Part 8 (1/1)

The juxtaposition of Gates's victory and Washi+ngton's defeats crystallized congressional discontent with the latter's leadershi+p The rush of battles turned Congress into an asseenerals, determined to run the war by resolutions There had always been sotto voce gruton's military ability, but now serious questions arose as to whether he was up to the job Henry Laurens told his son John that the asse that ”our arton had failed to stem desertions or adequately provision his ton of ”stupid le word about war, undertake to judge you, to make ridiculous comparisons; they are infatuated with Gates” Lafayette warned Washi+ngton of ”stupid le word about war, undertake to judge you, to make ridiculous comparisons; they are infatuated with Gates”25 The discontent crested in October when Washi+ngton got wind of the ruadier Tho of Conway shows a htly pursed lips, and alert eyes give him a petulant expression Born in Ireland, he had been an officer in the French Ar fortune hunter For hirasp in cla up the military hierarchy in France Nathanael Greene saw hiht26 ”I freely own to you it was partly with a view of obtaining sooner the rank of brigadier in the French army that I have joined” the American army, Conway conceded to another officer that January ”I freely own to you it was partly with a view of obtaining sooner the rank of brigadier in the French army that I have joined” the American army, Conway conceded to another officer that January27 An excellent judge of art and ued Irishentlee at his tablebut as to his talents for the command of an army, they were e of art and ued Irishentlee at his tablebut as to his talents for the command of an army, they were miserable indeed” was Conway's verdict28 Soravitated to Conway ”He seee and experience without any of his oddities and vices,” Dr Benjamin Rush declared ”He is, moreover, the idol of the whole arravitated to Conway ”He seee and experience without any of his oddities and vices,” Dr Benjamin Rush declared ”He is, ton was incensed to learn about Conway's i promotion, especially since he would be juadiers He had been dis hi hisaloof froressional deliberations He wrote to Richard Henry Lee that Conway's promotion would ”be as unfortunate a ton seldom spoke so brusquely, but there was more ”General Conway's merit then as an officer, and his iination than in reality For it is a ton seldom spoke so brusquely, but there was more ”General Conway's merit then as an officer, and his iination than in reality For it is a maxi of all, Washi+ngton seenation ”To sum up the whole, I have been a slave to the servicebut it will be impossible for me to be of any further service, if such insuperable difficulties are thrown in ton seenation ”To sum up the whole, I have been a slave to the servicebut it will be impossible for me to be of any further service, if such insuperable difficulties are thrown inhow adroit he could be at infighting, how skillful in suppressing lurking challenges to his supre political than military threats He knew that power held in reserve-power deployed firmly but reluctantly-was always the most effective forton that Conould never be bueneral, but Lee, a secret critic of Washi+ngton hiress intended to overhaul the Board of War, switching it froeneral officers ould supervise the ton, who could only regard it as a powerful rebuke Washi+ngton was showing how adroit he could be at infighting, how skillful in suppressing lurking challenges to his supre political than military threats He knew that power held in reserve-power deployed firmly but reluctantly-was always the most effective forton that Conould never be bueneral, but Lee, a secret critic of Washi+ngton hiress intended to overhaul the Board of War, switching it froeneral officers ould supervise the ton, who could only regard it as a powerful rebuke

Aton received fresh proof that eneainst hi aide Jaress Later described by Washi+ngton as ”lively, sensible, pompous, and a33 En route to Congress, this indiscreet young , Pennsylvania, where he aled hiton's actions at Brandywine Creek He also showed him an inflammatory line that General Conway had written to General Gates, indicting Washi+ngton's leadershi+p ”Heaven has been detereneral and bad councillors would have ruined it” En route to Congress, this indiscreet young , Pennsylvania, where he aled hiton's actions at Brandywine Creek He also showed him an inflammatory line that General Conway had written to General Gates, indicting Washi+ngton's leadershi+p ”Heaven has been detereneral and bad councillors would have ruined it”34 Lord Stirling, loyal to Washi+ngton, passed along this offensive co that ”such wicked duplicity of conduct I shall always think it ton, passed along this offensive co that ”such wicked duplicity of conduct I shall always think it ton was stunned to see the reenerals to blacken his naested blatant collusion between the two generals to blacken his naton reverted to his favorite technique, earlier used with Joseph Reed: sending an incri document to its author without comment He would betray as little as possible of what he knew so as to let the guilty party incriton later said, he intended to convey ”that I was not unapprised of his intriguing disposition”36 Conway countered with a cagey note, telling Washi+ngton that he illing that inal letter to General Gates should be handed to you This, I trust, will convince you of ey note, telling Washi+ngton that he illing that inal letter