CHAP. XXII.—Knyphausen Marauds the Jerseys -Sacking of Connecticut Farms-Murder of Mrs. Caldwell-Arrival and Movements of Sir Henry Clinton-Springfield Burnt-The CHAP. XXIII.-Washington Applies to the State Legislatures for Aid-Subscriptions of the Ladies of Philadelphia-Gates Appointed to Command the Southern Department—French Fleet Arrives at Newport-Preparation for a Combined Movement against New York— Arnold Obtains Command at West Point- WEST POINT AT THE TIME OF THE REVOLUTION, 46 II2 166 218 224 290 322 376 SCENE OF THE FIGHT AT SPRINGFIELD ON THE RAHWAY RIVER VOL. V. Redrawn from a photograph. xiii LIFE OF WASHINGTON. Chapter 1. De Kalb Commissioned Major-General-Pretensions of Conway-Thwarted by Washington-Conway Cabal-Gates Remiss in Correspondence-Dilatory in Forwarding Troops-Mission of Hamilton to Gates-Wilkinson Bearer of Despatches to Congress -A Tardy Traveller-His Reward-Conway Correspondence Detected-Washington's Apology for his Army. WR E have heretofore had occasion to advert to the annoyances and perplexities occasioned to Washington by the claims and pretensions of foreign officers who had entered into the service. Among the officers who came out with Lafayette, was the Baron De Kalb, a German by birth, but who had long been employed in the French service, and though a silver-haired VOL. V. I veteran, sixty years of age, was yet fresh and active and vigorous; which some attributed to his being a rigid water drinker. In the month of September, Congress had given him the commission of major-general, to date with that of Lafayette. This instantly produced a remonstrance from Brigadier-General Conway, the Gallic Hibernian, of whom we have occasionally made mention, who considered himself slighted and forgot, in their giving a superior rank to his own to a person who had not rendered the cause the least service, 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. Upon so interesting a subject," observes he, "I must speak plainly. The duty I owe my coun |