account, about 11 o'clock, A. M., +from a person just arrived from Trenton Ferry, that General Washington had +succeeded in his attack. I immediately despatched a messenger with a line +to General Ewing, for information, but all I could learn was, that the +victory was ours. + +From the continuance of the rain and wind, I concluded the ice must be +destroyed in the course of the day, and instantly sent down to Dunk's Ferry +for the boats. This being an extraordinary service, required of men who had +been exposed to the storm the whole night, was, however, cheerfully +undertaken and executed. I then consulted Col. Hitchcock, who commanded the +New England brigade, to know whether his troops would willingly accompany +us to New Jersey, as I had determined to cross the river in the morning, if +practicable, to co-operate with General Washington. He informed me, that +his troops could not march, unless they could be supplied with shoes, +stockings and breeches; upon which I instantly wrote to the Council of +Safety, and obtained seven hundred pairs of each of the above articles, +which arrived about sunrise on the morning of the 27th December. This +second attempt being determined on, I went with several officers, in the +afternoon of the 26th, to fix upon a proper place for crossing the river +above Bristol, and the next morning before day viewed the Jersey Shore in a +barge, for the same purpose. By your relation, one would imagine you had +been the _life and soul_ of this second movement across the Delaware,--as +little privy to it as the emperor of Morocco,--but it is no unusual thing +for you to intercept the praise due to others of creditable actions. +Instead of being present to confirm my proposed movements, by your advice, +you remained at Burlington, "in a kind of concealment, till the weather and +OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES permitted you to join us at Bristol," after all our +resolutions were taken, and the most of our arrangements made. In the +tissue of your representations, it is your purpose to insinuate my +deficiency in military conduct in the subsequent transactions. Let my +relation of it be heard! + +We marched on the 27th, in the morning, and the ice being by this time +chiefly destroyed, we met with little obstruction in passing. The last +division of the troops being embarked, and then crossing, we received +private information, that General Washington had re-crossed the river, and +returned to Newtown, in Pennsylvania, from whence he dates his letter, 27th +December, 1776, informing me of the particulars of the action at Trenton, +and which was not received, contrary to your assertion, till we had marched +above a mile on our way to Burlington; it was then read to the troops, who +were halted for this purpose. We had, however, before given full credit to +the first information of his having re-crossed; on which previous +information I called together the field officers, to consult what was then +best to be done. From this circumstance, Col. Hitchcock, and some others, +proposed returning to Bristol. I instantly declared my determination +against it, and recommended an attack upon Mount Holly, as from the +information we had of the force at that post, we might easily carry it, and +should then have a retreat open towards Philadelphia, if necessary. You +then, "_as a middle course_," advised our going to Burlington; in which +those who had at first proposed our return, joined in opinion. This was the +true cause of that hesitation you remarked with respect to me. Burlington +was in a position, in my judgment, very dangerous; as in case we should be +invested there, and the river impassable, we should be forced to submit at +discretion, for want of provisions, or hazard an action against troops +superior in discipline, and perhaps in number, if their whole force was +collected to that point. Having no other retreat open to us, but that over +the river, it was evident this could not be effected without the loss, at +least, of those who might be ordered to cover the retreat. Having passed +the river in open day, it was probable the enemy might be informed of it; +and, in that case, the post at Mount Holly reinforced. To determine whether +we should take a position, unanimously approved by the council, but which I +thought extremely dangerous; or adhere to my own plan, unsupported by a +single voice, was certainly a question that required more than a momentary +consideration, even for an officer, at this stage of the war. Being pressed +for some resolution, as the day was far spent, I waived my own opinion, and +acquiesced in the desire of marching to Burlington; but it is ridiculous to +suppose, as you say, that your brother's intelligence of Count Donop's +retreat, could have influenced my acquiescence, for it did not arrive till +after our resolutions were taken,--and besides, was not credited; because +if it had reached us before, and been credited, I should not have +acquiesced in such desire; if even after, I should naturally have taken +another course, and pursued the flying enemy, instead of going to +Burlington, which was five miles in the rear. + +Late that night, I received certain information, that the enemy had +evacuated all their posts in the neighborhood, and immediately despatched a +messenger to General Washington with the intelligence; in answer to which, +I received his orders, very early next morning, to pursue and keep up the +panic, and that he would cross at Trenton that day. From this circumstance, +it appears that the General had taken his determination before your +pretended information or advice from Trenton could have reached him. + +In justification to myself, I have thought it necessary to point out your +false state of facts, in these particulars; the multitude of lesser ones, +relating to military matters, I shall pass over, as this publication is +already necessarily lengthened beyond my first intention. + +As I hinted, in my letter of 10th September last, that "charges of the same +nature had been, some time since, made against you," by Arnold; you say, +you "allow full weight to so respectable a connexion and testimony;" to +which you made no reply, though from the rank and character of Arnold at +that time, they merited your notice. Arnold having received his information +from me, it cannot be concluded, that I meant by his testimony to +strengthen my own assertion; but merely to show, that having before been +charged, you did not reply; from which many believed it true. And when he +apologized to me for inserting it in his defence without my permission, I +remarked, that an apology was unnecessary, from the public manner in which +I had mentioned it. + +Arnold was commanding officer in this city, very generally visited by +officers of the army, citizens and strangers. I received the usual +civilities from him, and returned them; and often met him at the tables of +gentlemen in the city. To my civilities, at that time, I thought him +entitled from the signal services he had rendered his country; services +infinitely superior to those you so much boast of; he stood high, as a +military character, even in France, and after your prosecution, he was +continued in command by Congress; appointed first, by the +commander-in-chief, to the command of the left wing of the army, and +afterwards to that important post of West Point, where his treacherous +conduct exceeded, I fancy, even your own idea of his baseness. To what, +then, do your insinuations amount? They cannot criminate me, without an +implied censure on Congress and the commander-in-chief. But why contaminate +my name, by connecting it, in this instance, with such a wretch? when you, +yourself, at his trial, with a half-shamed face, seemed to apologize for +being his prosecutor, and became his fulsome panegyrist. It consisted, +however, with that artifice and cunning which has ever been the sum of your +_abilities_, and the whole amount of your _wisdom_. + +Your remarks on my letter of the 10th December, 1777, are so inconsistent, +that I shall bestow a few observations on them. "So strong and virulent," +you say, "was my antipathy to the constitution, and such my enmity to those +who administered it, that you believe I would have preferred _any_ +government to that of Pennsylvania, if my _person_ and _property_ would +have been equally secure;" and yet it seems, in the next sentence you say, +"but it was our lot to meet again, a few days before the battle of +Monmouth; here we were again united in _confidence_ and _danger_." If you +really thought I would prefer _any government_ to that of Pennsylvania, why +did you then take so much pains to show, that we again united in +"_confidence_ and _danger_," at the battle of Monmouth, so many months +after I had discovered that virulent antipathy, and which now hath extorted +such gross reflections? + +You say, my breast was burning with disappointed ambition; but how does +this appear, when, immediately upon the formation of the new government, I +was appointed the first of three brigadiers, which created me commanding +officer of the militia. Could my ambition be gratified further? But to +obviate every objection, let me suppose you meant, that I wished to rise to +power in the civil line,--which, however, has never been insinuated +before,--let me here call to your memory, how easy the task was for _any +character_ to rise to the first offices of government. I confess, I do not +think so meanly of myself, as to have dreaded any rivalship from some of +the candidates of those days; nor do I mean, by this declaration, to +insinuate any extraordinary merit, when I estimate mine by that of those I +have alluded to. I could not have consented to make the sacrifices +required; but you, however, and some others, as much opposed to the +essential parts of the constitution as I was, freely made them, and broke +through every obligation of faith and honour. + +The charge you have brought against a party in the state, of an opposition +to its constitution, deserves some attention. I will digress a little from +my main subject to examine how far this charge is true, and how far the +thing is in itself criminal. + +Government is generally so reverenced among men, that those who attempt to +subvert any system of it whatever, have to contend against a very natural +prejudice. But this prejudice can only be in degree with the antiquity of +its establishment; for modern error, how high soever its authority, has but +little claim to our veneration. This concession made, could it be expected +that our novel constitution, liable at first blush to so many important +objections, should not have its opponents; but that in a moment it should +be submitted to, as implicitly as if it had had the sanction of ages? What +circumstance was there, in the production of this whimsical machine, that +should silence, at once, all the remonstrances of reason and sense against +it? Was it not worth a pause to examine, whether this coat, wove for ages, +would fit us or our posterity before we put on; or whether this gift of our +convention would not prove our destruction? From an apprehension that it +would, an opposition was formed, that included a majority of the state. Did +those who composed it, think it criminal to prevent the singular ideas of a +convention, from being carried into execution, against an almost general +sentiment; or did they not rather conceive it safe and better for the +community still to go on in the administration of governmental affairs by +those temporary expedients we had been in the habits of, until their +constitution could be revised? + +This idea, patriotic as it was, was defeated by the obstinate enthusiasm of +some, who trembled for this New Jerusalem of their hopes, and by the +scandalous desertion of others, and especially yourself. The ends of +opposition being thus rendered unattainable, but at the hazard of +convulsions, that might endanger the great American cause, the same virtue +that began it, ended it, and it has long since ceased to act. + +This is a well-known state of facts; but what it did not suit with your own +by-purposes to admit, could not be expected from your integrity; you have, +therefore, constantly kept up the alarm of a constitutional opposition, +and, on every occasion, referred to this false cause, that honest and +useful opposition which was created by your weak, though violent and +tyrannical administration. + +That you was called to the chair of government, by the unanimous vote of +council and assembly, you have often boasted, with a view of conveying to +the world an idea, that even the gentlemen opposed to the constitution +approved the choice. But they neither esteemed you as a gentleman, nor +approved your public conduct. They knew there was a majority in assembly in +favour of your election, and as their grand object was the obtaining a +resolution of that body, recommending the calling a convention for revising +the constitution, some of the party entered into an engagement for this +purpose, and your election was negotiated. _You_ were to use your +endeavours to prevail on the Council to enforce the recommendation of the +assembly by a similar resolution. From your own acknowledgment at the City +Tavern, the resolution of the Council was never obtained, or even moved +for, by you, and for this flimsy reason, that no formal information, of +such resolution having passed, had been communicated to you; though known +to all the world; and that it could not be expected that Council would +"tag" after the assembly, in a measure relating to the public. Yet you had +the effrontery to assert, that "_every engagement on your part_," was +strictly performed. + +At this meeting, you say, you "in the most open manner called upon us, to +support our imputations, and that you so effectually vindicated every part +of your conduct, that every gentleman, (myself excepted,) acknowledged his +mistake." I own I made no concessions, and if the reasons I then gave are +not thought a sufficient justification to the world, of the opinion I had +formed, I am content to admit that it was not only "singular," but +"absurd." + +After a reasonable pause, I remarked, that from the repeated conversations +I had had with you, on this subject, you appeared to me as much opposed as +I was, to the constitution, before the evacuation of the city; that you had +refused to accept the appointment of Chief Justice, (because you could not +in conscience take the oath;[L]) that a short time before the election, in +1778, you engaged yourself to the constitutional party, to serve in Council +for the County, and to the party in the opposition, to serve in Assembly +for the City; and being chosen in both instances, you hesitated above six +weeks, (though often pressed to a resolution,) before you determined to +accept your seat in Council;--depriving, during this time, the City of a +vote in Assembly, while an important point was debated concerning the +contested Chester election; and voluntarily advocating the question in +favor of the constitutional party; that on the fate of this trial depended +your hopes of succeeding to the President's chair; that a determination in +favour of that party gave them a decided majority, and that you instantly +accepted your seat in Council.