disavowal was a plain lie; for he had been soliciting for the appointment “with forwardness,” says Mr. Ford, “almost amounting to impudence.”  Conway did not enjoy his new position long.  Being wounded in a duel with an American officer, and thinking that he was going to die, he wrote to Washington:  “My career will soon be over, therefore justice and truth prompt me to declare my last sentiments.  You are in my eyes the great and good man.  May you long enjoy the love, veneration, and esteem of these states, whose liberties you have asserted by your virtues."[1] But he did not die of his wound, and in a few months he left for France.  After his departure the cabal, of which he seemed to be the centre, died.

[Footnote 1:  Sparks, 254.]

The story of this cabal is still shrouded in mystery.  Whoever had the original papers either destroyed them or left them with some one who deposited them in a secret place where they have been forgotten.  Persons of importance, perhaps of even greater importance than some of those who are known, would naturally do their utmost to prevent being found out.

Two other enemies of Washington had unsavory reputations in their dealings with him.  One of these was General Horatio Gates, who was known as ambitious to be made head of the American army in place of Washington.  Gates won the Battle of Saratoga at which Burgoyne surrendered his British army.  Washington at that time was struggling to keep his army in the Highlands, where he could watch the other British forces.  It was easy for any one to make the remark that Washington had not won a battle for many months, whereas Gates was the hero of the chief victory thus far achieved by the Americans.  The shallow might think as they chose, however:  the backbone of the country stood by Washington, and the trouble between him and Gates came to no further outbreak.

The third intriguer was General Charles Lee, who, like Gates, was an Englishman, and had served under General Braddock, being in the disaster of Fort Duquesne.  When the Revolution broke out, he took sides with the Americans, and being a glib and forth-putting person he talked himself into the repute of being a great general.  The Americans proudly gave him a very high commission, in which he stood second to Washington, the Commander-in-Chief.  But being taken prisoner by the British, he had no opportunity of displaying his military talents for more than two years.  Then, when Washington was pursuing the enemy across Jersey, Lee demanded as his right to lead the foremost division.  At Monmouth he was given the post of honor and he attacked with such good effect that he had already begun to beat the British division opposed to him when he suddenly gave strange orders which threw his men into confusion.