THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 83 



ance, in time to take part in the glorious movement 

 upon Trenton and Princeton. Had it not been for 

 Lee's capture, in the very nick of time, it is doubtful 

 if Washington would have had men enough to under- 

 take that movement, which instantly reversed the 

 fortunes of the campaign and opened the way for the 

 decisive triumphs of the next year. But the Ameri- 

 cans, who did not possess the clew to Lee's strange 

 conduct, felt that they had lost a treasure. 



Of his conduct in captivity, which would soon have 

 afforded such a clew, nothing was known until all the 

 actors in those stirring scenes had been for many a 

 year in their graves. Lee was taken to New York 

 and confined in the City Hall, where he was courte- 

 ously treated, but he well understood that his life was 

 in danger in case the British government should see 

 fit to regard him as a deserter from the army. Sir 

 William Howe wrote home for instructions, and in 

 reply was directed to send his prisoner to England for 

 trial. Lee had already been sent on board ship, when 

 a letter from Washington put a stop to these proceed- 

 ings. The letter informed Howe that Washington 

 held five Hessian field-officers as hostages for Lee's 

 personal safety. In thus choosing Hessians as hos- 

 tages, Washington showed his unfailing sagacity. The 

 king's feeling toward Lee was extremely bitter and 

 revengeful, and no doubt he would have taken pleasure 

 in putting him to an ignominious death ; but to disre- 

 gard the safety of the Hessian officers would arouse a 

 dangerous spirit of disaffection among the German 

 troops. In this quandary the obstinate and vindictive 

 king entered upon a discussion that lasted just a year. 

 Letters went back and forth between Howe and the 



