War Diaries (December 3) (nonfiction)
War Diary quotations for December 3
Previous: December 2 - Next: December 4
Diaries
Richard Henry Lee: December 3, 1776
Philadelphia 3d, 1776
Dear Sir,
The present moment is critical in the American war. The enemy have taken vigorous advantage of the space between the old and the new enlistments, and have rushed like a Torrent thru the Jersies, our little army of no more than 5000 men under the command of Genl. Washington, being compelled to retreat rapidly before them. The object is this City, and they were sunday last at Brunswick, about 60 miles off in the Jersies. The Associators are at length alarmed and turning out to reenforce the General, but they move rather slower that the important stake demands. We hear that Gen Lee has crossed North river and is following quickly after the enemy, but we are not sure that his numbers are sufficient for any thing decisive. However, if the people here have any title to the freedom they claim, Mr. Howe will not be gratified with the possession of this City. And if he gained 20 such Cities, still he would be short of gaining the point meditated over America. You remember Sir, we told them from the beginning, that we looked on our Cities [letter torn] Costs as devoted to destruction but that ample resources were still left for a numerous brave and free people [to contend] with.
- Richard Henry Lee, letter to Patrick Henry
