that such an appointment would be agreeable to them. Three days
afterward Washington placed Lafayette in command of the division of
General Stephen, who had been dismissed from the army for having been
intoxicated, to the great injury of the public service, on the eventful
day of the battle of Germantown. We shall see that this appointment, by
enabling Lafayette to act occasionally on a separate command, afforded
him the opportunity of rendering essential service to the cause of
independence.

On the 27th of November (1777), the Board of War was increased from
three to five members, viz.: General Mifflin, formerly aide to
Washington and recently quartermaster-general; Joseph Trumbull, Richard
Peters, Col. Timothy Pickering, of Massachusetts, and General Gates.
Gates was appointed president of the board, with many flattering
expressions from Congress. His recent triumph over Burgoyne had gained
him many friends among the members of Congress and a few among the
officers of the army. His head, naturally not over-strong, had been
turned by success, and he entered into the views of a certain clique
which had recently been formed, whose object was to disparage
Washington and put forward rather high pretensions in favor of the
"hero of Saratoga." This clique, called from the name of its most
active member, General Conway, the "Conway Cabal," we shall notice
hereafter. At the time of this change in the constitution of the Board
of War it was in full activity, and its operations were well known to
Washington. In fact, he had already applied the match which ultimately
exploded the whole conspiracy and brought lasting disgrace on every one
of its members.

General Howe in the meantime was preparing to attack Washington in his
camp, and, as he confidently threatened, to "drive him beyond the