it," and among them Richard Henry Lee, who had already been suspected of hostility to Washington. "In the new Board of War, Mifflin was a very active person." "He is plausible, sensible, popular, and ambitious," writes Craik, "and takes great pains to draw over every officer he meets with to his own way of thinking, and is very engaging." By "holding General Gates up to the people and making them believe" that with three times the force of the enemy Washington had done nothing but sacrifice Philadelphia, and neglect favorable occasions of attack, they hoped to shake the confidence of the country in him and prepare the way for a change. "Had I not been assured of these things from such authority that I cannot doubt them," writes the faithful friend, "I should not have troubled you with this." 1

Still further confirmation came in the course of January and February from Henry Laurens, President of Congress, Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, and Joseph Jones, a Virginia delegate. Laurens sent to Washington the anony

"Thoughts of a Freeman," parts of which I have already quoted. Henry sent him an anonymous letter in a hand-writing which Washington immediately recognized as that of Dr. Rush. And Jones wrote him, "whatever may be the design of these men, and however artfully conducted, I have no doubt but in the end it will redound to

1 James Craik to George Washington, January 6, 1778. Sparks, Writ ings of Washington, vol. v. p. 493.

their own disgrace.": Washington was on his guard. His friends were rallying round him.

Gates's friends too, had not been idle. To support Conway and Mifflin was to support Gates, and therefore, when on the 15th of November, Conway sent in his resignation accompanied by a "long, complaining, boastful, and somewhat impudent letter," addressed to Charles Carrol, though intended for Congress, instead of resenting the insult and accepting his resignation, Congress held it in abeyance till the 13th of December, and then Resolved, That two inspectors general be now appointed," and "proceeding to the election and the ballots being taken, Brigadier T. Conway was elected." Nor did they stop here, but resolving "That another major-general be appointed in the army of the United States," the ballots "were again taken and Brigadier T. Conway was elected." The choice of the other inspector was "postponed to Monday," and when Monday came, suffered to lie over, not to be revived again till May, when the cabal having failed, Conway was dropped and Steuben appointed to that important office.3

On the 17th of October a new Board of War had been formed, and on the 7th of November, Mifflin was chosen a member of it. As his dislike of Washington was already known, and his failure in the Quartermaster's Department was notorious, it was impossible for Washington's friends to look upon this appointment in any other light than as

1 Sparks, ut infra.

2 I borrow the words of Mr. Sparks.

8 Journals of Congress.

4 Journals of Congress ad diem.

an open avowal of hostility. But that the friends of the Commander-in-chief had still a voice in Congress was shown by the appointment of Harrison, his military secretary and friend. To those who did not know the man, the choice of Pickering may have seemed equivocal, for he was believed to entertain an unfavorable opinion of Washington's military talents. Those who knew him, knew that he was too upright and too highminded to be the voluntary accomplice of an intrigue, and too independent and clear-sighted to become its unconscious instrument. Harrison declined. But on the 27th of November, Gates, Trumbull, and Peters were chosen to complete the Board; and two seats having been secured for the enemies of the Commander-in-chief, the hostile organization was completed by making Gates President. "Resolved," say the journals of that day, "That Major-general Gates be appointed President of the Board of War; that Mr. President inform Major-general Gates of his being appointed President of the new Board of War, expressing the high sense Congress entertain of the General's abilities and peculiar fitness to discharge the duties of that important office, upon the right execution of which the success of the American cause does eminently depend; that he inform General Gates that it is the intention of Congress to continue his rank as major-general in the army and that he officiate at the board or in the field, as occasion may require; that the General be requested to repair to Con

gress with all convenient despatch to enter on the duties of his new appointment." 1

not

The way was now open; and a broad and easy way as it might seem. With Gates at the head of the Board of War, with Mifflin a member of it, and Conway for Inspector-general, might Washington be disgusted into resignation? In order to make this sure, and prepare the public mind for the change, reports were industriously spread that he had already expressed his intention of resigning. But to these he put an immediate stop, by authorizing the historian Gordon, who had written to inquire of him about them, to say, "that no person had ever heard him drop an expression that had a tendency to resignation. To report a design of this kind," he continued, "is among the arts which those who are endeavoring to effect a change, are practicing to bring it to pass. While the public are satisfied with my endeavors I mean not to shrink from the cause. But the moment her voice, not that of faction, calls upon me to resign, I shall do it with as much pleasure as ever the wearied traveller retired to rest." 2

1 Journals of Congress, November February 15, 1778. Sparks, Writ 27, 1777. ings of Washington, vol. v. p. 510. Washington to Wm. Gordon, Compare also Craik's letter, sup.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Cabal thwarted. — Strange Tradition.

ette. Gates's Dinner-table. - Failure of the Canada Expedition.

Attempt to gain over Lafay

- Who composed the Cabal.

- Army and Country True.

to his brother Jacob. To Knox.- To Governor Greene. - Governor Greene to General Greene.

Washington's favorites.― John Clarke to Greene. Scurrilous Story. George Knox to Greene. - Mifflin again - Failure of the Cabal. Each Plotter seeks his own Safety. Concluding Correspondence between Washington and Gates. George Knox on Mifflin.- Fall of Conway.

--

THE cabal was again thwarted. It was evident that their webs had been too finely spun. Whatever the strength of Washington's passions might be as a man, they had no control over him as a public man. He was neither to be deceived nor irritated into an incautious step. No way was left to his enemies but the very doubtful way of open assault, and tradition says they did not hesitate to enter upon it. I say tradition, for there is no higher authority for the story. and yet that tradition should have found such a story to preserve, is of itself a proof of the impression which the general fact had made upon the public mind. Tradition says, then, that the cabal numbered their strength in Congress, and found themselves stronger by one vote than their opponents. They resolved upon immediate action. The day was fixed. The parts were assigned. A motion was