[Frederic Shonnard & W.W. Spooner (1900)] the boats to be kept in constant readiness for Lee at a point on the east bank of the stream. Lee's defiant behavior in tarrying in Westchester Connty was ag-gravated by everv circumstance of formal pretension and presump-tion. On the 20th he wrote the following astonishing words to Ben-jamin Rush, a member of congress: " I could say many things— let me talk vainly— had I the powers I could do you much good— might I but dictate one week— but I am sure you will never give any man the necessary power— did none of the congress over read the Roman history9" On the 21st, upon receiving Washington's order from Hackensack, Lee not merely ignored it, but with unparalleled effrontery directed General Heath, commanding at Peekskill, to de-tach 2 000 men from his force and send them to the commander-in-chief ' Heath refused, quoting his own explicit instructions from Washington, whereupon Lee (November 20) wrote: "The comman-der-in-chief is now separated from us. I, of course, command on this side of the water, and for the future I must and will be obeyed. Washington was obliged to notify Lee in a positive communication that not a man must be taken from Heath.