During the retreat from Long Island at the end of August, 1776, Washington had spent several days and nights largely in the saddle and without sleep. Inexcusablo delays and blunders by his mea had nearly frustrated the masterly maneuvre by which he transferred across the East. River, under cover of a foggy night, an entire army from its camp within hearing distance of the enemy. And stood on the heights of the Man-hatton side,.and the last ragged continental scrambled leisurely and grumblingly up the steep, the tried soul of the Commander-in-Chief could no longer contain itself and burst forth in a torrent of anguish and exasperation which astonished those who had known him as a model of equanimity.
Again at the battle of Monniouth on that memorable June 28, 1778, when one of his generals, Charles Lee, had recklessly ordered an unnecessary retreat from a strategic position, Washingtoh rode swiftly to the scene and sent the offender from the field with a tongue lashing which is said to have "fairly fright tened" the spectators even amid the din of battle.
Once more after he was President a catastrophe occurred which stirred the deeps of that volcanic nature. General Arthur St. Clair, who had_ been given command of an expedition against the Indians of the northwest in 1791, was surprised and defeated on November 4
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.