to General Gates should be handed to you This, I trust, will convince you of ”37 Of course, he didn't specify what his way of thinking was On Nove any ton a curt announce with sonation to Congress” Of course, he didn't specify what his way of thinking was On Nove any ton a curt announce with sonation to Congress”38 Since the resignation wasn't accepted, internecine warfare between the two nation wasn't accepted, internecine warfare between the two ton confronted Gates about the letter, the latter described himself as ”inexpressibly distressed” by the news, said he kept his papers closely guarded, and wondered about the identity of ”the villain that has played me this treacherous trick”39 Later on he contended the offending paragraph was a forgery It didn't seem to occur to hi the tables on Washi+ngton, Gates even came up with a far-fetched accusation: that Alexander Ha his recent diplomatic mission, had purloined the papers froly copied,” Gates told Washi+ngton, turning hiht not to reraph was a forgery It didn't seem to occur to hi the tables on Washi+ngton, Gates even came up with a far-fetched accusation: that Alexander Ha his recent diplomatic mission, had purloined the papers froly copied,” Gates told Washi+ngton, turning hiht not to reton revealed that the culprit was Gates's own personal aide, the talkative Jaton revealed that the culprit was Gates's own personal aide, the talkative Jaator in the ton was his foreneral A portrait of Mifflin shows a h spirits as very direct in ton had befriended him and named him one of his initial aides, the handsome, eloquent Mifflin harbored a secret aniton learned of his treachery with consternation ”I have never seen any stroke of ill fortune affect the general in thehas done,” his aide Tench Tilghton had already developed doubts about Mifflin, whoeneral for personal profit, and he later wrote about hi sarcaston had already developed doubts about Mifflin, whoeneral for personal profit, and he later wrote about hi sarcash he had known and liked Conway in France, Lafayette had concluded that he was a menace to his ton that certain eleress ”are infatuated with Gatesand believe that attacking is the only thing necessary to conquer”42 Lafayette didn't exaggerate Whatever inhibitions had existed about defaton's name had now disappeared ”Thousands of lives and millions of property are yearly sacrificed to the insufficiency of our Coeneral Jonathan dickinson Sergeant wrote to Massachusetts congressman James Lovell ”Two battles he has lost for us by two such blunders as ” Lafayette didn't exaggerate Whatever inhibitions had existed about defaton's name had now disappeared ”Thousands of lives and millions of property are yearly sacrificed to the insufficiency of our Coeneral Jonathan dickinson Sergeant wrote to Massachusetts congressman James Lovell ”Two battles he has lost for us by two such blunders as ”43 Benjamin Rush and Richard Henry Lee lent open or covert support to the attacks on Washi+ngton, while John Ada, retained residual admiration for the commander in chief and never went so far as to try to oust him Benjamin Rush and Richard Henry Lee lent open or covert support to the attacks on Washi+ngton, while John Ada, retained residual admiration for the commander in chief and never went so far as to try to oust hianized the Board of War, and Richard Henry Lee saw to it that Mifflin was naton's worst fears by securing the appointment of Horatio Gates as its president Gates would retain his rank as ton Leaving little doubt that he wanted Gates to usurp Washi+ngton's authority, Congressman Lovell told him, ”We want you in different placesWe want you ress dealt out further punishton When he protested that his ress passed a snide resolution, chastising hi oods froress dealt out further punishton When he protested that his ress passed a snide resolution, chastising hi oods froloated to Samuel Adams, the resolution ”was loated to Samuel Adams, the resolution ”was meant to rap a demi-G[od] over the knuckles”46 A still heavier blow lay in the offing On December 13 the Board of War created an inspection system to curb desertions, ensure efficient use of public property, and institute army drills It naeneral and, directly flouting Washi+ngton's plea, boosted his rank topowers, he would be exeton's iine a ainst the coton didn't learn of the decision until teeks later, when Conway e to announce his appointton was always articulate when forced to break silence on a painful subject To Conway's consternation, he received him hat he later called ”ceremonious civility,” an icy correctness that people found very unsettling Notwords, he told Conway that his appointadiers in the ar until he had explicit instructions froress Conway protested that he was ”coolly received” at Valley Forge and coreeted in such athe course of thirty years in a very respectable ar in his heels in self-defense: ”That I did not receive hie of a ware,” he told Henry Laurens, as now president of Congress ”I did not, nor shall I ever, till I a in his heels in self-defense: ”That I did not receive hie of a ware,” he told Henry Laurens, as now president of Congress ”I did not, nor shall I ever, till I am capable of the arts of dissiton about the notorious note written to Gates Aton an insolent letter that flaunted his true colors ”I understand that your aversion toto the letter I wrote to General Gates,” Conway began He then said that subalterns in European