Page:Charles Lee Papers 1873 Vol 3.djvu/21

4 A. General WasLington called upon General Scott, General Maxwell and myself the 27th of June, to come forward to the place where he and General Lee were talking; and there recommended to us to fall upon some proper mode of attacking the enemy next morning. I did not hear General Washington give any particular orders for the attack, but he recommended that there should be no dispute in regard to rank, in case of an attack, that as General Maxwell was the oldest, he of right would have the preference, but that the troops that were under his command, were mostly new levies, and therefore not the proper troops to bring on the attack; he therefore wished that the attack might be commenced by one of the picked corps, as it would probably give a very happy impression. I do not recollect anything more having been said there upon the subject, but General Lee appointed the Generals who were there, to meet at his quarters about five o'clock in the afternoon, which I understood was for the purpose of forming a plan of attack on the enemy, agreeable to the recommendation of General Washington.

Q. Did you hear General Washington the 27th of June give General Lee a positive order to attack the enemy the next day? A. I heard no more than what I have mentioned, but understood from it, that General Lee was to attack the enemy.

Q. By the Court. Did you meet at General Lee's quarters to concert a plan of attack, or was there a plan of attack concerted, agreeable to the recommendation of his Excellency, any time previous to the attack?

A. At the hour appointed I met with the Marquis de la Fayette and General Maxwell, at General Lee's quarters. General Lee said he had nothing further* to recommend, than that there should be no dispute with regard to rank, in case of an attack, for he might probably order on either the right or the left wing, and he expected they would obey; and if they con-