--To which you replied, and in recapitulating +my arguments, endeavoured to justify your conduct; but conscious of having +failed in the capital points, you closed your remarks with some warm +expressions, which conveyed the idea of a threat; of which I desired an +explanation. After working up your passions to a degree little short of +frenzy, you expressed yourself in the following terms: I mean this,--"If +the publications traducing my public and private character are continued, I +mean to apply to the law; but if this will not do me that justice, which in +some instances it cannot do,--I know I have the affections and command of +the fighting men of this state; and if necessary, I will make use of that +influence, and call forth that force,--and if bloodshed should be the +consequence be it on your own heads." + +Such violent and unwarrantable expressions from the first magistrate of +the state, and in the presence of the whole bench of justices, created the +highest indignation, and were severely reprobated by several gentlemen +present; which induced you afterwards to endeavour to soften your +expressions and meaning. + +But if it was singular or absurd, "to expect a President of the State to +enter into the violence of party on _my_ side of the question," let me +oppose to this, the _treachery_ of your conduct in deserting the party to +which you was at first from ("_conscientious_" principles) attached, and +yet, as President, enter into all the violence of party on the other side +of the question. + +Again, "upon our return to Philadelphia," you say, "I became the open and +avowed patron of those who are distinguished by the appellation of tories; +and my decisive attachment to the British Army,[N] and their adherents, +"has marked every subsequent period of my life, too plainly to admit of +doubt or denial." If you really entertained such sentiments, why did you, +in the month of February, (after my marriage,) waiving the indignity +offered to you in not paying the usual compliments of congratulation, upon +your appointment, pay me the first visit, and thereby make advances towards +a reconciliation? Such a condescension, so contrary to the _usual forms_, +can scarcely be reconciled even to a character like yours. + +Men who acquire popularity by means disgraceful to a gentleman, dare not +hazard a sentiment that is not approved by the party with which he is +connected. I have, on all occasions, and in all companies, private and +public, delivered freely my political opinions; nor has the dread of losing +the little popularity I possessed in Pennsylvania, ever induced me to make +a sacrifice of my honour, by adopting opinions or measures which I +disapproved, or thought injurious to my country. Esteeming it the highest +honour to deserve the approbation of my fellow-citizens, I have ever been +solicitous to obtain it. You and some others have industriously propagated +reports for the purpose of injuring my reputation; but conscious that my +political opinions and conduct will stand the test, upon the nicest +scrutiny, and having never experienced any diminution of that esteem, +respect and warmth of friendship, which my fellow-citizens have ever shown +towards me, a refutation of such calumny is utterly needless. + +From the whole of what I have here laid before the public, supported by the +testimony of the most respectable witnesses, the following conclusions may +fairly be deduced: + +1. That the conversation alluded to, which I have asserted to have passed +between us at Bristol, was mentioned by me in confidence to Col. Hamilton +and some others of General Washington's family, in the year 1777; and +therefore could not have originated at the time, you mention, or to gratify +my resentment against you, as at that time, you acknowledge, no parties +subsisted. + +2. It could not have been invented to gratify my resentment for the attempt +you made to evade the payment of Mr. Porter's order; because I did not make +it public at the time, nor till several years afterwards, and you +acknowledge, all that coolness was done away, and our former habits of +friendship restored. + +[TN] As is appears, by Mr. Clymer's testimony, that I mentioned it publicly +at Mr. Hamilton's trial, which was before you were elected President of the +state, it ought to be imputed to another cause than that which you have +assigned. + +4. As it appears, from Mr. Pryor's testimony, that I mentioned it at the +Coffee House, in the hearing of some of your friends, we may reasonably +conclude you were informed of it; and this conclusion is strengthened by +your passing over unnoticed, the information contained in Major Lennox's +testimony, which was related to you by Major Thomas Moore. + +5. It cannot appear improbable that you should have held this conversation +with me, as your expressions to Gen. Dickinson, Col. Nixon, and Doctor +Rush, convey sentiments equally injurious to your reputation as a patriot +and Adjutant General of the army. + +6. As it fully appears, by the testimony of Col. Ellis and Mr. Davenport, +and that of Col. Bradford, that you had communicated such sentiments to +your brother-in-law, Mr. Pettit, and to Col. Bayard, contrary to your +declaration, we may with propriety assert that you have forfeited that +veracity, which is essential to the character of a gentleman. + +Lastly, from the testimony of Major Lennox and Col. Nichols, it appears +that you absolutly[TN] applied to Count Donop for protection, and that a +particular and intimate friend of yours was included in it; and therefore, +from this and the foregoing testimony, all pointing to the same object and +to the same period, supporting and confirming each other, it cannot leave +the least room to doubt the truth of my assertion. + +In some instances, a man's general good conduct has had great weight to +invalidate or weaken charges highly criminal; but unfortunately, _yours_ +can receive no aid from such circumstances. Dissimulation and cunning have +for a time deceived the most discerning, but the snares you have laid for +others will most probably accomplish your own destruction. + +Having long since known how to estimate your character, I have not any +where pretended, in this performance, to fix it at a higher value than what +it generally passes current for; you have, since the term of your +administration, repeatedly put yourself upon your country. Your name has +been offered to the people for a seat in the legislature; to the +legislature, for a seat in Congress; to Congress, for posts of Continental +trust; but that _name_, its counterfeit gilding at length rubbed off, and +the native colour of the contexture exposed, has depreciated, like the +Continental money, with such velocity, that though a few years ago worth a +President's chair, it would not, _now_ purchase a constable's staff; nor is +it more highly rated in the sphere of polite life, than in the great +theatre of the world; for its unfortunate owner stands alone, unnoticed in +the midst of company, with full leisure to reflect on the sensible effects +of the loss of reputation. + +My immediate purpose requires nothing further from me; but your +administration, the theme of your own solitary praise, might not improperly +have been touched upon, but that it is a field too extensive for me, and +that I have not asperity enough in my nature to do justice to the subject. +I will yet observe upon some matters in your pamphlet, not in direct +connexion with one or the other subject; but which are extremly[TN] +demonstrative of a temper in the writer to wish evil to the community, +after the power of doing it has ceased. + +You, who have ever been a rapacious lawyer, and have never omitted any +means of amassing a fortune, have, with a truly consistent spirit, shown an +implacable enmity to all those who are raised to a condition above want and +dependence. And though you kick against the parallel drawn between you and +the Cataline of antiquity, you have in this point proved its exactness; he +haranguing in the circle of his conspirators, exasperates them against the +opulent citizens of Rome; you, in your pamphlet, labor to create invidious +distinctions, would pervert the order of well regulated society, and make +fortune's larger gifts, or even its moderate blessings, criterions of +disqualification for public trust and honours in Pennsylvania; and under a +spacious description of men, offer with your _sword_ to lead the indigent, +the bankrupt, and the desperate, into all the authority of government. But +in the shallowness of your understanding, you have mistaken the spirit of +the times; it will not countenance or support a Cataline. + +You would also, no doubt, as may be inferred from your pamphlet, _you_, who +are so deficient in morality, draw your sword in religious quarrels, to +bring you once more into play; but 'tis to no purpose you would raise an +alarm, as a very great and respectable part of your opponents consist of +persons belonging to that society, of which you profess yourself to be a +member; and there is a general and commendable coolness and indifference +for such quarrels, that will not easily take fire on your false and +inflammatory suggestions; so that whatever you have catched at to raise you +from the earth, has broke in your hands and brought you again to the +ground. + + JOHN CADWALADER. + + + + +VALLEY FORGE LETTERS, + +AS + +PUBLISHED IN THE EVENING JOURNAL. + +1842. + + + From the Evening Journal. + +MR. WHITNEY--At this distant day from the American Revolution, a new dawn +seems to be breaking upon the darkness of that period, and much that has +heretofore been shrouded in seemingly inscrutable mystery, is beginning to +be made plain even to the naked vision. The "seventeen trunks" of +revolutionary papers, a selection from which Colonel Beekman, the grandson +and heir of Gen. George Clinton, has just published, in one of the New York +papers, must necessarily contain much of exceeding value: and I should not +be surprised if the Colonel were to receive a visit, at his place on Long +Island, from Mr. William Bradford Reed, to request to be permitted to +_rummage_ their contents, and abstract or destroy any "document" that might +likely prove prejudicial to the fame of his grandfather, the late General +Joseph Reed. The Colonel must keep a sharp look out for Mr. Reed, and turn +a deaf ear to his blandishments, when he arrives. + +Doctor Johnson, in one of his Lives of the Poets, makes an observation +strictly applicable to the claim of patriotism, which, originally set up +for himself by General Reed, has been perpetuated for him by his +descendants. Speaking of the boast a certain poet was accustomed to make, +of the sternness with which he had driven back an ass laden with gold, that +had sought to invade the citadel of his integrity, the Doctor remarked, +"but the tale has too little evidence to deserve a disquisition; _large +offers and sturdy rejections are among the most common topics of +falsehood_." That portion of the quotation which I have italicised, fits +the case of General Reed to a hair; but "the tale" of his patriotism, +however "little evidence" there may to support it, _does_ "deserve a +disquisition," if only on account of the pertinacity with which it is +endeavoured to engraft it upon the public mind. + +I have already given the _truth_ concerning General Reed's famous reply to +the British commissioners, and I propose to follow it up with the +publication of a few letters, interesting on account of the light which +they shed upon our revolutionary history. + +Many of the citizens of Philadelphia must remember Mrs. Sarah Kemp, who +died in Race street, in 1820, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. +Andrew Kemp, the only son of this respectable matron, entered the American +army, almost at the very commencement of the struggle, and before, as his +mother has often informed me, he had reached his majority. As he shall be +my first witness against General Reed, it is proper to make the reader well +acquainted with him. His gallantry, and a personal service which he had the +good fortune to render to one of General Washingston's[TN] immediate staff, +soon promoted him from the ranks, and he fought with great bravery, at the +battles of White Plains, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown and +Monmouth. Sergeant Kemp was one of the garrison of Fort Mercer, under the +command of Colonel Greene, when that fortress was assailed in the autumn of +1777, by the Hessian troops, commanded by Colonel Donop. In this affair, +which, though not one of the most remarkable, was one of the most brilliant +of the Revolution, Sergeant Kemp particularly distinguished himself, and +was wounded slightly in the arm, and severely in the left thigh by a musket +ball: at the subsequent capture of Fort Mercer by Cornwallis, Kemp was one +of the few who fell into the hands of the enemy--the remainder of the +garrison succeeding in safely evacuating the fort. In a few weeks, he +managed to effect his escape from Howe's winter quarters at Philadelphia, +and immediately joined the American army at Valley Forge. The privations of +that encampment, dreadfully aggravated the sufferings of poor Kemp; but, +after languishing during the season in one of the military hospitals, he +resumed active service in the spring, and served in May under Lafayette at +the affair of Barren Hill. At the battle of Monmouth, he fought with his +usual intrepidity, but the fatigues of the engagement renewed the affection +of his imperfectly healed leg; and, about three weeks after, he was obliged +to submit to its amputation. Upon leaving the army, he received from +General Washington himself a certificate of conduct and character, which I +copy from the original before me. + + + _Head Quarters, June 23, 1778._ + + Sergeant Andrew Kemp is personally known to me as a brave and + faithful soldier, who has served in several engagements, and + who desires his discharge only in consequence of the loss of a + limb, which unfits him for further service. His dutiful + conduct is reported to me to be equal to his bravery; and he + retires from the army with my good opinion and that of all + whom I have heard speak of him. + + (Signed,) G. WASHINGTON. + + +From among other testimonials to Mr. Kemp's worth and conduct, which formed +to her dying day, the pride and solace of his aged mother, I select the +following, given by Col. Samuel Smith, the late Mayor of Baltimore, and +the gallant defender of Fort Mifflin against the six days' attacks of the +British. + + + "Andrew Kemp has served with me three times; the last nearly + four months. He was discharged from the army last month, in + consequence of the loss of his leg and other bodily + infirmities. I have always found his conduct exemplary. He + came to me with high recommendations from officers whom he had + previously served with, and fully realized what they had + prepared me to expect from him. + + (Signed,) SAMUEL SMITH. + _September 3, 1778."