And of course,,,,,,,,,,,Philly, Pa, the biggest city in the USA then, and the center of American learning.....................and where both the dec. of Independence and the Constitution were drafted and signed............it is on the Delaware river................

Criticism of Washington[edit]

Because of the terrible conditions of the army during the winter of 1777, the American public, along with Congress, began to criticize Washington for his inability to advance the war effort. Washington himself was aware of an increasing impatience and criticism of his leadership.^[14] A few soldiers wanted to replace Washington with General Horatio Gates, who had won a decisive victory in the Battles of Saratoga. Some members of the Continental Congress complained that Washington had left the surrounding countryside unprotected by moving into the isolated area of Valley Forge. Washington replied furiously:

"I can assure those Gentlemen that it is a much easier and less distressing thing to draw remonstrances in a comfortable room by a good fire side than to occupy a cold bleak hill and sleep under frost and Snow without Cloaths or Blankets; however, although they seem to have little feeling for the naked, and distressed Soldier, I feel superabundantly for them, and from my Soul pity those miseries, [which], it is neither in my power to relieve or prevent."^[14]

In spite of Washington's ability to do much during the hardship at Valley Forge, anti-Washington movements arose. Led by Brigadier General Thomas Conway, these soldiers worked "behind the curtains" to degrade Washington's reputation in hopes that this would enable Horatio Gates to replace George Washington as the commander of the Continental Army. This scheme is known today as the Conway Cabal.^[14]