arenerals, ”but I never heard that the least notice was taken of these letters Must such an odious and tyrannical inquisition begin in this country?” In conclusion, Conway said that ”since you cannot bear the sight of ress thinks proper and even to France”49 The norton was so infuriated by Conway's conduct that John Laurens thought that in private life Washi+ngtonLaurens told his father, ”as Conould never have dared to offer if the general's situation had not assured hied in a private way” The norton was so infuriated by Conway's conduct that John Laurens thought that in private life Washi+ngtonLaurens told his father, ”as Conould never have dared to offer if the general's situation had not assured hied in a private way”50 Laurens wasan outmoded form of chivalry In the end the Board of War desisted froton, and he was assigned to join General McDougall in New York Laurens wasan outmoded form of chivalry In the end the Board of War desisted froton, and he was assigned to join General McDougall in New York

The various efforts of Gates, Conway, Mifflin, et al to discredit and even depose Washi+ngton have been known to history as the Conway Cabal Cabal Cabal is anized network of foes In later years Washi+ngton confirress to supplant me in that command,” and he sketched out its contours thus: ”It appeared, in general, that General Gates was to be exalted on the ruin of my reputation and influenceGeneral Mifflin, it is commonly supposed, bore the second part in the cabal, and General Conway, I knoas a very active and ood reasons to believe that their machinations have recoileda word for this loosely organized network of foes In later years Washi+ngton confirress to supplant me in that command,” and he sketched out its contours thus: ”It appeared, in general, that General Gates was to be exalted on the ruin of my reputation and influenceGeneral Mifflin, it is commonly supposed, bore the second part in the cabal, and General Conway, I knoas a very active and ood reasons to believe that their machinations have recoiled most sensibly upon theton's dehter With coue and temper, he had the supre rivals It was perhaps less his military skills than his character that eclipsed all conified, circuht, whereas his ene However thin-skinned he was, he never doubted the need for legitimate criticis criticisative of freemen,” he still deplored such a ”secret, insidious attemptto wound ton's dehter With coue and temper, he had the supre rivals It was perhaps less his military skills than his character that eclipsed all conified, circuht, whereas his ene However thin-skinned he was, he never doubted the need for legitimate criticis criticisative of freemen,” he still deplored such a ”secret, insidious attemptto wound my reputation!”52 For the rest of the war, he didn't allow these things to cloud his judgment, never told tales indiscreetly, and confined his opinions of intra to a s demoralize his ars to cloud his judgment, never told tales indiscreetly, and confined his opinions of intra to a s deton viewed the controversy with philosophic resignation and wondered whether he should return to Mount Vernon After receiving a confidential warning fro to install Charles Lee in his stead, Washi+ngton replied ruefully: ”So soon then as the public gets dissatisfied with my services, or a person is found better qualified to answer her expectation, I shall quit the helm with as much satisfaction and retire to a private station with as rim felt upon his safe arrival in the Holy Land”53 He didn't need to worry The so-called Conway Cabal taught people that Washi+ngton was tough and crafty in defending his terrain and that they tangled with hie Washi+ngton lived to regret the error His skillful treat him in unquestioned co Washi+ngton's generals augured well for the larger war against the British He didn't need to worry The so-called Conway Cabal taught people that Washi+ngton was tough and crafty in defending his terrain and that they tangled with hie Washi+ngton lived to regret the error His skillful treat him in unquestioned co Washi+ngton's generals augured well for the larger war against the British

It should be said that the need to solidify Washi+ngton's position and huic With the possible exception of the Continental Congress, the Continental Army was the purest expression of the new, still inchoate country, a working laboratory for ether citizen-soldiers fro a coton personified that arure in the war John Adaarded this as the main reason why people tolerated his defeats and overlooked his errors To Dr Benjamin Rush, he later pontificated: ”There was a time when northern, reed to blow the truyric in concert to cover and dissemble all faults and errors; to represent every defeat as a victory and every retreat as an advanceton] popular and fashi+onable with all parties in all places and with all persons, as a center of union, as the central stone in the geometrical arch There you have the revelation of the whole ton's triumph over the troublesome Gates, Mifflin, and Conas total For unity's sake, he was unfailingly polite to Gates: ”IGen[era]l Gates with all the attention and cordiality in my power, as well froive any cause of triueneral would becoeneral aement The ress with so n so often that delegates were finally pleased to accept his resignation in April 1778 Conway refused to ton, however, which led him in July into a duel with John Cadwalader, a stalwart Washi+ngton defender Cadwalader shot