_ + + +This brave fellow fell a victim to his benevolent daring, during the +prevalence of the yellow fever in this city, in 1798. Upon the death of his +mother, the certificates of character which I have transcribed, and a +number of his letters, of various dates, written while he was in the army, +passed into the hands of the veteran, to whom in my former article, I +referred, but whose name I am not _yet_ at liberty to mention. From among +them, I make two selections--the first a letter to his mother, who then +resided in Chester County. + + + _Camp, June 13th; 1788._ + + My Dear Mother,--You must be very uneasy not hearing from me + so long, and the only wonder is that I am alive to give any + account of myself. After my escape from Philadelphia, last + November, I wrote to you, but whether you received my letter + or not I cannot tell, for I have never heard a word of you + since. We have had a dreadful time of it through the winter at + Valley Forge. Sometimes for a week at a time with nothing but + frozen potatoes, and even worse off still for clothing; + sometimes the men obliged to sleep by turns for want of + blankets to cover the whole, and the rest keeping watch by the + fires. There is hardly a man whose feet have not been frost + bitten. I have been laid by nearly the whole time on account + of my leg, from which I suffered very much; and Doctor Le + Brean insisted upon taking it off, but I would not suffer him; + for which I have great reason to be joyful, for it is now + nearly as well as ever, except a little stiffness, + particularly after marching. But our distress from want of + food and comfortable raiment, was nothing compared to the + grumbling of some of the men, and I am sorry to say, of some + of the officers. I really thought we should have a meeting + once or twice; but we weathered through without it. Some hard + things are said since about some of the officers, but the + whole talk of the army is now about General Reed. There have + been a good many attempts to conceal it from the men, but it + has pretty much leaked out. This spring, it seems, King George + sent over some Commissioners, as they call them, to endeavour + to make a peace with us; and it turns out that General Reed + has been in secret correspondence with them all the time, and + was offered large amounts to play into their hands; but the + bargain was broken off by his wanting more than they were + willing to give. I know this much for certain; that one of + their letters was taken to General Washington, and that the + men were all called up at the dead of night, by beat of drum, + and most of the officers called to Head Quarters. In the + morning, General Reed was placed under guard, but released in + about two hours. The letter was from one of the British + Commissioners, in answer to one of his--he gave some + explation[TN], but it did not satisfy the General, but he was + obliged to accept it, as the contrary could not be proved. I + heard Captain Anderson tell Dr. Le Brean, that General + Washington was fully satisfied that Reed had been on the very + point of betraying us all to the British, but that it could + not be fully proved; and at such a time, it was better to keep + a strict eye upon him, without getting the army into disgrace + by exposure. + + "Near the last of May, we had a smart little affair with the + British at Barren Hill; it was the first time I was under + marching orders since I left the hospital. The British army + came very near surprising us after night--two of the sentinels + of the picket guard having fallen asleep on their posts. But + we managed to get across the river again with very little + loss, only eight men killed and wounded, and three prisoners. + I made a narrow escape, for I heard a bullet whistling by my + ear as close as it could, without hitting. All well at home, I + hope. Tell Sally not to forget to knit me a supply of woollen + stockings, and a couple pair of mittens for next winter, for I + dread the idea of another Valley Forge; and give her and Ann + my kind love. + + "From your affectionate son, + "ANDREW KEMP." + + + +My object in giving this _introductory_ letter is to show Mr. William B. +Reed that the treachery of his grandfather was understood by the army at +large, and that the knowledge of it was not confined to a few leading +officers. _Documents of a more precise, specific, and important character_, +are in my possession, or within my means of access; and shall seasonably +appear; but, unlike "_McDonough_," I do not choose to put my best foot +foremost, and limp ever aftewards[TN]. I subjoin another letter from +Sergeant Kemp, for the edification of Mr. Reed. + + + _"Monmouth Court House, N. J., July 2d, 1778."_ + + "Dear Mother,--I am laid up again, but after the fatigues of a + great battle, and a great victory, which we fought on the 28th + of June,--James Maris, who had his hand shattered by a + bullet, has leave of absence for four weeks; and I drop a few + lines by the opportunity which his going gives me. God be + thanked, we have had a glorious victory! The British troops, + commanded by Sir Henry Clinton, and ours by General + Washington, were nearly matched--say ten thousand each. We + fought from the forenoon till nigh dark; and our whole loss, + killed and missing, is short of seventy, while the British + lost about three hundred, and among them one Colonel Monks or + Monkston. I have no great time for particulars. The men + behaved very nobly; and the morning after, when we found that + the British had decamped over night, the General [Washington,] + thanked us all, from horseback. But one thing there is which + has occasioned much disturbance among us. I mean the conduct + of General Lee, who attempted to retreat, and who has since + been put under order, to be court martialed. + + "Then there's that General Reed has been behaving very + strangely again. Not a man nor officer in the army that does + not hate the sight of him; we all believe that he came very + near betraying us, only that the General [Washington] found + him out in time. We all remember Valley Forge last winter. + Before the battle began, I myself heard Gen. Washington + whisper to General Greene and Wayne, to keep a sharp eye upon + Reed's movements, and if he made any suspicious attempt, to + order him under arrest, and shoot him if he resisted. During + the whole battle, I never saw him; but after the last gun was + fired, and when it was almost dark, General Reed suddenly made + his appearance from the rear, and gave out that he had just + had a horse shot in two under him, and asked for two men to go + and remove his saddle and holsters. I was one of them; we + examined the horse very carefully, and found him to be without + hurt or scratch; and he had plain enough died from mere heat, + which killed several horses and a number of men during the + day. The story has got wind--some laugh, but others shake + their heads about it. Jim Maris heard General Washington say + to General Wayne in the evening, that he abhorred the very + sight of Reed, and could never again put the least faith in + him. This is not the first time that General Reed has showed + the white feather. He pretended to have a horse killed under + him, in the same way at the Battle of Brandywine, and had two + men put in irons for talking about it. I am afraid my leg is + going to give me a good deal of trouble again It is very much + swollen, and discharges continually. They have me on the sick + list. My best love to Sarah and Ann. + + "Your dutitful[TN] son, + (Signed) "ANDREW KEMP." + + + +Having given the testimony of Sergeant Kemp, I will now have the pleasure +of introducing to the notice of Mr. William B. Reed a letter from Col. +Samuel Smith, to his old friend in arms, Colonel ----, by whom I have been +so kindly supplied with much of the reminiscences which I have given to the +readers of the Journal, and who had addressed to Col. Smith a letter, the +nature and object of which will best be explained by the following reply: + + + _"Senate Chamber, Washington, Feb. 15th, 1832._ + + "MY DEAR FRIEND,--Yours of the 9th was received yesterday, + having been forwarded to me by my family from Baltimore, to + which place you had addressed it, forgetting my still being in + public life at Washington. I suppose you think that so old a + man, and one who has led so busy and active a life, should + take the evening of his days to his comfort and quiet + reflection, and I am not sure but that you are right. Public + life ought to have but little charms for either you or me; we + have both seen enough of active service, and should devote the + remnant of time which is left us, to settling our accounts + with this world, and preparing for a better. + + "I am gratified to hear of the task in which you tell me you + are engaged. I do not know that it is in my power to afford + you much of the assistance which you seem to think I can give; + but such information as I can communicate is very cheerfully + at your service. Upon my return to Baltimore, I will examine + my papers; and whatever letters I can spare, which I may think + likely to aid you in your labors, or illustrate the times of + which you propose to write, shall be forwarded to your + direction. + + "I agree with you that many of the men, and not few of the + events, of the Revolution, are very imperfectly understood. + Take General Washington himself, for example: he is + represented as having been cold and repulsive in his manner, + when the very reverse was the fact. True, he was dignified and + reserved, but always courteous, and, what I admired above all, + always sincere. I never knew a man capable of stronger + attachments; he had none of the vices of humanity, and fewer + of its weaknesses than any man I ever knew. I do not believe + Mr. Jefferson _meant_ to be unjust; but the character drawn of + Washington, which appears in his recently published papers and + correspondence, falls, in all respects, very far short of + doing him justice. Mr. Jefferson had not the sort of mind + which was entirely capable of appreciating, or even exactly + understanding, a character like that of Washington's. I saw + much of the old General in his latter days; visited him + several times at Mount Vernon, and frequently at Washington. + Doctor Craih, (my near connexion by marriage,) was long his + physician and intimate friend, and was in attendance upon his + death-bed. He has given me anecdotes innumerable of + Washington's generosity and kindness of heart, which, though, + not known to the world, ought to be. Of these, I will write to + you more fully from home. + + "I can communicate but little concerning Gen. Wayne, which you + do not know already. His son, who lives somewhere in your + state, I should take to be a proper person to whom to apply. I + wish it were in my power to answer more fully than I can, your + inquiries concerning General Reed. My personal acquaintance + with him was limited. I shared in the deep dislike with which + he was regarded, and his negotiations with the British + commissioners, in the spring of 1778, made him obnoxious to + the whole army, from the commander-in-chief to the lowest + subaltern. You and I talked this matter over nearly fifty + years since, and I have found nothing to change, but much to + confirm, my opinions. It is a little too bad that this man + should be reverenced by posterity as one of the purest of the + men of the revolution, when you and I, and all who were really + active in those times, know that nothing but accident + prevented his taking the start of Benedict Arnold. Though not + communicative, General Washington was always candid, and upon + the subject of Reed's premeditated betrayal of the country to + England, he has frequently conversed with me very freely. None + of the correspondence between Reed and the British + commissioners, fell into his hands except the letter from + Governor Johnston, and an enclosed note in cypher from Lord + Carlisle, but these contained sufficient to assure Washington + that a long correspondence had passed--that proposals had been + made and debated, and that Reed had finally submitted a + proposition which the commissioners were endeavouring to + reduce. With the explanation Reed gave you are familiar. No + one believed it, but it passed muster, for the only proofs + which _at the time_ could be had, were the intercepted papers. + But ever after, Washington regarded Reed with great dislike, + and treated him with a manner strictly marked by the display + of his feelings. I was present when General Washington took + his final leave of his officers at New York, after the close + of the revolution, in the winter of 1783. The general's eyes + streamed with tears, he grasped each officer by the hand, but + when Reed approached him with extended hand, he started as if + bitten by a serpent, made a cold bow, and passed on. + Afterwards, at Annapolis, where Congress was then sitting, I + was present when General Reed was repeating to some half a + dozen of delegates, the old story of his refusal of the + commissioner's offer. Washington, who was within three yards + of him, turned away, and remarked to General Knox, "I know the + fellow well; he wanted but a price, and an opportunity, to + play us false as Arnold," and passed out of the room. There + was a general titter, and upon Reed's enquiring of General + Knox what it was that General W. had remarked, Knox replied, + "If you did not hear it, I advise you to follow the general, + and request him to repeat his observation." Reed was not a + fighting man. I do not say that he was a coward, but he was + always very careful of his person. His visit to England in + 1784, I could never understand. His circumstances, just + before, were very much embarrassed, he had borrowed of all who + were willing to lend, and he paid nobody. Immediately upon his + return, he paid off all his debts, including one of three + thousand dollars to General Wayne, and commenced speculating + in real estate largly[TN], when he was taken ill and died. + + I have given you very near all I have concerning this person. + I have anecdotes from others, of which I will inform you + hereafter; as also, the particulars of several conversations + which I had with Washington respecting him. I have always, + from principle, been opposed to making mischief; but I have + always, at the same time, been opposed to trickery and + unfounded pretensions. Why the survivors of the Revolution + have so long permitted General Reed's treachery and baseness + to be glossed over, and himself converted into a patriot, is + to me a mystery; but the veil must be raised at last, and I + know of no one more capable of performing the task than + yourself. + + "Let me hear often from you--and always be assured that I am + sincerely your friend, + + SAMUEL SMITH. + + +I will close my budget of "documents" as "_McDonough_" would call them, for +the present. When I open it again, the information to be drawn forth will +be even more definite than that just given, and possibly, even still less +palatable to Mr. Reed. He will pardon me for troubling him with two +questions: Among the papers left by your grandfather, did you ever come +across a copy of a very remarkable correspondence had between that person +and General Anthony Wayne in 1781? If yea, why have you withheld it from +publication? Although _you_ can answer this last question, I cannot; but I +will tell you, Mr. Reed, what I can do: I can lay my hands upon a copy of +the same correspondence, and I propose to entertain the readers of the +Journal with a few selections, upon some not very distant occasion. + +In Mr. Reed's selection of a _period of time_ to be illustrated by the +labors of "McDonough," it appears to me he has been unfortunate. If he had +gone further back, he might have recounted some of the _real_ exploits of +his grandfather, and spared _me_ the labor which his deficiencies have +compelled me to undertake. If he had come a little further down, he might +have dilated upon the performances of his father, a Recorder of the city of +Philadelphia, and Treasurer and Secretary of the University of +Pennsylvania. _That_ labor, also, I fear, will devolve upon me. + + VALLEY FORGE. + + Monday, Sept. 25, 1842. + + + From the Evening Journal. + +MR. WHITNEY--The communication of "McDonough" (alias U. S. Bank Reed,) in +this Morning's Court Chronicle, manifests that there is no small degree of +fluttering among the wounded pigeons of the "Holy Alliance." The assumption +of "McDonough" that _you_ and "Valley Forge" are one and the same person, +is a more novel than logical mode of disproving the truth of my +allegations. But let Mr. Reed rest easy upon that score. _Who_ I am, is +very little to the purpose; _what_ I assert is more germain to the +matter--and let this lacquay of Nicholas Biddle deny _that_ if he dare, or +disprove it if he can. If my charges are _true_, the identity of their +author with the editor of the Evening Journal could not detract from their +truth; if _false_, a more obvious as well as conclusive mode of +establishing their falsity presents itself. + +But the truth is, that no arrow which has been shot into the camp of the +"Holy Alliance" rankles more deeply, or has worked worse execution, than +the exposure of the authorship