THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 93 



explanation is not quite so simple as this. It does not 

 seem probable that there was any secret understanding 

 with Clinton. It is much more likely that Lee was 

 again at his old trick of try ing to discredit and supplant 

 Washington. With this end in view he first loudly 

 condemned Washington's plan of battle and refused 

 to take the part assigned him. On second thought it 

 occurred to him that by taking that command he 

 might insure the defeat of Washington's plan, and 

 still bring off the army to such a position that he 

 might claim the credit for having saved it from the 

 effects of Washington's rashness. This explanation 

 is indicated by the line of defence which he chose upon 

 his trial. His retreat lay across two deep ravines, and 

 it was upon the brink of the second one that Wash- 

 ington met him. He argued ingeniously before the 

 court-martial that if he had attacked as Washington 

 directed, the result would have been disastrous ; but 

 in his retreat he was simply luring the enemy across 

 these ravines into a position where he could suddenly 

 turn upon him and defeat him with a dangerous ravine 

 at his back. All this would have been done, he declared, 

 if Washington had not come up and spoiled the game. 

 This explanation may have been concocted after the 

 event ; but it is not unlikely that Lee may really have 

 entertained some such wild scheme. A very difficult 

 plan it would be to carry out, especially with his brigade 

 commanders all hopelessly bewildered. Confusion 

 could not but result, and well indeed it was that the 

 reins of the runaway team were suddenly seized by the 

 powerful hand of Washington. 



Such is the explanation least unfavourable to Lee. 

 Even on his own showing it is one of the most out- 



