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.