MURDER, 1776 And Washington's Policy of Silence

Hardback. A dark mystery of the Revolution. Oliver De Lancey, Jr., born in New York city of wealthy Huguenot and Jewish parentage, was a dashing young cavalry officer in the British army when he was accused of murdering the President of New York's Revolutionary Congress in circumstances of revolting cruelty. The long train of intrigue and fraud which followed in the wake of the accusation are here cleared up and the startling truth exposed. But even more important and interesting historical matters are brought to light. Few are aware - few have been allowed to be aware - of the basic disagreement between General Washington and the New York authorities in 1776. Yet dire consequences for the Patriot cause resulted from that lack of accord. Foremost among them was the heavy loss suffered by the Continental army at the battle of Long Island. To that, a terrible act of treachery and not mere reluctance to co-operate may have contributed. The rocklike firmness and self-control of Washington, as he contended with ambiguous friends as well as open enemies, receive tribute. Every vital statement is strictly documented, and a detailed list of its sources is supplied. The contemporary records which the author quotes (and which standard histories omit) reveal the truth clearly and convincingly for themselves. Illus. with a rare portrait of the accused murderer, and with 2 Maps, Notes and References, Short-Title List of Sources + Index. 207pp. 8vo. h/back. From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. Vg+ in Vg. pcdw. which has faded sp.