Everyone knows General Charles Lee was captured in Basking Ridge during the Revolutionary War, but who was his second in command?
In 1776, American General Charles Lee was taking his time moving his division across New Jersey to join the main army of George Washington, who he resented serving under. Lee stayed too long at Widow White’s Tavern in Basking Ridge where he was captured by the British on the morning of Dec. 13, 1776. Who replaced Lee in command of the American division?
Illustration: Charles G. Coffin, The Boys of ’76 (1877), p. 131.
THE ANSWER (12/11/2023): General John Sullivan (1740-1795) replaced Lee and promptly moved the troops from Vealtown (Bernardsville) and Bedminster to join Washington in Pennsylvania. Sullivan went on to play an important role in the subsequent American victories at Trenton and Princeton.
Second in Command – Major Evan Edwards
Replacement – Friedrich Wilhelm (Baron) von Steuben
Good try, but not correct. Major Evan Edwards was an aide to Lee and a second at a duel for Lee in 1778. von Steuben did not arrive in the U.S. until 1777. See above for the answer.
Wow, was I off. Thank you for teaching me something new.