Conway in the mouth and neck and is supposed to have boasted as he stared down at his bleeding foe, ”I have stopped the daeneral would becoeneral aement The ress with so n so often that delegates were finally pleased to accept his resignation in April 1778 Conway refused to ton, however, which led him in July into a duel with John Cadwalader, a stalwart Washi+ngton defender Cadwalader shot Conway in the mouth and neck and is supposed to have boasted as he stared down at his bleeding foe, ”I have stopped the da anyway”56 With incredible resilience, Conway recuperated froton a chastened note before he returned to France ”I finda few minutes,” the convalescent soldier wrote, ”and take this opportunity of expressingdisagreeable to Your Excellency My career will soon be over Therefore justice and truth prompt reat and the goodenjoy the love, veneration, and esteem of these states whose liberties you have asserted by your virtues” With incredible resilience, Conway recuperated froton a chastened note before he returned to France ”I finda few minutes,” the convalescent soldier wrote, ”and take this opportunity of expressingdisagreeable to Your Excellency My career will soon be over Therefore justice and truth prompt reat and the goodenjoy the love, veneration, and esteem of these states whose liberties you have asserted by your virtues”57

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

A Dreary Kind of Place IN DECEMBER 1777 General William Howe eased into comfortable winter quarters in Philadelphia For British officers in the eighteenth century, warfare remained a seasonal business, and they saw no reason to sacrifice unduly as cold winds blew ”asseet that there is any war, save that it is a capital joke,” wrote a Hessian captain, reflecting the overly confident attitude that prevailed a British and Hessian officers after the Brandywine and Gerled with the baffling question of where to house his vagabond, threadbare arid : four thousand ton withdrew farther into Pennsylvania's interior, his arht be secure, but the area already teeees from Philadelphia Such a e the countryside outside Philadelphia and batten freely off local far his decision was that he had to ensure the safety of two hoislatures, now stranded in exile: the Continental Congress in York and the Pennsylvania legislature in Lancaster ”I assure you, sir,” he told Henry Laurens, as he puzzled over the conundrum, ”no circumstance in the course of the present contest, or in my whole life, has employed more of my reflectionthan in whatthe winter”2 Washi+ngton opted for a spot that was fated to becoe, a ept plateau, twenty miles northwest of Philadelphia, that he would depict as ”a dreary kind of place and unco fields and woods, the encampment stood a day's march from Howe's army and was therefore safe fro place Its high ridges would afford excellent defensive positions; its nearby woods would supply plentiful tiriculture would nourish his army; and the nearby Schuylkill River and Valley Creek would provide pure water What should have been an ideal resting place beca fields and woods, the encampment stood a day's march from Howe's army and was therefore safe fro place Its high ridges would afford excellent defensive positions; its nearby woods would supply plentiful tiriculture would nourish his army; and the nearby Schuylkill River and Valley Creek would provide pure water What should have been an ideal resting place beca ton arrived there, the Pennsylvania legislature had the cheek to criticize hi into plush quarters ”I can assure those gentleton wrote testily, ”that it is ato draw reood fireside than to occupy a cold bleak hill and sleep under frost and snoithout clothes or blankets However, although they see for the naked, distressed soldiers, I feel superabundantly for them and from my soul pity those miseries which it is neither in my power to relieve or prevent”4 This was a new voice for Washi+ngton, reflecting a profound solidarity with his y and arose fro This was a new voice for Washi+ngton, reflecting a profound solidarity with his y and arose fro

Already on the icy road to Valley Forge, Washi+ngton had spotted streaks of blood fros to come He slept in the upstairs chamber of a compact, two-story stone es lent the place its name The commander in chief worked in a modest downstairs rooton in his respect for private property that he rented the quarters instead of seizing them The preton's faly pinched for rooether on the floor downstairs To provide extra space, Washi+ngton added an adjoining log cabin for ether on the floor downstairs To provide extra space, Washi+ngton added an adjoining log cabin for ton experienced a griency far beyond anything yet endured In general orders for Deceht call for preternatural strength and vowed to ”share in the hardshi+p and partake of every inconvenience” with his ton's ether His position transcended that of ataken on a paternal dimension ”The people of America look up to you as their father,” Henry Knox told him, ”and into your hands they entrust their all, fully confident of every exertion on your part for their security and happiness” Whatever his failings as a general, Washi+ngton's ether His position transcended that of ataken on a paternal dimension ”The people of America look up to you as their father,” Henry Knox told him, ”and into your hands they entrust their all, fully confident of every exertion on your part for their security and happiness” 