At that period Lee was still generally estimated at his own enormous valuation of himself; and it is amusing to note in the public and private correspondence of the time the satisfaction with which the coming of this littlest of little souls, most vile of marplots, and most heinous and despicable of willing though impotent traitors was hailed on account of his supposed majestic genius and scientific qualifications for the Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war.

"I beg my Affectionate Compliments to Genl. Lee," wrote the impressionable but, as we have seen, eminently sensible Duer, in one of his letters (October 15), "whom I sincerely congratulate on his arrival in Camp -- partly on account of himself, as he will have it in

;372

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

his power to reap a fresh Harvest of Laurels, and inure on accountof of this Country wli leeks up to him as one of the brave Apostles her dearest Rights." Lee's machinations to supplant Washington in the supreme command were in course of development at this period, g ;n„l the gloomy outlook for the American cause, with the appallin record of recent disaster, gave buoyancy to his selfish expectations. red His participation in the campaign that followed is best remembe for his sneers and gibes at his commander, which passed from mouth His reto month of his clique, both in the army and in congress.with the mark that Washington was conducting the war mainly nt. enjoyme ar particul with ed circulat was pickax and the spade Finally, when Washington departed to New Jersey after the battle of White Plains, Lee, left in command in Westchester County, took a course of almost open insubordination. It was not until the Kith of October that any official decision was arrived at looking to abandonment of the Harlem Heights and Kingsbridge position, and even then the action taken was only in the form of a resolve upon a proposition of policy.