often intoxicated, and Greene, whose talents were only then known to
his immediate friends, commanded as majors-general. General Knox, who
had changed the profession of bookseller to that of artillery officer,
was there also, and had himself formed other officers, and created an
artillery. "We must feel embarrassed," said General Washington, on his
arrival, "to exhibit ourselves before an officer who has just quitted
French troops." "It is to learn, and not to teach, that I come
hither," replied M. de Lafayette; and that modest tone, which was not
common in Europeans, produced a very good effect.

After having menaced the Delaware, the English fleet again
disappeared, and during some days the Americans amused themselves by
making jokes at its expense. These jokes, however, ceased when it
reappeared in the Chesapeak; and, in order to approach it more closely
during the disembarkation, the patriot army crossed through the town.
Their heads covered with green branches, and marching to the sound of
drums and fifes, these soldiers, in spite of their state of nudity,
offered an agreeable spectacle to the eyes of all the citizens.
General Washington was marching at their head, and M. de Lafayette was
by his side. The army stationed itself upon the heights of Wilmington,
and that of the enemy landed in the Elk river, at the bottom of
Chesapeak bay. The very day they landed, General Washington exposed
himself to danger in the most imprudent manner; after having
reconnoitred for a long time the enemy's position, he was overtaken by
a storm during a very dark night, entered a farm house close to the
hostile army, and, from a reluctance to change his own opinion,
remained there with General Greene, M. de Lafayette, and their
aide-de-camp; but when at day break he quitted the farm, he
acknowledged that any one traitor might have caused his ruin. Some
days later, Sullivan's division joined the army, which augmented it in