News of the differences between Adams and Washington of course soon got about and caused a great buzz in political circles.

Adams became angry over the opposition he was meeting, and on August 29 he wrote to McHenry that "there has been too much intrigue in this business, both with General Washington and with me"; that it might as well be understood that in any event he would have the last say, "and I shall then determine it exactly as I should now, Knox, Pinckney, and Hamilton." Washington stood firm and, on September 25, wrote to the President demanding "that he might know at once and precisely what he had to expect." In reply Adams said that he had signed the three commissions on the same day in the hope "that an amicable adjustment or acquiescence might take place among the gentlemen themselves." But should this hope be disappointed, "and controversies shall arise, they will of course be submitted to you as commander-in-chief." Adams, of course, knew quite well that such matters did not settle themselves, but he seems to have imagined that all he had to do was to sit tight and that matters would have to come his way.

The tricky and shuffling behavior to which he descended would be unbelievable of a man of his standing were there not an authentic record made by himself.

The suspense finally became so intolerable that the Cabinet acted without consulting the President any longer on the point.

The Secretary of War submitted to his colleagues all the correspondence in the case and asked their advice.