The Glorious Cause - Jeff Shaara [274]
“I was not consulted as to my opinion on Mr. Gates’ suitability for command.”
Greene sat upright. “Not consulted? How can that be? They cannot simply appoint commanders as they see fit!”
“Calm yourself, Mr. Greene. They can do precisely that. It has been clear to me for some time that my command of this army does not extend south of Virginia. It has never been a necessary source of discussion until now. Many in congress feel that the entire thirteen states is too large an area for one man to cast his authority. I cannot find fault with that. Communications and intelligence cannot reach this headquarters in time to answer a crisis.”
“But . . . Gates?”
“He has the respect of the people, Mr. Greene. Consider Mr. Johnson, there. Gates still commands the respect of the men throughout this command. That respect is essential to assembling an army. The people of North Carolina will receive him well, and will respond to his call for troops.”
“How will he be supplied?”
It was a question from the quartermaster now, and Washington smiled, thought, You accepted this better than I would have thought.
“The farms in North Carolina should offer sufficient bounty. Once Mr. Gates has established his presence in South Carolina, young Mr. Laurens will travel there to seek assistance from the state assembly. I have discussed this with his father. The congress will offer their usual request for assistance, but there is no better means of expressing the urgency than from the voices of their own. The Laurens family has considerable influence in that theater.”
They rode silently for a moment, and Greene said, “Does Gates truly have your confidence?”
“It matters not, Mr. Greene. Our first priority is here, right across this river. The Southern Department is now his priority. It is his command.”
He knew Greene would have the final word, waited for it.
“God help us.”
THEY RETURNED TO THE HEADQUARTERS TO A STRANGE JUBILATION. AS the sound of their horses reached the house, the staff emerged, assembled into line. Now Lafayette came out, and Washington could see that this maneuver had been carefully rehearsed, the young man stepping crisply to the front, a paper in his hand. Washington remained on the horse, looked at the wide grin on Lafayette’s face.
“What is it, Mr. Lafayette?”
“We have received news, sir.”
The entire staff was sharing in Lafayette’s game, and Washington put aside his weariness from the ride, would play along.
“From what quarter?”
“From Newport, sir.”
“Newport?”
“Newport, sir. I am pleased to inform the commanding general that the French fleet has made port. By now, the French troops are on American soil.”
Greene was not as playful, said, “How many?”
Lafayette smiled at Greene as well.
“Ten warships, sir. Six thousand troops.”
Greene looked at Washington now with wide-eyed surprise.
Washington began to feel the jubilation of his staff.
“You see, Mr. Greene? The Almighty has a way of providing. For now, we shall not concern ourselves with Mr. Gates. I would rather occupy myself by fashioning an appropriate greeting to our new allies.”
LAFAYETTE HAD RETURNED TO THE ARMY LATE THAT SPRING. WASHINGTON had met him with unconcealed joy, but the young man brought more than his own presence to Washington’s camp. He brought the promise from King Louis himself, a fleet of ships and a new spirit of cooperation, the French monarch clearly intending to correct the mistakes both sides had learned from the failures of d’Estaing.
The young man had brought news both official and personal. His wife had given birth again, a boy this time, and Lafayette had made the announcement to the entire headquarters: the boy was named Georges Washington Lafayette. It was an honor that Washington had received with quiet emotion, but there was emotion as well for the young man’s more official news. The French navy had assembled a new fleet, and though the number of ships was not sufficient to engage the British in a major sea battle, they would provide considerable protection for the troops they carried.
Their commander