of "McDonough." Not that Mr. Reed is by any +means, either intellectually or extrinsically, the most formidable member +of the combination; but now it is known that _he_ is the author of those +attacks upon the character of a good citizen, of a man against whom for +years the minions of the Bank have been directing their warfare without the +ability to discover a crevice in his coat of mail, the arm of the puny +assailant falls paralyzed to his side, and his intended victim laughs at +him in a tone of scorn, in which the whole community participates. + +_William B. Reed_ to prate of patriotism! _William B. Reed_ to declaim upon +honor and patriotism! For the chimney-sweep to prate of cleanliness would +not be more anomalous. With what grace does the defence of the United +States Bank come from this "McDonough" of the Chronicle, when we know him +to be the veriest lick-spittle that Nicholas Biddle, in his day of pride +and power, ever retained in his service? As the friend of Nicholas Biddle, +as his purchased tool and agent, rather, Mr. Reed has never, for an +instant, hesitated to sacrifice to the promotion of the interests of the +Bank, every public trust which for the time being was confided to his +keeping. Why is it that Mr. Reed has never yet explained away or answered +the very extraordinary and _specific_ disclosures of _bribery_ which a +correspondent of the Ledger made against him in the summer of 1841? +Disclosures so astonishing that the eyes of the public, although long +accustomed to look upon the doings of the man with distrust, dilated with +astonishment. He was accused by the correspondent of the Ledger with having +as a member of the House of Representatives, _accepted bribes from the Bank +of the United States_; the several amounts were specified; documents were +even refered[TN] to; and yet Mr. Reed, instead of maintaining his good +ground and confronting his accuser, flies the city, absents himself for +some time upon the plea of a previously arranged excursion of pleasure; and +when, after his return, driven at length to a show of explanation, he +parades in print an evasion of charges, so paltry that its sophistry would +degrade the merest pettifoger in Mr. Biddle's Court of Criminal Sessions. + +But since Mr. William B. Reed, alias Mr. U. S. B. McDonough, is so pure a +patriot, and has such a holy horror of "treason" and "traitors," I will +give him a few facts upon which to reflect, and with which he may enrich +and illustrate his future lucubrations. + +_Fact No. 1._--That Mr. William B. Reed is, or claims to be, the grandson +of General Joseph Reed, of Revolutionary memory. + +_Fact No. 2._--That Mr. William B. Reed is feelingly alive upon the subject +of his grandfather's memory, and has devoted the labors of nearly his whole +life to establish the popular delusion that his grandfather's patriotism +underwent the severest test and ordeal of the revolutionary struggle. + +_Fact No. 3._--That Mr. William B. Reed has written essays, reviews and +paragraphs innumerable, to induce the public to believe, that when in 1778 +or 1779, Governor Johnstone and the other British Commissioners, proposed +to General Reed a reward of 10,000 pounds sterling, and a lucrative office, +upon condition that he would lend himself to the views of Great Britain, he +indignantly spurned the proposal, and replied, "I am not worth the +purchase, but such as I am, King George is not rich enough to make it." + +_Fact No. 4._--That no such proposal was ever made to General Joseph Reed, +and that General Joseph Reed never made any such reply. + +_Fact No. 5._--That General Joseph Reed endeavoured to effect a negotiation +with the British Commissioners, and actually commenced it, to ascertain +what he might expect, in money and office, in case he succeeded in +effecting a reconciliation between the colonies and the mother country, or +in other words, that he would be instrumental in causing the revolted +colonies to return to their allegiance to Great Britain! + +_Fact No. 6._--That General Joseph Reed, after much chaffering as to the +price, finally proffered his services to the British Commissioners, to +effect the objects mentioned in "Fact No. 5," for the sum of 10,000 pounds +sterling in hand, a Chief Justiceship, and the right to a tract of land +West and North-West of the then city of Philadelphia, upon a part of which +the Cherry Hill Penitentiary is now erected, and the whole of which, is at +this time probably worth from five to seven millions of dollars. + +_Fact No. 7._--That while this negotiation was pending, and while the +hucksters were haggling as to the terms upon which it should close, it came +to the ears of the American Commander-in-Chief, that General Reed was +engaged in a very suspicious correspondence with the British Commissioners; +that General Washington sent for General Reed, and in the presence of his +staff, informed him of what he had heard, and demanded an explanation; and +that General Reed, finding denial out of the question, admitted that +overtures had been made to him by Governor Johnstone and his colleagues, +but that he had replied to them; "I am not worth the purchase, but such as +I am, King George is not rich enough to make it." + +_Fact No. 8._--That this patriotic reply of General Joseph Reed, to the +attributed overtures of the British Commissioners, had its _sole origin_ in +the explanation with which he sought to dispel the suspicions of General +Washington; that General Washington ever after continued to regard him with +great distrust; and that several years subsequently, when General Reed, in +the presence of General Washington, was descanting upon the patriotic reply +with which he had foiled the British Commissioners, General Washington +turned away in disgust, and remarked to a friend, in a tone of voice +sufficiently audible to be heard by all present--_"I know the fellow well, +and am satisfied that he wanted but a price and an opportunity to play us +as false as Arnold."_ + +When Mr. Reed shall have sufficiently pondered over the facts thus +enumerated, I shall descend the ladder a step from his grandfather, and +come to his more immediate progenitor! Of him, I shall have the great +question to ask--what is the reason of his aversion to sunshine, that he +secludes himself all day like an owl or a bat? But the grandfather will +suffice for the present. Mr. Reed has certainly taken uncommon pains to +keep up the public delusion upon this subject. Let him know (what he will +soon know to his mortification,) that there yet survives a veteran of the +revolution--one whose mental faculties are undimmed by age--whose very +physical frame, time has treated with tenderness and respect--whose keen +and lively intelligence retains its ancient vigour--a Revolutionary +soldier, who well knew Joseph Reed; who equally well knew George +Washington; and who intends to give to the world, at no very distant day, +his knowledge of them, and of much beside. + +Mr. Reed has fair warning--let him look to it. + + Monday, Sept. 19, 1842. VALLEY FORGE. + + + From the Evening Journal. + +MR. WHITNEY:--Since your publication of my last, "McDonough" has slacked +his fire wonderfully. It is surprising how one's tone becomes altered after +the discovery is made that the former idea of _invulnerability_ was a +great mistake. The home truths pressed upon Mr. William Bradford Reed (I +believe this is the first time that the public have been made acquainted +with the learned gentleman's name in full) have proved to be of unpalatable +flavor and difficult digestion; and it is not, therefore to be wondered at +that they should have for him no relish. I have not yet done with the +revolutionary reminiscences of his grandfather; that worthy whom "King +George was not rich enough to buy," although, as he himself modestly +admitted, he was "_not worth purchasing_:" + +The writer of this paragraph had an opportunity, very many years since, +when Mr. Reed was a student of the Pennsylvania University, of becoming +somewhat intimately acquainted with his bent of mind; and if there ever was +a school-boy despised and detested by his fellows, William was that youth. +"The boy's the father of the man," and those who have known him only in his +ripened years, if they apply the truth of this axiom, will have no +difficulty in correctly conjecturing what must have been his early youth. +Even then his predominant weakness was to almost daily, and by the hour, +expatiate upon the merits of his _great_ "grandfather," and to entertain +boys, smaller and younger than himself, with the revolutionary +exploits--more numerous and diversified far than those with a narration of +which Othello beguiled the fair Desdemona, performed by that distinguished +personage: and in particular, how "the General" had repulsed the proffered +bribe of the Treasury of Great Britain, and his pick and choice of the most +lucrative office in the Colonies. + +Down to this day, this has continued to be the habit of Mr. Reed; and to +such an extent has he indulged it, that he has become the butt and laughing +stock of his acquaintance. + + "O, wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us + To see oursels as others see us! + It wad frae manie a blunder free us, + An foolish notion!" + +The extraordinary pains taken by Mr. Reed, to circulate the notion of his +grandfather's more than Roman patriotism, would, of itself, be a +circumstance calculated to induce suspicion of their being "something +rotten in Denmark;" but, fortunately for the truth of history, the _proofs_ +of General Reed's treachery and meditated "treason," [TN](if not _actual_ +treason, are extant--and the veteran, to whom in my last I referred, will, +in due time, give them to the world. The descendants of General Reed have +succeeded long enough in imposing upon the American people, as a patriot +and a hero of the "times that tried men's souls," a wretch, who, in the +emphatic language of General Washington, spoke in his presence and hearing, +"wanted but a price and an opportunity to play us false as Arnold!" who, +while his fellow soldiers were stinted of food and scant of clothing, was +in actual treaty with the British Commissioners, to betray the American +Army, and their Commander-in-Chief, and their cause, _and their Country_, +to Great Britain, for the consideration of ten thousand pounds sterling, a +judicial office, and a tract of land!!! + +By a monstrous suppression of truth, and an adroit perversion of the +explanation which General Reed gave to the demands of the American +Commander-in-Chief, respecting his correspondence with the British +Commissioners, his descendants have managed, so far, with tolerably general +success, to thrust into the ranks of the Carrolls and Hancocks, the Putnams +and Warrens of the Revolution, a "traitor," who entered into the struggle +as a matter of speculation; and who, from the date of his appointment, in +1774, as one of the Committee of Correspondence of Philadelphia, down to +the detection of the fact, some years after, that he was engaged in a +correspondence with the British Commissioners, watched with untiring +vigilance, for a proper "opportunity" to betray, for a sufficient "price," +the cause, and the country, to the tender mercies of George the Third and +his ministry! There is scarcely a Review or Magazine, published in the +country, into which, under the pretext of reviewing some publication, Mr. +William B. Reed has not contrived to obtrude some panegyric of his +grandfather's patriotism--fulsome, even if true, but most monstrous when +considered with reference to its unworthy object. + +Not content with chaunting Gen. Reed's praise as an "invisible singer," Mr. +Reed has not hesitated to take the field openly, and in person, and sound +the trumpet in the ears and before the eyes of the astonished lookers on. +Before every literary or collegiate association which he has been called +on, or _finefied_ to have himself invited to address, the eternal burden of +his song has been, "I am the grandson of the great and good patriot, +General Joseph Reed, of revolutionary memory, who replied to the emissaries +of Great Britain, when they offered him his own terms to further the views +of England, 'I am not worth the purchase, but poor as I am, King George is +not rich enough to make it.'" At New York, a few years since--afterwards, +in the Musical Fund Hall, in this city--more recently at Dickinson +College--quite lately at Harvard University, in short, everywhere, and on +all occasions, the self same tune has lulled his audiences into a general +slumber. How any one whose cheek is not formed of brass, can stand up as +Mr. Reed has accustomed himself to do, and thus dole out, on all occasions, +and before all assemblies, the patriotism of a grandfather for whose +"treason" he should blush, I am at a loss to imagine. Even if deserved +modesty ought to insinuate that the tribute would be more appropriately +paid, and in better taste, by other voices. + +But the strongest part of all is, that Mr. Reed, with that full knowledge +which I know him to possess (and which I will satisfy him that I _know_ him +to possess) of his grandfather's traitorous designs and conduct, should, +nevertheless, have succeeded in steeling himself to the habit which has +made him so supremely and universally ridiculous. + +Whenever it is announced that a new work is in preparation, in any way +connected with the events of the American Revolution, poor Mr. William B. +Reed "gets the fidgets." He throws business, as Macbeth did physic,--to the +dogs; he can hardly delay for the introduction of a supply of clean linen +into his carpet-bag; but, jumping into the next steamboat or railroad car, +he travels post-haste till he has reached the residence of the author, whom +he never leaves till he has fully satisfied himself that the projected work +is to contain nothing that can detract from the spurious fame of General +Reed, or call into question the truth of his attributed reply to the +British Commissioners. Poor Mr. Jared Sparks must have had a hard time of +annoyance during the long series of years in which he was engaged in +preparing for the press his editions of the correspondence of Washington +and Franklin. Mr. Bancroft, the author of _the_ History of the United +States, is, at present, a particularly prominent object of Mr. Reed's +dread. Indefatigable in his researches he cannot have failed to become +possessed of some of the evidences of General Reed's "treason," and, stern +in his impartiality, it is not to be supposed that he will hesitate to +place before the world the character and doings of this miscreant in their +true colours. Fearful of this, Mr. Reed has long been engaged in playing +the _toady_ to Mr. Bancroft: with what success thus far, remains to be +seen: but one thing is certain, that Mr. Bancroft will have placed in his +hands, in time to inform him fully for his preparation of that volume of +his history in which it will become necessary for him to introduce the name +of General Joseph Reed, letters and documents that will establish the +"treason" of that worthy beyond a doubt. + +The last volume of Mr. Bancroft's work comes down no later than 1784; so +that there will probably appear another volume before the period of General +Reed's exploits will become the subject of his composition; and of this +length of time Mr. Reed will doubtless endeavor to take advantage and make +good use. He has just made a formidable demonstration upon Mr. Bancroft. +"At the recent literary festival at Cambridge," (to borrow the language of +Mr Reed, contained in his late letter to the editors of the National +Intelligencer, concerning Mr. Graham, the historian,) Mr. Reed's _toadying_ +of Mr. Bancroft was the subject of general comment. Not content with the +display of his fulsome civilities on that occasion, Mr. Reed has since +forced an opportunity of volunteering to the editors of the National +Intelligencer, the letter to which I have just alluded; in which under the +pretext of honouring the memory of the late James Graham, Esq., the English +author of a History of American Colonies, Mr. Bancroft is plastered with +praise. It is thus that Mr. Reed seeks either to impose upon Mr. Bancroft +the same "Romance of American History," in which the grandfather is the +principal personage, with which he flatters himself he has duped every body +else, or to disarm him of any intention of publishing the _true_ history of +his connection with the British Commissioners.