7 7 The first order of business, Washi+ngton kneas to erect warm, dry huts To set an exa craze; regiments broken into squads of twelve soldiers chopped wood and ton injected a competitive element into the operation: he would pay twelve dollars to the squad that completed the first hut and a hundred dollars to anyone who devised a way to roof these structures without consu scarce wood As the men hewed their houses with dull ax blades, they nonetheless seean to build huts,” wrote Thomas Paine ”They appeared to s, others ether”8 Within acabins in all, materialized froe,cabins in all,parallel avenues, the huts were small, dark, and claustrophobic; a dozenfourteen by sixteen feet, with only six and a half feet of headroom Narrow bunks, stacked in triple rows, stood on either side of the door Many soldiers draped tents over their huts to keep at bay the sharp wintry blasts While officers had the luxury of wooden floors, ordinary soldiers slept on dank earth As rounds grew foul and slippery witheverywhere, e a putrid stench into the winter air

For all its esprit de corps, the Continental Arhastly state, its soldiers resears Men dined on food called ”fire cakes,” crude concoctions of flour and water that were cooked on hot stones Soether any food at all Dr Albigence Waldo of Connecticut liue-nasty clothes-nasty cookery-vomit half my time-smoke out of my senses-the devil's in it-I can't endure itThere comes a bowl of beef soup-full of burnt leaves and dirt, sickish enough to make a Hector spewThere coh his worn-out shoes, his legs nearly naked fros; his breeches not sufficient to cover his nakedness; his shi+rt hanging in strings; his hair disheveled; his face er; his whole appearance pictures a person forsaken and discouraged9 The universalwith their li as cloaks and overcoats woollen blankets similar to those worn by the patients in our French hospitals I realized a little later that those were officers and generals”10 Some desperate soldiers tore canvas strips froether priht into Washi+ngton's headquarters ”I cannot get as ton wrote, ”notwithstanding that one of them that attends my person and table is indecently and most shamefully naked” Some desperate soldiers tore canvas strips froether priht into Washi+ngton's headquarters ”I cannot get as ton wrote, ”notwithstanding that one of them that attends my person and table is indecently and most shamefully naked”11 One wonders whether this referred to the trusted Billy Lee Exacerbating the clothing shortage was a dearth of wagons To cart supplies around caes like draft ani to aton's behest, soon appointed Nathanael Greene as the new quarterently administered by Thoru that ”nobody ever heard of a quartermaster in history,” but he submitted to his fate and brilliantly helped the Continental Army avoid starvation as he redeemed his own reputation One wonders whether this referred to the trusted Billy Lee Exacerbating the clothing shortage was a dearth of wagons To cart supplies around caes like draft ani to aton's behest, soon appointed Nathanael Greene as the new quarterently administered by Thoru that ”nobody ever heard of a quartermaster in history,” but he submitted to his fate and brilliantly helped the Continental Army avoid starvation as he redeeton's inspirational power at Valley Forge came from his steady presence, as he projected leadershi+p in nonverbal ways that are hard for posterity to re-create Even contemporaries found it difficult to convey the essence of his calrandeur ”I cannot describe the ireat man made upon me,” said one French countenance: grave yet not severe; affable without fah which you could trace the strong feelings of the patriot and discern the father as well as the coes of Washi+ngton at Valley Forge is likely invented After his death Parson Mason Weems, who fabricated the canard about the cherry tree, told of Washi+ngton praying in a snowy glade A well-known iton, done by Paul Weber and entitled George Washi+ngton in Prayer at Valley Forge, George Washi+ngton in Prayer at Valley Forge, depicts Washi+ngton praying on his knees, his left hand over his heart and his open right hand at his side, pointing to the earth Washi+ngton's upturned face catches a shaft of celestial light The iion and politics by converting the uniforton into a humble supplicant of the Lord The reason to doubt the story's veracity is not Washi+ngton's lack of faith but the typically private nature of his devotions He would never have prayed so ostentatiously outdoors, where soldiers could have stu on his knees, his left hand over his heart and his open right hand at his side, pointing to the earth Washi+ngton's upturned face catches a shaft of celestial light The iion and politics by converting the uniforton into a humble supplicant of the Lord The reason to doubt the story's veracity is not Washi+ngton's lack of faith but the typically private nature of his devotions He would never have prayed so ostentatiously outdoors, where soldiers could have stuton was somewhat insulated from the camp's noisome squalor in the Potts house, the despondent rievances As he strode past the huts, he heard the inside, ”No bread, no soldier!”14 On better days, they would burst into a patriotic tune called ”War and Washi+ngton” On better days, they would burst into a patriotic tune called ”War and Washi+ngton”15 At one point a knot of protesters descended on his office in what ton undoubtedly bristled at their disruptive presence