CHAPTER XXV.

De Kalb commissioned Major-general. — Pretensions of Conway. - Thwarted by Washington.

Conway Cabal. · Gates remiss in Correspondence. - Dilatory in Forwarding Taps - Kission of Hamilton to Gates. - Wilkinson bearer of Dispatches to Congress. — A tardy Traveller. — Es Reward-Conway Correspondence detected. — Washngs Apoing for his Army.

E have heretofore had occasion to advert to the annoyances and perplexities oc

casioned to Washington by the claims and pretensions of foreign officers who had entered to the service. Among the officers who ame out with Lafayette, was the Baron De KLA & German by birth, but who had long been emired in the French service, and though a siver-tained veteran, sixty years of age, was yet fest and active and vigorous; which some atbuted to his being a rigid water drinker. In emic of September, Congress had given we occmission of major-general, to date of Lafayette.

The instantly produced a remonstrance from Martaal Conway, the Gallic Hibernian, *ve we have occasionally made mention, whe evesired himself slighted and forgot, in gotiga superior rank to his own to a per

PRETENSIONS OF CONWAY.

317

son who had not rendered the cause the least ser. vice, and who had been his inferior in France. He claimed, therefore, for himself, the rank of major-general, and was supported in his pretensions by persons both in and out of Congress; especially by Mifflin, the quartermaster general.

Washington had already been disgusted by the overweening presumption of Conway, and was surprised to hear that his application was likely to be successful. He wrote on the 17th of October, to Richard Henry Lee, then in Congress, warning him that such an appointment would be as unfortunate a measure as ever was adopted one that would give a fatal blow to the existence of the army. 66 Upon so interesting a subject," observes he, "I must speak plainly. The duty I owe my country, the ardent desire I have to promote its true interests, and justice to individuals, require this of me. General Conway's merit as an officer, and his importance in this army, exist more in his own imagination than in reality. For it is a maxim with him to leave no service of his own untold, nor to want anything which is to be obtained by importunity. .

I would ask why the youngest brigadier in the service should be put over the heads of the oldest, and thereby take rank and command of gentlemen who but yesterday were his seniors; gentlemen who, as I will be bound to say in behalf of some of them at least, are of sound judgment and unquestionable bravery. This truth I am well assured of, that they will not serve under him. I leave you to guess, therefore, at

would be in at so impor event should take place.” as presumptuous aspirations, war into a faction forming under eru Mifflin. This gentleman is resignation of the comand quartermaster-general eth, but was busily engaged the commander-in-chief, tolong cherished a secret hosjoined with him heart and ce so active and prominent a that it acquired the name The object was to depreciate sraracter of Washington, in com.1 suf Sices to whom was attributed

sucess if the Northern campaign. Ya Yesteedy ready for such an elevation.

moxiested by is good fortune, and ad to Arget that he had reaped where he » Sown, and that the defeat of Burgoyne usursi 28 plans concerted and put in ere is a in the Northern De

se excitement of his vanity, Gates rocken that there was a comu whom he was accountable. emi him any dispatch on the der of Burgoyne, contenting gue to Congress, then sitting 1 Slington was left to hear of casual rumor, and was for us ancertainty, until he re

HAMILTON'S MISSION TO GATES. 319

ceived a copy of the capitulation in a letter from General Putnam.

Gates was equally neglectful to inform him of the disposition he intended to make of the army under his command. He delayed even to forward Morgan's rifle corps, though their services were no longer needed in his camp, and were so much required in the south. It was determined, there fore, in a council of war, that one of Washing ton's staff should be sent to Gates to represen the critical state of affairs, and that a large reir. forcement from the Northern army would, in al probability, reduce General Howe to the same situation with Burgoyne, should he remain in Philadelphia, without being able to remove the obstructions in the Delaware, and open a free communication with his shipping.

Colonel Alexander Hamilton, his youthful but intelligent aide-de-camp, was charged with this. mission. He bore a letter from Washington to Gates, dated October 30th, of which the following is an extract.

"By this opportunity, I do myself the pleasure to congratulate you on the signal success of the army under your command, in compelling General Burgoyne and his whole force to surrender themselves prisoners of war; an event that does the highest honor to the American arms, and which, I hope, will be attended with the most extensive and happy consequences. At the same time, I cannot but regret that a matter of such magnitude, and so interesting to our general operations, should have reached me by report only;

the situation this army would be in at so important a crisis, if this event should take place.”

This opposition to his presumptuous aspirations, at once threw Conway into a faction forming under the auspices of General Mifflin. This gentleman had recently tendered his résignation of the commission of major-general and quartermaster-general on the plea of ill health, but was busily engaged in intrigues against the commander-in-chief, towards whom he had long cherished a secret hostility. Conway now joined with him heart and hand, and soon became so active and prominent member of the faction that it acquired the nam of Conway's Cabal. The object was to deprecia the military character of Washington, in co parison with that of Gates, to whom was attribu the whole success of the Northern campa Gates was perfectly ready for such an elevat He was intoxicated by his good fortune, seemed to forget that he had reaped wher had not sown, and that the defeat of Burg had been insured by plans concerted and p operation before his arrival in the Norther partment.

accou

In fact, in the excitement of his vanity, appears to have forgotten that there was mander-in-chief, to whom he was He neglected to send him any dispatch subject of the surrender of Burgoyne, co himself with sending one to Congress, ther at Yorktown. Washington was left to the important event by casual rumor, and several days in anxious uncertainty, unti