--And what most of all +enhances the meanness of Mr. Reed's conduct is the fact, that, but a year +or two since, he was accustomed, at the Whig political meetings of this +city, to make Mr. Bancroft (who then held the office of Collector of the +Port of Boston, and was a prominent Democrat,) the especial object of his +abuse, lavished upon him in the most unmeasured terms. + +Such is the man, who, with a thorough knowledge of his grandfather's +delinquencies, persists in upholding him to the world as a true and +sterling patriot; who, knowing him to be a "_Traitor_," steeped in +"_Treason_" to the very eyelids, and seeking to barter away his country and +its liberties for British gold and office, represents him, unblushingly, as +the worthy compeer of Washington, a fellow labourer in the same vineyard, +toiling from the rising to the setting of the sun!!! But Mr. Reed's race of +eulogy of his ancestors is nearly run. The proof of that man's treachery, +long known to the _few_, will soon be promulgated to the _many_--to the +WORLD. How _then_, will Mr. William B. Reed feel, when he remembers his +itinerant career of laudation; his journeyings by sea and by land, that the +trumpet of General Joseph Reed's praises might be sounded? His essays, +reviews, addresses, and heaven only knows what all besides? But, above all, +how will he _then_ feel when he remembers that, under the stolen name of a +naval hero of the Late War, he, this worthy descendant of a Traitor and +Tory of the Revolution, once devoted whole weeks to the malignant endeavour +to fasten upon a pure and unoffending citizen the very crime of "Treason," +of which he knew his own grandfather to have been guilty? + +With one or two little anecdotes, (the character of which may somewhat +surprise Mr. Reed at the extent and accuracy of my information,) I close +for the present. I will select those which Mr. Reed has the best reasons +for knowing to be true. During the visit of Lafayette to this country, the +father of Mr. William B. Reed, (Mr. Joseph Reed, the late Recorder of +Philadelphia,) called on the General at his quarters, in this city, and +requested the honour of a private interview. The General (who had been +waited upon by Mr. Reed before, in company with the authorities, and other +citizens) intimated his numerous and pressing engagements; but Mr. Reed +persisting, the interview was granted; one not strictly private, however, +there being two other gentlemen present. Mr. Reed informed the General that +his object was to obtain from him some revolutionary anecdotes, of which he +was convinced he must possess a stock, of his father, the late General +Joseph Reed. General Lafayette's countenance immediately fell: he +endeavoured politely to evade Mr. Reed's request; at last, as Mr. Reed +would take nothing short of downright refusal, the General was, at length, +compelled to remark, "I am sorry to say, sir, that I am acquainted with no +anecdotes of the late General Reed which it would be pleasant for his son +or any of his friends to hear." Mr. R. having bowed himself out of the room +in great confusion, the General remarked to one of the gentleman present, +in surprise, "This is very strange! Can it be possible that Mr. Reed is +ignorant of the opinion which the officers of the Revolution entertained of +his father?" And now for another, in which Mr. William B. Reed himself +figured. A year or two before the death of Bishop White, he called on the +venerable prelate and made a request precisely similar to that with which +his father had troubled General Lafayette. Anxious to spare his feelings, +the good Bishop endeavoured to change the subject; but, no other mode +offering of escaping from the pertinacity of Mr. Reed, he said to him, +"Young man, upon the subject of your grandfather, the least that's said, +will be soonest mended!" + +In my next, I will so far follow the example of McDonough, as to publish a +few "Documents," the original of which will be consigned, before long, to +Mr. Bancroft. + + VALLEY FORGE. + + Sept. 23d, 1842. + + + From the Evening Journal, + +MR. WHITNEY:--The Jeremiads of the Forum and the Evening Courier shall not +deter me from the task which I have deliberately assumed, and which I mean +to carry out, of exposing the treachery of the late General Joseph Reed, +and the delinquencies of his living grandson, Mr. William Bradford Reed. +Why, instead of _deprecation_, do not these journals give _disproof_? Is a +fellow to be canonized as a saint, because he is no longer of the living? +Then let all history be rewritten, and let the puling mawkishness which the +hypocrites call manly indignation, reject from the page of history the +infamy of a Nero, the cruelty of a Tiberius, and the treason of an Arnold. +If it be proper for the entertainment or instruction of posterity, that +the vices and crimes of the men of history shall be faithfully detailed, +why should not the "_treason_" of General Reed, contemplated or effected, +be spread upon his country's annals? Above all, when he and his descendants +have adroitly disguised his villainy with the varnish of incorruptible +patriotism, why should the hand which has the power to tear off the mask, +and expose the enormity of guilt, be made to fall, self-withheld and +self-paralyzed, from the effort? These are questions which admit of but one +reply. I shall _go on_, and in continuation of my developments, I here +subjoin another letter from Col. Samuel Smith to the same gentleman to whom +was addressed his last. + + + _Baltimore, October 2d, 1832._ + + MY DEAR COLONEL--I acknowledge the receipt of your two very + kind letters since I left Washington, and thank you for the + acceptable accompaniment of the last. Also, for the pamphlet + on Cholera which you have sent--I loaned it to several of our + medical gentlemen, and they all seem to think highly of it. + Our people have been much alarmed, and I think with good + reason. For my own part, I entertain but little uneasiness. I + have lived a long life, and though I am far from tired of it, + I am ready to go whenever it pleases him who gave it to take + it away. + + Looking over my paper, I have directed copies to be made up + such as seem adapted to your purpose. These, and some + original, I will send to your direction, whenever I hear from + you again, and you inform me how to send them. I have but few + letters from Gen. Washington--the _originals_ I cannot consent + to part with; but copies are cheerfully at your service. I + have had a copy taken of a very remarkable correspondence + between General Wayne and General Reed, which awaits your + directions. I was on a visit to Wayne shortly after its close; + he read it to me, and I was so much struck with it, that I + requested leave to take a copy, which he gave me. You will + find it a curiosity, and it is another development of the real + character of Reed. I think I formerly mentioned I knew but + little of Gen. Wayne, with which you are not already + acquainted, and I may say much the same as to Putnam, except + what I had from conversation with General Washington. I have + never been able to make up my mind how far Gen. Gates was + concerned in the movement for his promotion, at Washington's + expense. He certainly did not openly encourage it. It is so + delicate a matter, I did not like to directly question General + Washington. Once or twice, in conversation, I thought he was + coming to the point, but he broke off without reaching it. + Many of Conway's movements against Washington had a tact and + address about them, for which Gates generally received the + credit. Towards the close, his calumnies of Washington were + disgustingly obscene--I mean Conway's. General Reed was well + known to be deeply engaged in this conspiracy. But he lacked + the courage of Conway, and was wholly without the rashness + which so frequently marked the latter. Reed was a cautious and + cunning plotter--he never looked one in the eye. Lee, who + mortally hated him, had a common saying, "that Reed's face was + stamped with the devil's favorite brand." I was once present + when he made the remark in the presence of Reed, without + observing him. Reed stepped forward, and angrily demanded + "what was that, sir?" Lee bowed and repeated the observation, + amid roars of laughter from all present. General Reed left the + spot, remarking, "you shall hear from me shortly;" to which + Lee replied, "I doubt that." Nothing further ever came of it. + + Conway and Reed were decidedly the two most unpopular men in + the army--with this difference, that Conway, though disliked, + was respected, until his calumnies of Washington were carried + to their extent. Of Conway's duel with General Cadwalader I + have no particulars which you do not possess. Conway became + nearly involved in another duel on Reed's account. He took up + a quarrel of Reed's but it was compromised. Reed was publicly + insulted, and submitted like a boarding-school miss. My + sentiments on some subjects have changed with my advancing + years; but I well remember the surprise which I felt, and + which the whole army expressed, that a soldier, and one + wearing epaulettes, should patiently submit to the epithet of + "liar," and a threat of having his nose pulled. It may have + been a conscientious scruple; but he did not hesitate to get + others into difficulties. + + In 1783 or '84, I had business which called me to Alexandria. + To my delight, I met General Washington there, and he insisted + upon my accompanying him home. The weather was wet and cold, + and, for a wonder, as he expressed himself, he was without + visiters but me. I remained at Mount Vernon several days and + had many and long conversations with the General. While there, + one of his newspapers mentioned the return of General Reed + from England, in feeble health; and this induced a + conversation concerning that person. I reminded the General of + the coolness with which I had seen him treat Reed at the final + leave-taking of his officers; and of the remark I had + afterwards heard him make at Annapolis. The particulars I gave + you in my letter from the Senate. General Washington rose, + stamped his foot somewhat violently; then instantly checking + himself, he paced the room slowly, speaking while he walked. I + remember every thing he said as plainly as if it had been + spoken only yesterday. He stated to me, that he had no doubt + that General Reed had long been in treaty with the British + before the arrival of their Commissioners in Philadelphia in + 1778; and that, after the treaty of peace, in 1783, he + received information, which placed it beyond question, that, + in the appointment of the Commissioners, the British Ministry + had selected Lord Carlisle with express reference to an + acquaintance which he had had with Reed, when Reed was in + England, seventeen or eighteen years before. + + He mentioned that, in 1777, while the army was yet encamped at + Valley Forge, Mrs. ----, a lady from Philadelphia, with whom + Reed was long known to have had a criminal intercourse, was + arrested within the lines, and that her suspicious conduct + induced a search, which led to the discovery of a letter upon + her person, from Governor Johnstone to General Reed, and + enclosing a note from Lord Carlisle, which was in _cypher_. + This letter related to overtures upon which Donop, the Hessian + officer, and General Reed, had already exchanged their views; + pronounced them to be somewhat extravagant; and suggested that + Reed had better close the arrangement which had been proposed + to Count Donop, and he would have no reason to complain. The + ten thousand pounds of which Donop spoke, Johnstone said would + be immediately paid, and he did not think there would be any + difficulty about the land or its equivalent; but of the + _office_ that Donop mentioned, he (Governor Johnstone,) could + not speak with confidence; upon that subject, the enclosed + note from Lord Carlisle, Governor Johnstone said, would inform + General Reed more definitely. This note being in cypher, + General Washington informed me he never succeeded in having + unravelled. Immediately upon receiving these papers, General + Washington informed me he called a council, and sent for Reed. + He placed the two letters in General Reed's hands, and + demanded an explanation. Unfortunately, the officer whom he + had sent for Reed had informed him what had happened and he + had thus some time and opportunity for preparation. Reed + professed himself unable to read the note in cypher, and said + he did not know what it meant. + + As to the letter from Governor Johnstone, he explained that + overtures had been some time before made to him, offering him + his own reward, upon condition of his bringing about a peace, + but that he had replied, "that he was not worth the purchase, + but poor as he was, King George was not rich enough to make + it." When General Washington demanded why he had not before + informed him of this communication, Reed replied, that though + _he_ was incorruptible, he was afraid of letting it be known + what offers had been made, lest other officers might have been + tempted to accept them. Reed was placed under arrest until + further inquiries were made, but they were not successful, and + he was released. The female upon whom the letters were + detected, had been released, after being searched, and though + every effort was made to get her again it was fruitless. + General Washington added, that through the rest of the war, he + watched Reed narrowly, and trusted him with nothing; and + though he had no further _proof_ of his guilt, he was + satisfied that his treason had existed. But General Washington + informed me, that _after the peace_, he had received + information, the source of which he was not at liberty to + divulge, but the truth of which he had satisfied himself of, + that nothing but the accidental intercepting of Johnstone's + and Carlisle's letters, had prevented Reed's consummation of + treason. He had become fully convinced, after the disbanding + of the army, that Reed had had numerous personal interviews + during the war, with leading British officers; that he had + seen Donop at Burlington; that he had been repeatedly within + the British lines, and that he _now_ knew that, after the + battle of Germantown, he had visited the English General, + Howe, at his Head Quarters, in Philadelphia. + + I have now given you, accurately, the substance of General + Washington's conversations upon this subject. It fully + accounts for his marked treatment of Reed at New York and + Annapolis; and it must convince you what a precious rogue in + grain this counterfeit patriot was. + + My letter will not reach you for some time after its date. My + arm is stiff, and I write slowly; and, although I have but one + date, I have written a little each day for four days. God + bless you, my old friend, and make me hear frequently from + you. + + Yours very truly, + SAMUEL SMITH. + + + +I allow Mr. William Bradford Reed till Saturday to meditate upon this +epistle. On that day, unless _he_ should anticipate me, and publish the +correspondence with Wayne, to which Colonel Smith refers, _I_ shall have +the pleasure of presenting it to the public eye. It is a light that ought +not to be hidden under a bushel; but should be placed upon an elevation +high as the summit of the Bunker Hill Monument, that it may be seen far and +wide. + + VALLEY FORGE. + + _October 1st, 1842._ + + + _October 5th, 1842._ + +MR. WHITNEY.