His "horse furniture" was of the best London make, trimmed with "livery lace," and the Washington arms were engraved upon the housings.

Close by his side rode his two aides, likewise in buff and blue, and behind came his servants, dressed in the Washington colors of white and scarlet and wearing hats laced with silver.

Thus accoutred, they all rode on together to the North.
The colonel's fame had gone before him, for the hero of Braddock's stricken field and the commander of the Virginian forces was known by reputation throughout the colonies.

Every door flew open to him as he passed, and every one was delighted to welcome the young soldier.

He was dined and wined and feted in Philadelphia, and again in New York, where he fell in love at apparently short notice with the heiress Mary Philipse, the sister-in-law of his friend Beverly Robinson.