As George prepared for his own key battle he was also guiding events in three other places: 1) He continued receiving reports and sending instructions to General Putnam and Governor Clinton who were responsible for defending the Hudson Highlands from an attack by British troops left in New York. A British attack north from New York to link up with Burgoyne was still Georges worst nightmare. 2) He worked diligently to find more troops for General Gates, near Saratoga, who had now been named commander of the Northern Department. Among other units George ordered north was a group of 500 riflemen under Daniel Morgan who was specifically charged with fighting Indians allied to Burgoyne. George also asked both Massachusetts and Connecticut to send at least 1/3 of their militia troops to Gates. 3) George was also overseeing the defenses of Philadelphia where he made several visits in the days leading up to the Battle of Brandywine Creek, during one of which he met the youthful major-general the marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette was only 19 years old and so eager to fight with George that he agreed to accept the rank of major-general from congress, but on the condition that he would not command troops and get no pay. The number of French officers trying to get generals commissions in the American army – for experience or for glory – had become a nuisance to both George and the Congress. Lafayette seemed different. Not only did he agree to serve without command and without pay, he was also surprisingly modest for a French aristocrat. At one of review of less-than-impressive troops George said, We ought to feel embarrassed in presenting ourselves before an officer just from the French army. Lafayettes immediate answer was, It is to learn, and not to instruct, that I come here. It was that attitude that soon made the young nobleman almost a surrogate son for George.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 23:19:16 +0000
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