The Glorious Cause - Jeff Shaara [225]
“There is only one option here, sir. The enemy is before us. We should attack him!”
The opinions came now in a flood, small arguments escalating. Washington could feel the tempers, the room growing hot, held up his hands.
“Enough! To order!”
He looked at Lee, saw the man’s smugness, his thin arms crossed on his chest, and Lee said, “Should we not vote on this, sir?”
“Very well. By show of hands, I wish to know your preference. Those who believe we should allow the enemy to pass unmolested…”
Hands went up, and he felt a hard blow to his gut, saw hands rising from most of the men, was surprised that even Henry Knox was agreeing with Lee.
“Those who believe we should attack…”
Five hands rose, Greene, Lafayette, von Steuben, Wayne, and the French engineer, DuPortail. He lowered his head for a moment, said, “I will abide by your wishes. However, since I am still your commander, I would offer a compromise. Mr. Lafayette is correct that there is small risk in moving against the British rear guard. We will do so.”
“Really, sir!” Lee was still in the pose, his arms resting across his chest. “Has not the wisdom of your commanders been made clear?”
“General Lee, I do not possess the luxury of perfect wisdom, and I will humbly assume that my officers do not as well. I must answer to a congress and a nation that will question why this army did not strike its enemy.”
Lee sniffed.
“Congress. A stable of stupid cattle that stumble at every step.”
The room was silent, and Lee seemed oblivious to the response to his comment.
“General Lee, your opinion of the congress is your own privilege. However, this command answers to its authority.” Lee shrugged slightly, said nothing, and Washington said, “There is nothing further to discuss. I shall have Mr. Hamilton prepare a letter for you to sign, documenting your agreement with the decision made here.”
Wayne exploded, “I will sign no such letter, sir!”
“That is your privilege, Mr. Wayne. I do not require agreement, just obedience. This council is concluded.”
HE DID NOT WANT COMPANY, BUT THE TWO MEN HAD REMAINED BEHIND, and he knew they would not just vanish into the night without a last word. He would not have tolerated anyone else, certainly not the men who had sided with Lee, but he would listen to both Greene and Lafayette, knew they would confront him with the words that were already stirring in his own thoughts.
He was avoiding them for the moment, watched as Hamilton dipped the pen in the inkstand, putting into words the decision of the council, documenting the astounding passivity of his officers, and worse, the dominance of Charles Lee.
In spite of the man’s arrogant crudeness, Washington had always liked Lee. He had welcomed his support in the early days, around Boston, when his second in command had been the thoroughly disagreeable and generally incompetent Artemas Ward. When the British evacuated Boston, Ward considered his job complete, would no longer serve under Washington’s command. Even before Ward had gone, Lee had proven himself reliable, and a good ally, had done much to give the men in the trenches around Boston a sense that this gathering of farmers and shopkeepers was, after all, an army. And more, Lee had contributed to the essential notion that Virginians could indeed command New Englanders. Washington had tried to believe that Lee could still become the able and supportive commander he had been in Boston, and he had been far more tolerant of Lee’s ambition than any of his officers. But since Lee’s return from captivity, the man’s unfortunate personal habits had been overshadowed by his strident hostility to the officers Washington trusted most, mainly Greene, Lafayette, and von Steuben. If Lee was not yet plotting some intrigue, something to rival the problems that had come from Gates, he was clearly on a mission to elevate himself to a level of influence that even Washington himself would not accept.
He continued to watch Hamilton writing, aware that the two men were seated quietly