Soon after, one of Washington's aids appeared for intelligence, and La Fayette, in despair at Lee's inaction, sent the messenger to urge Washington to come at once to the front; that he was needed. Washington was already on the way, before the messenger reached him, when he was met by a little fifer boy, who cried out: "They are all coming this way, your honor." "Who are coming, my little man?" asked General Knox, who was riding by Washington. "Why, our boys, your honor, our boys, and the British right after them." "Impossible!" exclaimed Washington, and he galloped to a hill just ahead. To his amazement and dismay, he saw his men retreating. He lost not an instant, but, putting spurs to his horse, dashed forward. After him flew the officers who had been riding by his side, but they could not overtake him. His horse, covered with foam, shot down the road over a bridge and up the hill beyond. The retreating column saw him come. The men knew him; they stopped; they made way for the splendid-looking man, as he, their leader, rode headlong into the midst of them. Lee was there, ordering the retreat, and Washington drew his rein as he came upon him. A moment of terrible silence--then Washington burst out, his eyes flashing: [Illustration: WASHINGTON REBUKING LEE, AT MONMOUTH.] "What, sir, is the meaning of this?" "Sir, sir," stammered Lee. "I desire to know, sir, the meaning of this disorder and confusion?" Lee, enraged now by Washington's towering passion, made an angry reply. He declared that the whole affair was against his opinion. "You are a poltroon!" flashed back Washington, with an oath. "Whatever your opinion may have been, I expected my orders to be obeyed." "These men can not face the British grenadiers," answered Lee. "They can do it, and they shall!" exclaimed Washington, galloping off to survey the ground. Presently he came back; his wrath had gone down in the presence of the peril to the army. He would waste no strength in cursing Lee. "Will you retain the command here, or shall I?" he asked. "If you will, I will return to the main body and have it formed on the next height." "It is equal to me where I command," said Lee, sullenly. "Then remain here," said Washington. "I expect you to take proper means for checking the enemy." "Your orders shall be obeyed, and I shall not be the first to leave the ground," replied Lee, with spirit. The rest of the day the battle raged, and when night came the enemy had been obliged to fall back, and Washington determined to follow up his success in the morning. He directed all the troops to lie on their arms where they were. He himself lay stretched on the ground beneath a tree, his cloak wrapped about him. About midnight, an officer came near with a message, but hesitated, reluctant to waken him. "Advance, sir, and deliver your message," Washington called out; "I lie here to think, and not to sleep."