Nonetheless, when the ton understood their suffering, he reacted sympathetically This man of patrician tastes had learned to value ordinary soldiers ”Naked and starving as they are,” he wrote, ”we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery” At one point a knot of protesters descended on his office in what ton undoubtedly bristled at their disruptive presence Nonetheless, when the ton understood their suffering, he reacted sympathetically This man of patrician tastes had learned to value ordinary soldiers ”Naked and starving as they are,” he wrote, ”we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery”16 That the Continental Are is si When Dr Benjamin Rush toured the camp, General Sullivan lectured him, ”Sir, this is not an arton produced in his men that they stuck by him in this forlorn place Nor did he achieve popularity by coddling anyone, for he inflicted severe floggings onsecurely lashed to a tree or post receives on his naked back the nuned to him by a whip forh his skin at every stroke,” wrote Dr James Thacher, who described how in of the ter the bullet” It shows the confidence that Washi+ngton produced in his men that they stuck by him in this forlorn place Nor did he achieve popularity by coddling anyone, for he inflicted severe floggings onsecurely lashed to a tree or post receives on his naked back the nuned to him by a whip forh his skin at every stroke,” wrote Dr James Thacher, who described how in of the ter the bullet”18 Governed by a powerful moral code and determined to maintain some semblance of ton perpetuated his ban on cards, dice, and other for Governed by a powerful moral code and determined to maintain some semblance of ton perpetuated his ban on cards, dice, and other forhtful at Valley Forge were the raiven tis and feet turned black fro to pervasive es such as typhus, typhoid fever, pneurew commonplace Dr Benjamin Rush deplored the arrueso with cold upon the floors without a blanket to cover the for fire, for water, for suitable food, and forin vain”19 By winter's end, two thousand e,ton was not well understood by Sir William Horote John Marshall, ”and the characteristic attention of that officer [ie, Washi+ngton] to the lives and comfort of his troops saved the American army” By winter's end, two thousand e,ton was not well understood by Sir William Horote John Marshall, ”and the characteristic attention of that officer [ie, Washi+ngton] to the lives and comfort of his troops saved the American ar daily, Washi+ngton rushed an urgentthat the Continental Army would ”starve, dissolve, or disperse” withoutanecdote of an incident the day before when he had ordered his soldiers to pounce on British soldiers scouring the countryside for forage The operation was scuttled because his men were too enervated froton testified that there was ”not a single hoof of any kind to slaughter and notprediction that ”three or four days [of] bad weather would prove our destruction”21 In heartbreaking fashi+on, he evoked an army devoid of soap; men with one shi+rt, half a shi+rt, or no shi+rt at all; nearly three thousand unfit for duty for lack of shoes; and hts, crouched by the fire, for want of blankets In heartbreaking fashi+on, he evoked an army devoid of soap; men with one shi+rt, half a shi+rt, or no shi+rt at all; nearly three thousand unfit for duty for lack of shoes; and hts, crouched by the fire, for want of blankets

Ever since the war started, Washi+ngton had saved his lah much of the real power resided with the states But he was reluctant to appeal to the states, lest he seeress or violate military subordination to civilian control Now, in desperation, he began to issue circulars to the states, which gave hiainst the rickety political structure that ha the Articles of Confederation, creating a loose confederacy of states with a notably weak central governoblin of concentrated power, states shrank fro other ton was dismayed that the states now shi+pped off their ress whilelaws, and filling [state] offices”22 A leithted states would coly Washi+ngton took a scathing view of lax congressional leadershi+p A leithted states would coly Washi+ngton took a scathing view of lax congressional leadershi+p

The Christton and his al collation of e, and crusts of bread, accoru the officers Soton had lost his baggage, with its complement of plates, dishes, and kitchen utensils, and he now le spoon He experienced no self-pity, however, so woebegone was the coht of hisof Valley Forge into a single piercing cry: ”Our sick naked, our well naked, our unfortunate e so bitterly disenchanting for Washi+ngton was that selfishness ah patriotic fervor In choosing winter quarters at Valley Forge, he had sur countryside possessed ample food supplies What he hadn't reckoned on was that local farmers would sell their produce to British troops in Philadelphia rather than to shi+vering patriots Soreed and profiteering But prices also soared as the Continental currency depreciated and an inflationary psychology took hold Holding a debased currency, the patriots simply couldn't co ”We iven thenedly ”I do not ether the idea of patriotisreat and lasting war can never be supported on this principle alone”24 Washi+ngton presented a rare case of a revolutionary leader who, instead of being blinded by political fervor, recognized that fallible huh standards he set for theh often embittered by the mercenary behavior of his countrymen, he tried to accept human nature as it was He believed that many Americans had expected a speedy end to the conflict and, when the first flush of patriotisoverned by self-interest In 1778 there were far iddy days after Lexington and Concord Washi+ngton presented a rare case of a revolutionary leader who, instead of being blinded by political fervor, recognized that fallible huh standards he set for theh often embittered by the mercenary behavior of his countrymen, he tried to accept human nature as it was He believed that many Americans had expected a speedy end to the conflict and, when the first flush of patriotisoverned by self-interest In 1778 there were far iddy days after Lexington and Concord