--While exposing the demerits of Mr. William Bradford Reed, I +have no disposition to disparage whatever of ability or information he may +really possess; and concerning the letter, I cheerfully acknowledge that he +has made himself very thoroughly acquainted with the true character of the +leading men and events of the American Revolution. + +But it is _this_ that constitutes his chief shame. In his absurd panegyrics +of his "Grandfather," he has not been imposed upon; he is seeking to impose +upon others, and in this he has, to a very considerable extent, succeeded; +he is sinning against the excess of light and the superfluity of knowledge. +Possessing the most ample proofs of his grandfather's treachery to his +country in the darkest hour of his country's peril, Mr. William B. Reed has +not hesitated to hold him up to that very country which he sought to +betray, and _did_ well nigh betray, and _would_ have betrayed, but for the +timely interception of his treasonable correspondence with the British +Commissioners, as one of the most glorious and incorruptible of the +patriots who fought and suffered for the establishment of American +Independence! The guilt of this will cling to Mr. Reed enduringly. + +Never can he shake off its contamination. Could he escape from the odium of +his more immediate personal delinquencies; his fawning sycophancy of +Nicholas Biddle; his dirty work in behalf of that man for money, not for +love; could he deluge with Lethean ocean the public memory, his +malpractices as attorney-general; his venal career as a member of the +Legislature; could he induce the public to overlook the bribes which he +pocketed under the pretext of _fees_ received for services never +performed--bribes, the amount of which and the dates of whose reception, +are well known, and sustainable by documentary reference;--could all this +be erased, as systematic and persevering labours, from his boyhood upward, +to delude a much injured country into reverence for the memory, not of the +contemporary, but of the _predecessor_ of Benedict Arnold in "treason" have +won for him an infamy from the consequences of which escape is impossible. + +I have heretofore referred, in general terms, to Mr. Reed's numerous +applications, by writing and in person, to such survivors of the +Revolution, or their descendants, as he supposed could furnish the +information he desired, for anecdotes of General Reed; a part of my +labours, hereafter to be entered upon, will be to narrate not a few of the +rebuffs and rebukes this unfortunate Doctor Syntax in search of the +biographical Pickenesque has experienced, and the minute fidelity with +which my sketches shall be marked, will contribute, let me assure Mr. Reed, +no less to his surprise than mortification, nay, I will establish that much +of the information, that many of the documents, which _I_ propose to lay +before the readers of the Evening Journal, _he_ and his brother, the +Professor, possess; that copies of some of the latter have long been in +their hands; and that Mr. William B. Reed has solicited the transfer or +destruction of the originals. But I will even do more than all this, I +will, in at least two instances, _publish his own letter_, praying for the +loan if not the gift, of original papers affecting the fame of his +grandfather. _Even here_ I do not mean to stop. I shall show that Mr. Reed +succeeded in inveigling from the possession of a gentleman of my +acquaintance, for a pretended temporary purpose, a letter, the publication +of which he supposed; and a part, I may say a prominent part, of Mr. Reed's +scheme to perpetuate the delusion of his grandfather's patriotism, has been +to write or call upon, every person projecting any work connected with the +Revolution; and by tendering information, or otherwise volunteering his +assistance, to deceive or disarm. He has played his game, so far, with very +clever success; and, as I formerly mentioned, it is one which he is at +present engaged in practising upon Mr. Bancroft--that same Mr. George +Bancroft, whom, at a political meeting in this city, held some four or five +years since, he so delicately described as a "tin cannister tied to the +tail of Martin Van Buren, while Martin Van Buren, was running through the +street, like a hot slut, with the whole kennel of loco-focoism bawling at +her heels!" Adapting this figure to circumstances, as it might be +introduced with great effect, into Mr. Reed's collegiate eulogy upon the +services and patriotism of his grandfather. + +In Col. Smith's last published letter to Col. ----, he promised to furnish +the latter with copies of certain letters, and in another he says. + + "I cannot answer your inquiry about Captain Anderson. I knew + several officers of that name, but can recal nothing + particular concerning any of them. I once received a letter + from a person some where in the State of Delaware, calling + himself Henry Anderson, inquiring about his uncle Captain + Anderson, of the Revolutionary army, but I have not retained, + or mislaid the letter, and cannot call to mind his more + particular address. But even this defective information may + serve to put you on the scent. + + "Your son will tell you much for me that I would otherwise + write. My rheumatism has prevented my showing him as much of + the civilities of our town as I would have liked, but you will + excuse me. + + "Most truly and sincerely, + "your old friend, + "SAMUEL SMITH. + + + +From among the accompaniments of this letter transmitted by Col. Smith, I +select, for incorporation in the present article, the following +correspondence between General Anthony Wayne and General Joseph Reed. The +"_Numbers_" with which they are prefixed appear to be of General Wayne's +own addition. + + + No. 1. + + GEN. A. WAYNE, + + My Dear General-- + + Only the day before yesterday I heard of your being here, and + then but by accident, or I should have addressed you upon the + subject of this communication. For several months there has + been a rumor industriously circulated in this city, that + during the last summer, you stated while in "South Carolina," + in the presence of General Greene and other officers, that my + conduct at the battles of Brandywine and Monmouth had + subjected me to the imputation of timidity. It is added that + you referred disparagingly to circumstances which occurred at + _Valley Forge_, and revived the exploded calumny, for the + truth of which you personally vouched, that I had signified my + acceptance of the terms then offered me by the Commissioners, + which you know that I spurned with scorn. + + Of course you will understand me to be satisfied that you + never did use any language of the kind, but, as these remarks + have been propogated by persons who, I have every reason to + believe, are no less your enemies than mine. I am anxious to + afford you an opportunity for their contradiction, and this I + have to request you will promptly give me. + + I should be sorry that malicious and designing persons should + have it in their power to disturb the harmony of the relations + which I have so long enjoyed with one upon whose friendship I + set so high a value, and for whom I entertain a peculiar + esteem. + + With great respect and cordiality, + I am my Dear General, yours, &c., + JOS. REED + + Dec'r 26th, 1783. + + + No. 2. + + _Philadelphia, December 27th, 1783._ + + Sir--The cool effrontery of your note yesterday surprised me. + By what right you presume to refer to any harmony of relations + between us, and to speak of the value of my "friendship" I am + at a loss to comprehend. That harmony was first disturbed by + the pecuniary difficulties in which you so dishonestly + involved me, and from which I am only now beginning to + extricate myself, apart from which I could entertain no + feelings of "friendship" for an officer for whom I have such + abundance of reasons for entertaining sentiments of a very + different description. I have no doubt that my remarks to + General Greene and others have been correctly reported to you, + not only in South Carolina and Georgia, but years ago in + Pennsylvania, and within the immediate reach of your personal + demand. I have never hesitated, on all proper occasions to + express myself in similar terms. I never merely intimated that + your conduct at the battles of Brandywine and Monmouth had + subjected you "to the imputations of timidity," but I have + always said that your behaviour at those battles, particularly + that of Chad's Ford, should have secured your dismissal from + the army. + + What you refer to as "the exploded calumny" of your + negotiations with the enemy at Valley Forge, I in common with + every officer in the army, with whom I have ever conversed + upon the subject, including the Commander-in-chief, believe to + be strictly well-founded. + + I am Sir, yours, + ANTHONY WAYNE. + + To Joseph Reed. + + + + + VALLEY FORGE. + +We take the following communication of Mr. Smith, from the North American +of this morning. + + "In compliance with this arrangement, I came to this city this + evening, accompanied by three of my friends conversant with my + father's handwriting, viz; Hon. Louis McLane, Robert Gilmore, + and Robert Purviance, Esqrs., and was met at the place and + hour of appointment by William B. Reed and Henry Reed, Esqrs., + and waited there until half-past eight o'clock, without the + appearance of the author of "Valley Forge," or any of his + friends. + + JNO. SPEAR SMITH. + + _Washington House, Parlor No. 3, + + Monday, October 24th, 1842._ + + +In relation to this matter, we received through the Post-Office this +morning, the following explanation from Valley Forge. + + "Mr. WHITNEY:--I am unable to express my mortification at the + unhappy and unexpected accident which has prevented my meeting + the Messrs. Reed and Mr. John Spear Smith this evening, at the + time and place appointed by them, for the purpose of having + tested the authenticity of General Samuel Smith's letters to + Colonel ----, Col. ---- is my near relative, and though in his + ninety-third year, has till last Thursday, enjoyed the most + excellent health for one of so advanced an age. As he will not + permit the originals to be taken out his sight, I intended of + course that he should accompany me as one of my three friends. + His sudden and severe illness has rendered this impossible; he + refuses to part with the documents even for a temporary + purpose, and I have thus been compelled to submit for the + present to this most mortifying piece of ill-fortune. + + No doubt the exultation of the Messrs. Reed will be violent, + but let me say to them, it will be but short-lived. But a + brief time will pass, and all the papers which I have + published, and many more which are yet to come, will be fully + proved and laid before the public. When Colonel ----'s health + is restored, I do not doubt that I shall prevail upon him to + place them in my hands, when I shall see Mr. John Spear Smith + with them at Baltimore and have the Messrs. Reed see them + here. + + VALLEY FORGE. + + _October 24th, 1842."_ + + +We do not approve of this course of procedure on the part of Valley Forge, +nor do we think it a proper one. We think he ought to have met Mr. Smith +and the Messrs. Reed at the place and time appointed, and made the +explanation in person. Under any circumstances, we think it was due to them +as well as to ourselves. The proposition which was made by Valley Forge +having been accepted by the above-named gentlemen, what reason can there be +for longer preserving his incognito? Indeed he expressed his willingness, +in one of his notes, which we publish below, to unveil himself as soon as +the proposition he made was accepted. + +We had, from the first, as we have now, the fullest confidence that the +letters purporting to be from the late General S. Smith were genuine, as +well as that the intentions of Valley Forge, so far as concerned ourselves, +were fair, and that he would establish the authenticity of those letters, +and the other documents contained in his communications. + +Our belief in the genuineness of the letters of General Smith, was +strengthened by the perusal of a letter which we now have before us, +addressed to General Joseph Reed, by General John Cadwalader, in 1783, +which corroborates what those letters contain. In that letter the latter +gentleman says, "Having fully stated the temper of men's minds at this +alarming period, and the situation of public affairs, I shall now recite +the conversation and circumstances relating thereto, which I have avowed in +my letter to you of the 10th September, as having passed between us at +Bristol. + +"I had occasion to speak with you, a few days before the intended attack on +the 20th December, 1776, and requested you to retire with me to a private +room at my quarters; the business related to intelligence--a general +conversation, however, soon took place concerning the state of public +affairs, and after running over a number of topics, in an agony of mind, +and despair strongly expressed on your countenance, and tone of voice, you +spoke your apprehensions concerning the event of the contest; that our +affairs looked very desperate, and we were only making a sacrifice of +ourselves; that the time Gen. Howe's offering pardon and protection to +persons who should come in before the 1st January, 1777, was nearly +expired; and that Galloway, the Allens, and others, had gone over and +availed themselves of that pardon and protection offered by said +proclamation; that you had a family, and ought to take care of them, and +that you did not understand following the wretched remains (or remnants) of +a broken army; that your brother (then Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel of the +militia--but you say of the five month's men, which is not material) was +then at Burlington with his family, and that you had ordered him to remain +there, and if the enemy took possession of the town, to take a protection +and swear allegiance--and in so doing he would be perfectly justifiable. + +"This was the substance, and I think nearly the very words; but that, "_you +did not understand following the wretched remains (or remnants) of a broken +army_! I perfectly remember to be the _very words_!" + +The letter of General Cadwalader contains the letters of P. Dickinson, John +Nixon, Benjamin Rush, David Lenox[TN], A. Hamilton, and a numbers of other +persons, confirming what we have quoted. + +The subjoined notes from Valley Forge gave us confidence in the fairness of +his intentions. + + R. M. WHITNEY, Esq: Dear Sir--I observe an invitation in + yesterday's Journal, for me to call at, or send to, your + office, for some information which you have to impart. For + reasons which I shall have the pleasure of expressing to you + hereafter in person, I am anxious to preserve my _incognito_, + for the present, even with my nearest friends; and this + consideration will prevent my _calling_. I am also at a loss + to know how to _send_; but if you will drop me a few lines in + the letter box of the Post-office, I shall not fail to receive + them. + + Very truly, &c., + VALLEY FORGE. + _September 23d, 1842._ + + Please direct to "Ambrose Anderson, Philadelphia." + + R. M. WHITNEY, Esq., Dear Sir,--I am favored with your note, + refering me to General Cadwalader's pamphlet, which you inform + me has been abstracted from the Philadelphia Library. I have + access to _material_, far beyond any thing in importance and + value which could possibly be obtained by General Cadwalader; + nevertheless the _abstraction_ of his pamphlet is a + circumstance which I will not fail to turn to good account. + The gentleman to which I so often refer, in my communications + as the revolutionary soldier who has furnished me with + information, is a near relative of mine, who knew Gen. Joseph + Reed thoroughly. I shall continue my communications from time + to time; and you may rely upon my giving you nothing, which + does not admit of literal substantiation. Among other letters + which I have, are several from "George Clymer," (whom you + mention in your note,) which hit the nail on the head. + + Will you permit me the liberty of suggesting a continuance of + your vigorous editorials upon Stephen Girard? The word + "finessed" in my last, your compositor has transformed into + _finified_. + + Respectfully &c., + VALLEY FORGE. + Sept. 25, 1842. + + REUBEN M. WHITNEY, Esq., Dear Sir,--I am afraid that, in + copying Sergt. Kemp's first letter, I have made an error of + date, on which account I am glad my communication has not + appeared to-day, as it gives me an opportunity of correction. + I am anxious to avoid even the slightest mistake in my + communications. The letter is dated "June 23rd, 1778." I am + not certain that I did not so transcribe it; but if I did not, + be good enough to make the correction. I particularly wish you + would _italicise_ my interrogatory to Reed relative to his + grandfather's correspondence with General Wayne. There is a + _point_ in it which _he_ will fully understand, and which will + give him more uneasiness than all else. I intend reserving my + extracts from that correspondence for the very last. + + Respectfully, &c. + VALLEY FORGE. + Sept. 27, 1842. + + R. M. WHITNEY, Esq.,--Dear Sir--I am provoked to find that, + upon comparing my copy of Col. Smith's letter to Col. ----, + with the original, that I have made another error! I hope this + will reach you in time for its correction. Speaking of his + visit to Gen. Washington at Mount Vernon and _Washington_, it + should be, and _Philadelphia_. + + Respectfully, &c., + VALLEY FORGE. + Sept. 28, 1842. + + R. M. WHITNEY,--Dear Sir--I have been absent for a day or two + from the city, and did not receive your note until to-day. I + enclose a note for publication--oblige me by letting it appear + to-morrow. I cannot imagine how so stupid an error could have + occured as the erroneous date of Kemp's discharge by Gen. + Washington. But the error almost corrects itself--as Kemp's + letter of July 2d, speaks of the battle of Monmouth on the + 28th. I do not know whether the blunder is that of your + workman, or mine in the haste of transcribing. One or two + other errors, which are mine, I made the subject of two notes, + which I addressed you through the Post-office. My absence from + town, and my intended absence to-morrow, prevent my preparing + another article for Saturday. Possibly, I will have it ready + for Monday, and certainly for Tuesday. Acknowledge its + receipt, and that it will appear on Monday or Tuesday. I have + not yet come to the _real gems_ of my budget. Reed shall have + a surfeit. + + Respectfully, &c., + VALLEY FORGE + Sept. 30, 1842. + + R. M. WHITNEY, Esq: Dear Sir--Nothing could have afforded me + more pleasure than the publication which has been made by the + Reeds. It has given me the opportunity, which I have from the + first been seeking, of bringing the question of General Reed's + revolutionary exploits to a _crisis_. I pledge myself to you, + that I will overwhelm them with confusion and shame. + + I have not called for your letter at the Post-office, because + _I know that I am watched_; and I do not desire to be known + till the adoption of my proposition to the Reeds, of which I + speak in the accompanying communication, and which I will + furnish for publication in Monday's Journal. They have fallen + completely into the snare. + + Yours, &c., very truly, + VALLEY FORGE. + October 14, 1842. + + +In his explanatory communication of yesterday's date, Valley Forge speaks +of many more papers "which are yet to come:" we suppose he means yet to be +published. If so, we feel constrained to say now, that we cannot publish +any thing more relating to the matter until he announces to us, at least, +his real name. + + + From the Evening Journal. + +R. M. WHITNEY, Esq: Dear Sir,--I am pained beyond measure, at the situation +in which I have been so unfortunately instrumental in placing you. But for +circumstances _which I cannot possibly control_, I would promptly +communicate to you my name and residence. A pledge, rigidly exacted by my +venerable relative, Col. ----, and solemnly given by me at the time he +consented that I should communicate to you the letters of the late General +Smith, and the other papers with which he furnished me, that I should not +make either him or myself known without his consent, binds me as with links +of iron. Col. ---- is slowly recovering from the paralytic affection with +which he was seized on the 20th of this month; and let me assure you, most +sacredly and solemnly, that as soon as his health is sufficiently restored +to allow a conversation of any length to be had with him, I will not fail +to convince him of the propriety--of the _necessity_--of permitting me to +call upon you, or invite you to his residence, where, preliminary to my +taking the proper steps to convince the public of their authenticity, I may +exhibit to you all the writings which have been so exultingly +prounounced[TN] to be "audacious forgeries." + +You do me but justice, when you say, that "a careful perusal of the letters +of Valley Forge, confirms the belief, that he is neither an impostor nor a +forger of letters." Why should I be? What motive could induce any rational +being to originate a _fabrication_ so sure to be detected? You will find, +ere very long, that I have given you nothing but the truth. Only _one_ +liberty did I venture to take with any of the correspondence--that was from +considerations of delicacy, which I now believe to have been _fastidious_, +and to which, at the time, I reluctantly yielded. In Gen. Smith's letter to +Col. ----, dated Oct. 2d, 1832, I substituted a _blank_ for the name of +_Mrs. Ferguson_," which Gen. Smith gives as that of the lady from whom was +taken the letter of Governor Jonstone to Gen. Reed. This, the _only_ +alteration I ever made, you must allow, was a pardonable error. + +"Truth is mighty and must prevail;" and in this case, to the joy of your +friends, and the consternation of your enemies, it shall be signally +exemplified. _For the present_, let me entreat you to rest satisfied with +my assurances; assurances which will soon be most thoroughly redeemed; and +that you will desist from your endeavor to discover who I am--efforts which +can give you but vain trouble, which _must_ prove fruitless; for the +precautions which I have adopted for the preservation of my _incognito_, it +is impossible to overcome. + + Very truly, &c., + VALLEY FORGE. + + October 29th, 1842. + + + From the Evening Journal, October 31st. + +_"Valley Forge" and General Joseph Reed--Is there a Sepulchral Sanctuary +for Public Men?--The success of the American Revolution--Justice and Truth +essential Elements of History--"Forgery"--The Editor, &c._ + +Whatever motives may have actuated "Valley Forge" to the publication of +documents affecting the revolutionary services and fame of General Joseph +Reed, and we pretend not either to scan them, or doubt their honorable +complexion--for truth, when on the side of country and patriotism, admits +not of suspicion or mistrust--whatever motive, we say, may have impelled +him to the revelation of these important historical documents, there can +exist no doubt as it respects the principle which sustains the ransacking +of the grave, for the sake of _truth_. Begin at any period of history, +however early, and it will be found that _public men_ have always been +considered as public property--their characters, their conduct and their +opinions, belonging to the world, with no privilege of sanctuary, either in +life or in the _tomb_. It was so with the Hebrews, it was so with Persians, +the Babylonians, the Grecians, the Romans, the French, the English, and +even the Chinese. Indeed, so obvious is the principle, as almost to +dispense with argument. It bears on its very face, the irresistible force +of a first principle; for if the grave cannot cover up the _good_ deeds of +men, it never can be made to conceal their evil ones. The lessons of +history, like the lessons of life, are derived more from the wicked than +the good. The striking contrast of example, comes from the man who has +perpetuated deeds that curdle the blood with fear, or crimson the cheeks +with shame. Virtue is negative, quiet, undismayed--but vice rides aloft on +the back of desecrated principles and violated laws, accompanied by the +tumultuous rush of a moral whirlwind, overturning the fruits, blossoms and +harvest of life; bearing blasts upon its brow, and leaving havoc in its +train. And so do the laws of all well governed countries dispose of the +remains of notorious felons, who, instead of being suffered to repose in +the grave, are denied all interment; their bodies being delivered over to +the surgeons for the benefit of science, or exposed on a gibbet, till the +crows, eagles and vultures, devour their flesh, and then, even their bones +are left to blacken in the winter's blast, as a warning to man, to shun the +deeds that led them to their doom. + +Where is the sepulchral sanctuary for Buonaparte? or for Nero? or for +Marius, Sylla, Otho, Galba, Charles of Burgundy, or Ferdinand of Spain? How +many patriots are commemorated in the Lives of Plutarch? Expunge from the +History of England the great scoundrels who disgraced their diadems, on the +plea of sepulchral sanctuary, and how many kings will remain to grace +their pages with the splendor of their virtues? The same question may be +asked in reference to all histories, and the same answers given; there +would be no history, if the grave silenced the tongue to speak of the vices +and crimes of the dead who disgraced their nature. + +To return to the principle of success, as a standard of virtue, in great +revolutionary movements. The intrinsic merit of a civil movement, or +commotion, to produce a change of government by force of arms, or social +intimidation without bloodshed, is not sufficient to glorify its actors. +Success is essential to give renown which confers fame and glory on its +authors. This was fully understood during the American Revolution. A host +of calculating spirits stood mute, inactive, or luke-warm, watching the +changes of the contest, and fearful of embarking in a cause that might +miscarry. In such a crisis, the wavering, the doubtful and the timid, were +more dangerous to their country's cause than the open traitor in arms +against freedom. The generous, the brave, the frank, the self-devoted +patriot, rushed headlong into the contest, putting in peril, life, honor, +property, fame, family, friends, children--all that is dear to life, and +all that life endears. The calculating and timid palsied their daring +counsels by weak irresolution of wicked duplicity. Among these +time-servers, it seems General Joseph Reed stood prominent. Careful of his +person, he shunned danger. Calculating the probable miscarriage of the +Revolution, he occupied the prudent ground of a tory royalist, seeming to +battle for liberty, but ready, at any moment; to assume the scarlet +uniform, and shout "God save King George!" A traitor in his heart to the +cause of Independence, lest that cause, by failing, should make him a +traitor to his king, for whom he felt a warmer affection than for the +rebels--he stood always on the alert, to join the British, or to appear +their greatest foe; practising the meanest arts to seem brave, yet always +held in open contempt for his timidity and cowardice. If the Revolution +succeeded, he calculated to pass for a patriot. If the royal arms +triumphed, he stood prepared to claim the rewards of his fidelity to the +KING, more valuable than an open adherent because a secret spy, who +betrayed the cause of the rebels, while pretending to fight under its +colors, in the uniform of an American Officer of the army of George +Washington! + +Such appears to have been the character of General Joseph Reed, from +documents decidedly authentic--so authentic as to have led to their partial +destruction, by his vain and silly descendants, who imagined that _truth_ +could be extinguished, while vanity was kindling a spurious flame to +consummate an imaginery[TN] _apotheosis_, for one whose actual deeds +consigned him to the keeping of the furies and his country's execration. + +If such men are to be allowed an enrolment on the page of fame, as +revolutionary patriots, who achieved our independence, there is no merits +in those who stood side by side with Washington, in the darkest hour of the +Revolution, when dismay sat on the bravest brow--spurning the temptation of +British bribes--bidding defiance to British battalions, and enduring the +pangs of hunger, thirst, and howling blasts--naked amidst winter's snow, +with earth for a pillow, and the canopy of heaven for a covering--treason +thundering in their ears--rewards offered for their heads, and nothing but +liberty and independence, with the secret assurance of heaven's succour +from a just God, to cheer and console them--bleeding, dying, desolate. +Shall the _time-serving_ traitor take his position by the side of such men? +Shall all merit be levelled into one common mass of calculating +selfishness? For such must be the effect, if General Joseph Reed is to +occupy a niche of glory in the same temple with George Washington. But +there is no moral crucible to melt down such deeds into a general and +indiscriminate mass. Truth revolts from such profanation. Justice spurns +the contamination. Nature herself rises up in arms against the thought, as +doing violence to all her holiest sympathies; her purest heart-throbs, her +noblest aspirations. God himself denounces the impiety. + +Having demonstrated the importance of the revelations of "Valley Forge" to +the truth and accuracy of history--of that history, in which we are all so +intensely interested--as belonging to the fame of the fathers, and as +destined for an inheritance to our children, to the end of time--it remains +to consider how the editor of the Evening Journal, in giving publicity to +corroborative materials for history, has merited that torrent of +scurrility, that has been vomited upon him from the sympathisers in the +royal cause of George the Third--who, even up to this day, still retain in +their veins, the poison of tory blood! "Valley Forge" makes no _fresh_ +charge against the tories of 1776. He but deals in specifications of +treasonable designs, common to every history of our Revolution, and to be +found in every life of George Washington. If he has ventured on the daring +task of committing fabrications of letters from General Smith to Colonel +----, he has perpetrated _supererogatory_ crime, for no sensible +purpose--for all that General Smith's letters told us, we knew before, as +notorious facts of history. For this reason, we do not believe he has +committed "forgery"--from the mere love of crime, or any other motive. If, +then, the sympathisers in the Royal cause, are so offended by these +letters, as to pour forth the phials of their wrath upon the editor of this +paper, it must be from some other motive than virtuous sensibility or +wounded patriotism. But this is not all. What was the character--what the +tendency of the letters of "Valley Forge" who has unquestionably committed +a deep injury, in maintaining his anonymous character, and failing to +redeem "his gage," thrown down with so much defiance to Mr. Spear +Smith--what, we say, was the tendency of his letters? It was laudable, +noble, exemplary. It was to vindicate Washington, and his co-patriots, from +all suspicion of being associated with General Joseph Reed, the secret +royalist--the wavering tory--all which he is known to be, on the authority +of Cadwalader, as well as Washington himself--from all suspicion of being +associated, we say, with Reed as _a friend_--a bosom, and confidental[TN] +friend. Their direct tendency is, to exalt the patriots of the Revolution, +and to depress those English spies in the American uniform, who correspond +in cypher, with the royal commissioners, and sought to sell the liberties +of their country, for a price, at the very crisis of her fate. And what +reply is made to "Valley Forge?" Do the parties criminated, defend their +ancestor? No.