Er. 45.] WASHINGTON'S GUARDS-ARNOLD OMITTED IN THE ARMY PRO

us than many who have been promoted; as he speaks our language."

Somewhat later he really formed for his guard. Colonel Alesa had the selection of the men, fo regiment; and was charged to cautious, "because," writes Washine! more than probable that, in the rouse of the campaign my baggage, papers, and efter, ters of great public import, may be conn to the sole care of these men."

Conway accordingly received the rank of brigadier-general, of which he subsequently proved himself unworthy. He was boastful and presumptuous, and became noted for his intrigues, and for a despicable cabal against the commander-in-chief, which went by his name, and of which we shall have to speak hereafter. A candidate of a different stamp bad pre-pany might look well and be nemny of a drug sented himself in the preceding year, the gal-none were to be over five feet ton lant, generous-spirited, Thaddeus Kosciuszko. five feet nine inches in stative, mind to be what, He was a Pole, of an ancient and noble family young, active, and wellrinde, of gr of Lithuania, and had been educated for the ter, and proud of appearing rivan a profession of arms at the military school at like. As there would be a er der els Warsaw, and subsequently in France. Disap-fidelity among suchens pointed in a love affair with a beautiful lady of in the country, Sp rank, with whom he had attempted to clope, he send none but natis had emigrated to this country, and came pro- some property. vided with a letter of introduction from Dr. Washington, "that, in Franklin to Washington. give no intimation of

"What do you seek here?" inquired the as I do not want to ergate sug commander-in-chief.

66

"To fight for American independence." "What can you do?"

“Try me.":

tinction between them and s

Questions of rank among lás gal

as we have reportedly shown, peeping sarceS of perplexity to Washington, and too often Washington was pleased with the curt, yet caused by what the sarcastic Lee termed, the comprehensive reply, and with his chivalrous stumblings of Congress; " such was the case at air and spirit; and at once received him into present. In recent his family as an aide-de-camp.* Congressgress had advanced shortly afterwards appointed him an engineer, Stephen, and Lineal with the rank of colonel. He proved a valu-general, while Arucit able officer throughout the Revolution, and won and distinguished be an honorable and lasting namo in our country. ploits, was passed over Among the regiments which had been formed brigadier. in the spring, one had been named by its off- Washington was surpri cers, "The Congress's Own," and another name on the list, but sup "General Washington's Life Guards." A re- been omitted through miss solve of Congress promptly appeared, pronounc- Arnold, who was at Provis ing those appellations improper, and ordering and, advising him not to laby that they should be discontinued. Washing- conséquence, but to allow te ton's own modesty had already administered ation, promising his own creie corrective. In a letter to the President of any error that might have Congress, he declared that the regiments had wrote also to Henry Lee in G. been so named without his consent or privity. whether the ossius "As soon as I heard of it," writes he, "I or design. "Send wrote to several of the officers in terms of a more spirited, severe reprehension, and expressly charged department of your them to suppress the distinction, adding that then, in the list of no all the battalions were on the same footing. tion made of him, has, and all endor the general name of Continental." it is not presumed, being No row was less desirous for all individual dis- that he will continuo tinetking at the Lind. slight."

ET. 45.] WASHINGTON'S GUARDS—ARNOLD OMITTED IN THE ARMY PROMOTIONS.

us than many who have been promoted; as he speaks our language."

343

Somewhat later he really formed a company for his guard. Colonel Alexander Spotswood had the selection of the men, four from each regiment; and was charged to be extremely cautious, “because," writes Washington, "it is more than probable that, in the course of the campaign my baggage, papers, and other matters of great public import, may be committed to the sole care of these men." That the company might look well and be nearly of a size, none were to be over five feet ten, nor under five feet nine inches in stature, and to be sober, young, active, and well-made, of good character, and proud of appearing clean and soldierlike. As there would be a greater chance for

Conway accordingly received the rank of brigadier-general, of which he subsequently proved himself unworthy. He was boastful and presumptuous, and became noted for his intrigues, and for a despicable cabal against the commander-in-chief, which went by his name, and of which we shall have to speak hereafter. A candidate of a different stamp had presented himself in the preceding year, the gallant, generous-spirited, Thaddeus Kosciuszko. He was a Pole, of an ancient and noble family of Lithuania, and had been educated for the profession of arms at the military school at Warsaw, and subsequently in France. Disap-fidelity among such as had family connections pointed in a love affair with a beautiful lady of rank, with whom he had attempted to elope, he had emigrated to this country, and came provided with a letter of introduction from Dr. Franklin to Washington.

in the country, Spotswood was charged to send none but natives, and, if possible, men of some property. "I must insist," concludes Washington, "that, in making this choice, you give no intimation of my preference of natives,

"What do you seek here?" inquired the as I do not want to create any invidious discommander-in-chief.

"To fight for American independence." "What can you do?"

Try me.".

Washington was pleased with the curt, yet comprehensive reply, and with his chivalrous air and spirit; and at once received him into his family as an aide-de-camp.* an aide-de-camp.* Congress shortly afterwards appointed him an engineer, with the rank of colonel. He proved a valuable officer throughout the Revolution, and won an honorable and lasting name in our country.

Among the regiments which had been formed in the spring, one had been named by its officers, "The Congress's Own," and another "General Washington's Life Guards." A resolve of Congress promptly appeared, pronouncing those appellations improper, and ordering that they should be discontinued. Washington's own modesty had already administered a corrective. In a letter to the President of Congress, he declared that the regiments had been so named without his consent or privity. "As soon as I heard of it," writes he, "I wrote to several of the officers in terms of severe reprehension, and expressly charged them to suppress the distinction, adding that all the battalions were on the same footing. and all under the general name of Continental." No man was less desirous for all individual distinctions of the kind.

*Foreign Quarterly Review, vol. xv., p. 114.

tinction between them and the officers." *

Questions of rank among his generals, were, as we have repeatedly shown, perpetual sources of perplexity to Washington, and too often caused by what the sarcastic Lee termed, "the stumblings of Congress; " such was the case at present. In recent army promotions, Congress had advanced Stirling, Mifflin, St. Clair, Stephen, and Lincoln, to the rank of majorgeneral, while Arnold, their senior in service, and distinguished by so many brilliant exploits, was passed over and left to remain a brigadier.

Washington was surprised at not seeing his name on the list, but supposing it might have been omitted through mistake, he wrote to Arnold, who was at Providence in Rhode Island, advising him not to take any hasty step in consequence, but to allow time for recollection, promising his own endeavors to remedy any error that might have been made. He wrote also to Henry Lee in Congress, inquiring whether the omission was owing to accident or design. "Surely,' said he " a more active, a more spirited, and sensible officer, fills no department of your army. Not seeing him, then, in the list of major-generals, and no mention made of him, has given me uneasiness; as it is not presumed, being the oldest brigadier, that he will continue in service under such a slight."

*Sparks. Writings of Washington, iv. 40%.