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32 to james warren [By December 1776, things looked bleak for American patriots. Routed from New York City and Long Island by an overwhelming British force, the Continental Army under George Washington retreated from New York altogether and headed south through New Jersey. As mow fears in the following letter, the careless American general Charles Lee had been captured by the British at a tavern in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, on December 13, but unknown to her as she wrote was that Washington on the night of December 25 had scored a surprising victory over the Hessian troops (German mercenaries in the employ of the British) at Trenton. Word of that American victory reached the Warrens a few days later.] Plimouth Decbr 26 [1776] My Dearest Friend, This Morning before breakfast had the painful tidings that the Brave General Lee had fallen into the Enemys hands. You will judge of my feelings by your care[?] on this occasion. I understand the French[?] Gentleman who was taken with him is the same you so much admired for his Martial appearance when at Boston. The political Clouds at the southward with this Gathering Blackness towards the North With the stormy[?] appearance of the Natural world at this season[?] has an effect upon my spirits. Timidity, Vexation, Grief & Resentment Alternately Rise in my disturbed Bosom yet I struggle to Resume[?] that Dignity of Character that philosophic & Religious Resignation you so often Recommend till I feel the Courage of an Heroine & the Intrepidity of a Roman Matron. But I am also[?] disolved into Weakness When I recollect that the Dissolution of the [??] may be at hand, that Every social joy is at stake & that I may be left a Naked helpless Vine without the Cedar or the Branches to Defend me from the Rude storms bent on the American shores. To fly thence[?] to the Last & the best Resource of the afflicted soul & Look up to my Maker & Benefactor for the Continuance of the blessings this providence has Lent or to prepare me for the Resumtion. I think it was Rather Injudicious in General Lee to Venture to Lodge at a Lone house in a Village where he knew the adjacent country was so to james warren, december 1776  81 Remarkable for their Disaffection to the Common Cause.1 I am Informed by mr Thomas2 that he had sent off most of his Guard with his baggage an hour before he[?] being Detained by a Letter from General Gates Relative to the Rout he was about to take. He had Collected about 2000 Militia in Morice County where he was siezed with which he Intended to Attack the Enemy in the Rear. He had just finished an answer to Gates3 when the Centry Cryed, “the English Light Horse” in which he had only time to Rise & step to the window before the house was surrounded. They fired a Number of Carbines into the Windows of the room he was in & Endeavoured to force their way into the house but were prevented by the Gentleman within for about half an hour when the General saw from his window they were hacking his gaurds to pieces & were about to set fire to the house on which he opened the door & succeeded[?] asking if they were about to behave as Assassins, on which they replyd that they knew him well & should treat him as a Gentleman but he could not obtain Leave to Return & take his hat & cloak. The officer telling him he knew his Character too well to suffer him a moment out of his sight & with the greatest[?] acclamations of Joy they mounted him on one of their horses And rode of in triumph shouting Loudly that their Fortunes were made.4 Thus far my Informer. I am so Apprehensive of the Cruel Strategies & Inveterate Malice of the torys that I should not think it safe for any man of Eminence to Entrust himself Alone within twenty miles of the enemies army in this part of the Country & it is astonishing how much more [??] those people are in the Jerseys philadelphia &c. It is unsafe Even for a private man to travel & Difficult for any Expresses to pass. The shops are kept shut in the city of philadelphia & Multitudes have been removed to[?] Lancaster about 30[?] miles from the City. Our army is not dispirited though very small & little union among the officers. Adjutant General Reed5 is universally hated & the N England officers despised, more Especially the Militia, the Regulars themselves acknowledging a Great difference between...

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