LEE, CHARLES (1731-82). A British-Ameri can soldier, born at Dernhall, Cheshire. Ile received a commission as lieutenant in the British Army in 17.51: accompanied Brad lot-k's expedition in 1755; and in 1758 was wounded at Ticonderoga, and was promoted to a captaincy. In 1762 he served with conspicuous gallantry in Portugal. and received a commissi, n from that country as a lieutenant-colonel under Burgoyne, who had been sent. by England to assist Portugal against Spain. In 1764-66 and again in 1769 I0 he served in the Polish Army. first as a staff officer under King 5tanislas Augustus and later as a major-general in the Turkish cam paign. After mud] intriguing he became a lieu tenant-colonel on half pay in the British ser vice in Slay, 1772, and in the fall of 1773 emigrated to America. where he used every effort to ingratiate himself with the Patriot party, whose side lie took with great ostentation. Sev eral political pamphlets which he wrote at this time became very popular. In 1775 he bought a farm in Berkeley County, Va. to the same year he was appointed by Congress to the second major-generalship in the Continental Army, and became senior major-general, next in rank to Washington, on the resignation of Gen. Arte mas 'Ward. In 1776 he was placed in command of the Southern Department. and received most of
the credit for the defense of Charleston, though he had opposed and ridiculed -Moultrie's plans. In October he took command of the right wing of the American army near New York. Disregard ing Washington's orders, lie delayed his retreat into New Jersey for two weeks, and then pro ceeded with great deliberation. On December lath, while at Basking Ridge, a few miles from his army at :Morristown, he was captured by Brit ish dragoons, and was taken to New York. Here he betrayed the American plans to the British, but in Slay, 1778, his treason not being suspected by Washington, he was exchanged. For his con duet at the battle of Monmouth (q.v.) be was convicted by court-martial of disobedience, misbehavior before the enemy. and disrespect to the Commander-in-Chief, and was suspended from his command for a year. Soon afterwards he was wounded in a duel with Colonel John Lau rens. one of Washington's aides, and, on address ing an impudent letter to Congress. was dismissed from the service ble retired to his farm, and in 1782. while on a visit to Philadelphia, lie died. Consult: :Moore. The Treason of Charles Lee (1858) ; and a ehapter in Fiske, Essays Ilistori ea! and Lfterary (New York, 1902).