By late January Washi+ngton was so enraged about far in contraband trade with the eneuilty one, that the rest may be sensible of a like fate, should they persist”25 Many far woons to Philadelphia, hoping A short of the death penalty, Washi+ngton insisted, would terminate this reprehensible practice Finally, he saw no choice but to sabotage A out supplies for the enemy and sent teams of soldiers to break off the spindles and spikes of their water wheels With a beef shortage loo, he had Nathanael Greene and almost a thousand men fan out across the countryside and confiscate all cattle and sheep fit for slaughter As word of the operation spread, farmers hid their livestock in woods and swaton warned that his army still stared at starvation: ”For some days past, there has been little less than a famine in camp A part of the army has been a ithout any kind of flesh and the rest three or four days” Many far woons to Philadelphia, hoping A short of the death penalty, Washi+ngton insisted, would terminate this reprehensible practice Finally, he saw no choice but to sabotage A out supplies for the enemy and sent teams of soldiers to break off the spindles and spikes of their water wheels With a beef shortage loo, he had Nathanael Greene and almost a thousand men fan out across the countryside and confiscate all cattle and sheep fit for slaughter As word of the operation spread, farmers hid their livestock in woods and swaton warned that his army still stared at starvation: ”For some days past, there has been little less than a famine in camp A part of the army has been a ithout any kind of flesh and the rest three or four days”26 At Valley Forge, Washi+ngton coreed that ard that winter as a purely heroic ti the decay of public virtue everywhere, he berated speculators, monopolists, and war profiteers ”Is the paltry consideration of a little dirty pelf to individuals to be placed in cohts and liberties of the present generation and of millions yet unborn?” he asked James Warren ”And shall we at last becoain? Forbid it heaven!”27 Washi+ngton hi businessmen, yet he found the rapacity of ht it the intent of ”the speculators-various tribes of money makers-and stock jobbers of all denominations to continue the war for their own private e that their avarice and thirst for gain ton hi businessmen, yet he found the rapacity of ht it the intent of ”the speculators-various tribes of money makers-and stock jobbers of all denominations to continue the war for their own private e that their avarice and thirst for gain ed by critics, heartsick at the shabby state of his troops, and angry at congressional neglect and the supine behavior of the states, Washi+ngton refused to abandon his arain deferred a visit to Mount Vernon Martha did not arrive at Valley Forge until early February Right before Christer sister and best friend, Anna Maria Bassett Death had been omnipresent for Martha, who had now lost a husband, a father, five siblings, and three of her four children Whether her second husband would survive this inter condolence note to her brother-in-law, Burwell Bassett, shows that her hts of one a little before us,” she said of her sister ”The time draws near when I hope we shall meet, never reatest favorite I had in the world”29 She pleaded with Burwell to send his ten-year-old daughter fanny to Mount Vernon ”If you will let her coreatest pleasure, take her and be a parent andas I live” She pleaded with Burwell to send his ten-year-old daughter fanny to Mount Vernon ”If you will let her coreatest pleasure, take her and be a parent andas I live”30 Bassett complied, and fanny came to occupy a special place in Martha's affections Bassett complied, and fanny came to occupy a special place in Martha's affections

While wishi+ng to join her husband at Valley Forge, Martha was temporarily detained at Mount Vernon by the birth of her second grandchild to Jacky's wife on New Year's Eve 1777 Though Washi+ngton understood the reason for her delay, he pined for her presence The long winter journey on bumpy, frozen roads must have taxed Martha to the ute, the soldiers cheered her, but she was taken aback by her husband's humble quarters, somber mood, and frayed nerves ”The General is well but ue and anxiety,” she confided to a friend ”I never knew hiton was ood-natured energy One observer left this touching vignette of her at work: I never inuntil late at night as was Lady Washi+ngton, providing co Sunday, the wives of the officers in camp, and sometimes other wo socks, patching gar shi+rts for the poor soldiers when ht be seen, with basket in hand and with a single attendant, going a all the comforts to them in her power 32 Her selfless, devoted style re Frenchman ”of the Roht that she well deserved to be the coe”33 By and