94 CHARLES LEE 



rageous cases of insubordination recorded in the annals 

 of war. But one incident, mentioned in the testimony 

 of Steuben, throws perhaps the blackest shade upon 

 the conduct of this miserable creature. After Lee had 

 been ordered to the rear, as he rode away baffled and 

 spiteful, he met Steuben with a couple of brigades 

 hurrying to the front in pursuance of an order just 

 received from Washington. Lee now tried to turn 

 him off in another direction, alleging that the order 

 was misunderstood. But the good baron was not to 

 be trifled with and resolutely kept on his way. 1 Lee 

 was so enraged at this testimony that he made reflec- 

 tions upon Steuben, which presently called forth a 

 challenge from that gentleman. 2 That " sprightliness 

 of imagination " heretofore mentioned seems now to 

 have deserted our soldier of fortune. It is to be re- 

 gretted that we have not the reply in which he 

 declined the encounter. There is a reference to it in 

 a letter from Alexander Hamilton to the Baron von 

 Steuben, a fortnight after the challenge : " I have 

 read your letter to Lee with pleasure. It was conceived 

 in terms which the offence merited, and if he had any 

 feeling, must have been felt by him. Considering the 

 pointednes's and severity of your expressions, his 

 answer was certainly a very modest one, and proved 

 that he had not a violent appetite for so close a tete-a- 

 tete as you seemed disposed to insist upon. His 

 evasions, if known to the world, would do him very 

 little honour." 3 Upon what grounds Lee refused to 

 fight with Steuben, it is hard to surmise; for within 

 another week we find him engaged in a duel with 



J Lee Papers, III. 96. 2 Id. 253. 



* Id. 254- 



