Charles Lee: Garnet Character

The real history

Charles Lee was born in Cheshire, England, and served as a British army officer in the Seven Years' War before serving in other European armies. He settled in Virginia in 1773. In June 1775 he resigned from the British army and accepted a commission from Congress as a major general, and he soon became Washington's second in command.

In 1776 Lee won credit for the defense of Charleston, South Carolina, although Colonel William Moultrie did much of the real work. Later that year he wrote letters criticizing Washington, hoping to take his job. In December 1776, British dragoons captured Lee at a tavern in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. He spent almost 16 months as a prisoner before returning to the army in May 1778.

On June 28, 1778, at the Battle of Monmouth in New Jersey, Lee led the army's advance force against the British rear guard. When the British turned to fight, some of his units pulled back without his orders, and his whole line began to retreat. Washington rode up and the two exchanged sharp words. Later stories of Washington cursing Lee came from men who were not there. Lee then helped organize a delaying action that bought time for the main army to form a strong line.

Lee demanded a court-martial to clear his name and wrote insulting letters to Washington. In August 1778 the court found him guilty of disobeying orders, misbehavior before the enemy and disrespect to the commander in chief, and suspended him for a year. In December 1778, Washington's aide John Laurens wounded him in a duel. Lee left the army in 1780 and died in Philadelphia in 1782.

Sources

1. Charles Lee, National Park Service
2. Charles Lee, American Battlefield Trust
3. Major General Charles Lee and the Battle of Monmouth, American Battlefield Trust

Checked against these sources on October 2, 2026. Spot a mistake? Report an error. How we check facts.