large Martha Washi+ngton wasn't overtly political, yet she shared her husband's fir to Mercy Warren, ”I hope and trust that all the states willa stop to British cruelties” By and large Martha Washi+ngton wasn't overtly political, yet she shared her husband's fir to Mercy Warren, ”I hope and trust that all the states willa stop to British cruelties”34 The wives of several generals stayed at Valley Forge that winter-including the flirtatious Caty Greene, the aant Lady Stirling, accohter, Lady Kitty-and tried to lighten the disuiled by Lady Kitty, who requested a lock of his hair These wo as inappropriate to such s where people took turns singing; tea and coffee replaced ton's forty-sixth birthday, a little levity was allowed as he was entertained by a fife and drulooton allowed junior officers to stage his favorite play, Cato, Cato, before a ”very numerous and splendid audience” before a ”very numerous and splendid audience” 35 35 Written by Joseph Addison, this classic tale told of a Roer, who had defied the imperial sway of Julius Caesar and coer able to ransack British history for heroes, many patriots turned to classical history for inspiration Ancient Ro examples, while its decline and fall into despotiston identified with the stern code of honor and duty in ancient Ro Cato as a personal model He had seen the play perfor and he frequently quoted it One of his stock phrases-”Thy steady teuilt, rebellion, [and] fraudin the calhts of mild philosophy”-was plucked from the play Written by Joseph Addison, this classic tale told of a Roer, who had defied the imperial sway of Julius Caesar and coer able to ransack British history for heroes, many patriots turned to classical history for inspiration Ancient Ro examples, while its decline and fall into despotiston identified with the stern code of honor and duty in ancient Ro Cato as a personal model He had seen the play perfor and he frequently quoted it One of his stock phrases-”Thy steady teuilt, rebellion, [and] fraudin the calhts of mild philosophy”-was plucked frorams included ” 'Tis not in mortals to command success / But we'll do morewe'll deserve it,” a commentary on the fickle power of fate and hoe must acquit ourselves nobly despite it, and ”When vice prevails and impious men bear sway, / The post of honour is a private station” Other treasured epigrams included ” 'Tis not in mortals to command success / But we'll do morewe'll deserve it,” a commentary on the fickle power of fate and hoe must acquit ourselves nobly despite it, and ”When vice prevails and impious men bear sway, / The post of honour is a private station”37 The rhetoric of The rhetoric of Cato Cato saturated the American Revolution Two of its most famous lines, one from Nathan Hale, the other from Patrick Henry, derived from the play: ”What pity is it / That we can die but once to serve our country” and ”It is not now a tiht / But chains or conquest, liberty or death” saturated the American Revolution Two of its most famous lines, one from Nathan Hale, the other from Patrick Henry, derived from the play: ”What pity is it / That we can die but once to serve our country” and ”It is not now a tiht / But chains or conquest, liberty or death”38 During this Valley Forge winter Washi+ngton conquered his initial s about Lafayette and ee In late November, in Gloucester, New Jersey, Lafayette spearheaded a party of four hundredto twenty eneton ader just another foreign nobleman to be tolerated, Lafayette was rewarded with command of a division He knew he had attained a unique place in Washi+ngton's heart ”I see him more intimately than any other man,” he boasted to his father-in-law ”His warm friendshi+p forhe has to do, all the problems he has to solve, and all the obstacles he has to overco Frenchman who saw him in such Oly and constantly honed his military skills: ”I read, I study, I examine, I listen, I reflectI do not talk tooin a foolhardy way”40 Lafayette opened an eh he seldoton made no effort toFrench nobleman as a future rival and was convinced of his ardent idealism When Lafayette and his wife had a son, they decided to naton du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette-for short, George Washi+ngton Lafayette Lafayette vowed that the next child would be christened Virginia, pro Franklin to quip that Lafayette had twelve o Lafayette opened an eh he seldoton made no effort toFrench nobleman as a future rival and was convinced of his ardent idealism When Lafayette and his wife had a son, they decided to naton du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette-for short, George Washi+ngton Lafayette Lafayette vowed that the next child would be christened Virginia, pro Franklin to quip that Lafayette had twelve o41

THE CONTINENTAL ARMY'S RISE froe owed ustin, Baron von Steuben, a soldier who liked to decorate hiiti served as a Prussian captain during the Seven Years' War and on the military staff of Frederick the Great, the baron baron title was bogus When, in the summer of 1777, Franklin and Deane in Paris sent him to America, they embellished his credentials to ton; on the spot, the uneeneral He agreed to waive a salary temporarily and serve only for expenses In late February 1778 the self-styled baron with the fleshy nose, jowly face, and uncertain colish (he resorted to French to e, where his bee impression ”He seemed to me a perfect personification of Mars,” said one private ”The trappings of his horse, the enormou