Silas Deane especially scattered promises of commissions with a lavish hand, and Congress refused to fulfill many of the promises thus made in its name.

Nevertheless, Congress was far too lax, and followed too closely the example of its agents.

Some of these foreigners were disinterested men and excellent soldiers, who proved of great value to the American cause.

Many others were mere military adventurers, capable of being turned to good account, perhaps, but by no means entitled to what they claimed and in most instances received.
The ill-considered action of Congress and of our agents abroad in this respect was a source of constantly recurring troubles of a very serious nature.

Native officers, who had borne the burden and heat of the day, justly resented being superseded by some stranger, unable to speak the language, who had landed in the States but a few days before.