by one from the
Count de Vergennes, in which the French minister stated, that the King
and Queen of France had been extremely affected by Lady Asgil's letter,
and that they desired that the inquietudes of an unfortunate mother
might be calmed, and her tenderness reassured. It would have been bad
policy had Washington not relented on the receipt of these letters;
and he, therefore, forwarded them to congress with one of his own, and
Captain Asgill was forthwith set at liberty. But although Washington put
on so bold a front towards the English, treating them with a contempt
which would seem to indicate that he was their perfect master, his
situation was one which would have justified the language of humiliation
and supplication, rather than of contempt and dictation. During these
negociations, and only a few days after he had refused to grant a
passport to congress, he stated to that assembly, that his army on the
Hudson was destitute of provisions, and in a state of disorder bordering
on mutiny; and that if the British were aware of his situation, and were
to make a sudden attempt, he could not withstand them. Subsequently, as
the condition of his army did not improve, the haughty Washington wrote
in plain language to congress, "that it was high time for peace." Nor
was the army under General Greene, in the south, in a better condition.
A large part of it were occasionally as naked as they were born. The
very loins of the brave men who fought at Eutaw Springs were galled by
their cartouch-boxes, while their shoulders were protected only by a
piece of rug or a tuft of moss. In writing to congress, Greene remarked:
"The troops have received no pay for two years; they are nearly naked,
and often without meat or bread; and the sick and wounded are perishing
for want of medicines and proper nourishment." Disaffection prevailed
even among the officers; and upon one occasion, on the appointment of
Colonel Laurens to the command of the legion, they one and all tendered
their resignation, and were only induced to return to their posts by
their general's prudent and conciliatory conduct. And this was not the
only danger which Greene had to encounter. A portion of his army entered
into a secret correspondence with the British, for the purpose of
delivering him into their power; but the conspiracy was detected, and
while the ringleader was shot, the chief of the conspirators deserted.
Yet while the American forces in the south were in