--Do they question the truth of history? No.--But they charge +"Valley Forge," with fabrication. Yet, if he be guilty, does it make Reed +innocent? No.--Then why not defend themselves? + + + VALLEY FORGE. + + _October, 31st,_ + +We give another communication to-day, from the writer of the articles under +this signature. We are satisfied that Valley Forge is what he represents +himself to be--that he is sincere, honest, and will, as soon as +circumstances will permit, establish the authenticity of every document he +has furnished for publication. We shall refrain from pushing our searches +any further, for the purpose of discovering the person of Valley Forge, for +the good reason that we are satisfied that we know him already. On +comparing the note of the 14th inst., to us, written evidently by Valley +Forge himself, but in a disguised hand, with a letter of a recent date, in +the natural handwriting of the person who we believe assumes that name, +there are innumerable evidences that most clearly establish his identity, +satisfactorily to us. + +A word to our enemies now. Let them go on and pour forth their malice, give +full vent to their venom, and pile obloquy, mountain high; we regard it as +the idle wind, that passeth by and harmeth not. We have long been +accustomed to be traduced and slandered. For making the exposition of the +mal-appropriation of the money of the Bank of the United States, by Mr. +Biddle, the first that was ever made, we brought down on our head the whole +weight of the power of that institution and its legions of friends and +supporters. We were charged with having perjured ourselves in that matter. +And what has become of that charge now? No one believes it. We have +triumphed over all the allegations made against us in the matter, and +thousands of individuals are left to weep now, because they did not +believe, and act on our testimony at the time it was given. + +So in the present case, we are charged with publishing forged letters, and +even with forging them ourselves. But on what authority? Why, on the +assertion of Mr. John Spear Smith, of Baltimore, made, we do not doubt, in +all sincerity, but evidently hastily, and without giving a single reason +for his coming to that conclusion. + +We do not entertain a single apprehenson[TN] but that in this case, every +thing will very soon come out right, and that we shall triumph over our +enemies and their slanders, as we did in the affair of the Bank of the +United States. _Nous Verrons._ + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[A] Reed always said that this reply was the joint protection of Benj. +Rush, Dr Wm. Smith and Gen. John Cadwalader. + +[B] See Gov. Johnstone's speech in the House of Commons, March, 9th, 1779, +to be found in the Philadelphia Library in a volume of the Pennsylvania +Packet, February 20th, 1779, No. 384. + +[C] Mrs. Ferguson's letter will be found in the same volume in the Numbers +for February 20th, and March 9th. + +[D] Here the following anecdote will afford an occasion of recriminating. +When Mr. Reed was proposed as a Brigadier in the army, Mr. John Adams, now +our minister in Holland, openly objected, in Congress, to his appointment, +saying he was of a factious spirit, and had been notoriously instrumental +in fomenting discords between the troops of the different States. + +[E] When Mr. Ingersoll waited on me with General Reed's first letter, 9th +of September last, I mentioned to him the situation of my family, and the +necessity of my leaving the city. This has been candidly related by Mr. +Ingersoll to Mr. Reed, as appears by the following extract from his letter, +in answer to mine on the 17th of March, on this subject. + +_Extract from Mr. Ingersoll's letter, dated Philadelphia, 8th March, 1783._ + + "The conversation that passed, I reported with candour, and I + believe with precision, but still supposed, that the reply + from General Reed would be founded entirely upon your answer. + Your declaration, with respect to your intention of leaving + town, I think I can repeat in nearly the words in which you + expressed yourself. + + "After discoursing upon the subject of the letter I had put + into your hands, you mentioned to me that your furniture was + packed up to go to Maryland; that you had been waiting for + rain to lay the dust, and that if anything was to come of this + business, it must be _speedily_. + + "I ENDEAVOUR to give the _words_ used,--I certainly do not + deviate from the _purport_ of what was said." + + This is not the least of the many _misrepresentations_ in + which Mr. Reed is convicted in the course of my reply. + +[F] Being called upon by General Cadwalader to recollect the conversation +we had at the Coffee-House, in the fall of the year seventy-eight, when he +related what had passed between him and Mr. Reed at Bristol, I remember the +subject corroborates with those queries I have since seen published in Mr. +Oswald's paper, of the 7th of September, 1782. I likewise remember giving +him a hint, that some of Mr. Reed's friends were present, on which he +repeated what he had related before, and then addressed himself to the +gentlemen, and informed them, if any of Mr. Reed's friends were present, +they were at liberty to make what use they pleased of it. + + THOMAS PRYOR. + + _Philadelphia, March 8, 1783._ + +[G] See Gen. Reed's Address to the Public, pages 24, 25. + +[H] As a proof of my having made this declaration, and the occasion of it, +I offer the following letter: + +DEAR SIR:--I have, at your request, charged my recollection with what fell +from you, in the hearing of myself and several others, at the trial of Mr. +William Hamilton, on the subject of Mr. Reed, who assisted the prosecution; +it was in terms to this effect; that it indicated the extremity of baseness +in him, to attempt to destroy another for taking the very step he had once +lifted his own foot to take. This, at the instant, made a deeper impression +me, as having never till then, though living in the closest intimacy, heard +you drop the most distant hint of any intended defection of Mr. Reed, of +which I myself had no suspicion. + + Your humble servant, + GEORGE CLYMER. + _March 2d, 1783._ + General Cadwalader. + +[I] If the countryman was sent, as he insinuated, for intelligence, and not +for a protection for Mr. Reed and his friend, is it not very extraordinary, +in a case of this nature, after the man had so narrowly escaped with his +life, that no circumstance relating to so delicate an affair, (transacted +in so private a manner) should ever have come to my knowledge, till I heard +this testimony from Major Lennox? + +I will venture to say that no officer of the army, at that critical period, +would have risked his reputation, though he had afforded no cause to +suspect his firmness, by instructing a spy to apply for a protection for +him, with a view of gaining intelligence, without mentioning it to his +commanding officer before the transaction. But in the instance before us, +it is worthy notice, that in so critical a situation of public affairs, Mr. +Reed, knowing how dangerous such a plea as the messenger had used might +prove to his reputation, in the hands of the enemy, should not have +endeavoured to obviate such a tale, by mentioning the circumstance to the +commanding officer at Bristol, who might have vouched for his innocence, in +case Donop should attempt to injure him afterwards. + +[J] I have ample proofs of Mr. Ellis's attachment to the enemy, which may +be produced, if necessary. + +[K] + +_M'Kenney's Ferry, 25th December, 1776, 6 o'clock, P. M._ + +Dear Sir,--Notwithstanding the discouraging accounts I have received from +Col. Reed, of what might be expected from the operations below, I am +determined, as the night is favourable, to cross the river, and make the +attack on Trenton in the morning. If you can do nothing real, at least +create as great a diversion as possible. + + I am, sir, your most obedient servant, + + GEO. WASHINGTON. + +[L] The following extracts from General Reed's letter to his Excellency the +President and the Honorable the Executive Council of the State of +Pennsylvania, dated Philadelphia, 22d July, 1777, assigning his reasons for +not accepting the office of Chief Justice, may serve to prove his opinions +of the constitution at that time. "If there is any radical weakness of +authority proceeding from the Constitution; if in any respects it opposes +the genius, temper or habits of the governed, _I fear, unless a remedy can +be provided, in less than seven years, government will sink in a spiritless +langour, or expire in a sudden_ CONVULSION. It would be foreign to my +present purpose to suggest any of those _alterations_, which, in my +_apprehension are necessary_ to enable the constitution to support itself +with _dignity_ and _efficiency_, and its friends with _security_. _That +some are necessary I cannot entertain the least doubt._ With this +sentiment, I feel an _insuperable difficulty_ to enter into an engagement +of the _most solemn nature_, leading to the _support_ and _confirmation_ of +an entire system of government, which I cannot wholly _approve_." Again, +"the dispensation from this engagement,[M] first allowed to several members +of the Assembly, and afterwards to the militia officers, has added to my +_difficulties_, as I cannot reconcile it to my ideas of propriety, the +members of the same state being under different obligations to support and +enforce its authority." But he adds, "If the sense of the people who have +the right of decision, leads to some alterations, I firmly believe it will +conduce to our happiness and security; if otherwise, I shall esteem it my +duty, not only to acquiesce, but to support as far as lays in my power, a +form of government confirmed and sanctified by the voice of the people." +Here, then, he says, "he feels an _insuperable difficulty_ to enter into an +engagement of the most solemn nature, leading to the support and +confirmation of an entire system of government, which he cannot wholly +_approve_; but he shall think it his duty to acquiesce, and support the +government,--if confirmed and sanctified by the voice of the people." How +inconsistent, then, must his conduct appear, when it is notorious, that he +took a decided part in support of government, accepted of his seat in +Council, and afterwards the Presidency, long before the sense of the people +was expressd[TN] by the _fabricated instructions_ to the members of Assembly, +requiring them to rescind the resolution for calling a convention for the +purpose of revising the constitution. And yet he says, in the 27th page of +his pamphlet, he "so effectually vindicated every part of his conduct, that +every gentleman present, (myself excepted,) acknowledged his mistake." + +These were the ostensible reasons for not accepting the Chief Justiceship, +and taking the oath of office; but an oath of another kind, no doubt, +induced him to decline this appointment. He had not taken the oath of +allegiance which the law, (passed the 13th June, 1777,) required of every +male white inhabitant; nor did he take it, as appears by the publication +signed Sidney, in the Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1565, 12th February, 1783,) +till the 9th of October, 1778, which was the very day he was elected a +Councillor for the County of Philadelphia. And though disfranchised of all +the rights of citizenship, and incapable of being elected into, or serving +in any office, place, or trust, in this commonwealth, Mr. Reed dared to +disregard the voice of the people, and violate the law, by accepting the +Presidency, and exercising the powers of government annexed to that office. +If he had taken the oath of allegiance, agreeable to law, why did he take +it _again_, on the day he was elected a councillor? as the mere oath of +office only, upon that occasion, would have been required of him. + +As Mr. Reed has not touched this point in his pamphlet, or furnished his +friends with a single argument to defend him, against a charge supported by +authentic proofs from public records, the public have very justly +pronounced him guilty. If certificates can be produced of his oaths of +abjuration and allegiance, agreeable to law, why have they not been +published? If he is not defranchised[TN] of the rights of citizenship, why +was his vote refused at the last election? or is this one of the subjects +reserved for "_legal examination_?" and if so, why does he not suspend the +public opinion by such information? + +[M] _By the "dispensation from this engagement," above mentioned, is meant, +that the oath prescribed by the constitution was dispensed with, and many +members of Assembly were permitted to take another oath, in which they were +not bound to support the constitution._ + +[N] That this opinion was not entertained by Congress, may reasonably be +inferred from the following letter: + + _"Philadelphia, 12th September, 1778._ + + "SIR,--His excellency, General Washington, having recommended + to Congress the appointment of a General of horse, the House + took that subject under consideration the 10th instant, when + you were unanimously elected Brigadier and commander of the + cavalry in the service of the United States. + + "From the general view above mentioned, you will perceive, sir, + the earnest desire of the house, that you will accept a + commission, and enter as early as your convenience will admit + of, upon the duties of the office; and I flatter myself with + hopes of congratulating you in a few days upon this occasion. + + "I have the honour to be, with particular regard and esteem, + sir, your most humble servant, + + HENRY LAURENS, + "The Hon. Brigadier-General Cadwalader. "President of Congress," + +But not wishing to have it suggested, that I entered into the service at so +late a period of the war for the sake of rank, as the French treaty had +taken place, and I had conceived all offensive operations at an end, I +declined the appointment in these terms. + + _Maryland, 19th September, 1778._ + + SIR,--I have the highest sense of the honour conferred upon me + by Congress, in appointing me a Brigadier in the Continental + service, with the command of the cavalry, more particularly as + the voice of Congress was unanimous. + + I cannot consent to enter into the service at this time, as the + war appears to me to be near the close. But should any + misfortune give an unhappy turn to our affairs, I shall + immediately apply to Congress for a command in the army. + + I have the honour to be, with the greatest regard and esteem, + your excellency's most obedient humble servant, + + JOHN CADWALADER. + His Excellency Henry Laurens, Esq., President of Congress. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Nuts for Future Historians to Crack, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NUTS FOR FUTURE HISTORIANS *** + +***** This file should be named 26647.txt or 26647.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/6/4/26647/ + +Produced by Irma Spehar, Christine D. and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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