Lafayette in the Somewhat United States

While recuperating from his leg wound, Lafayette wrote to Washington and formally asked for a command. Washington had Nathanael Greene send Lafayette to Gloucester with several hundred men to count the number of British soldiers stationed there. His men killed 20 of the British and took many more prisoners. Greene wrote to Washington that Lafayette wanted to be where the most intense fighting was. Three days later, Washington gave Lafayette formal command of a division of Virginians.

Vowell gives a history of the Conway Cabal, a failed attempt to oust George Washington as commander of the Continental Army. A brigadier general named Thomas Conway wrote to Congress and requested a promotion. Washington was unimpressed with Conway’s skills, said so publicly, and suspected that Conway wanted to replace him.

Conway then wrote to General Gates. The letter referred to Washington as a weak commander who could lose the war. Washington confronted Conway about the letter, who denied it. Conway then asked Congress to accept his resignation. Congress refused and promoted him to inspector general of the Continental Army, which required him to report to Congress, not to Washington.

On December 19, Washington led his men to Valley Forge, where they spent a brutal winter, inadequately clothed and fed.