Overview
The Conway Cabal was a political and military conspiracy against General George Washington that started in the fall of 1777 and continued through the Winter at Valley Forge (1777–1778). The conspirators included officers from the Continental Army and members of Congress who sought to replace Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army with Horatio Gates, after Gates defeated General John Burgoyne during the Saratoga Campaign (1777). The plot was driven by General Thomas Conway, who criticized Washington and sought promotion despite his low seniority among the army’s senior officers. Letters involving Conway, Gates, and James Wilkinson revealed criticism of Washington and created distrust among the officers. Congress promoted Conway to Inspector General with the rank of Major General, but senior officers protested the move. The conspiracy failed when key officers, such as Marquis de Lafayette, supported Washington, and others openly challenged Conway and Wilkinson.
Essential Facts
- Dates: October 1777 through January 1778.
- Key Conspirators: Thomas Conway, Horatio Gates, James Wilkinson, Thomas Mifflin.
- Part Of: The Philadelphia Campaign (1777–1778).
Key Details
- General Thomas Conway sent a letter to General Horatio Gates that appeared to criticize General George Washington’s leadership.
- Gates sent his reports about the Battles of Saratoga to Congress with James Wilkinson.
- Wilkinson stopped to visit the American camp outside of Philadelphia and told Major William McWilliams about Conway’s criticisms.
- McWilliams told his commanding officer, General William Alexander, Lord Stirling, who informed Washington.
- Washington infomed Conwya that he had been informed of the criticism, which Conway denied.
- Conway tried to resign, but members of Congress who likely sought to replace Washington had him promoted to the new position of Inspector General.
- Congress followed by appointing Gates as President of the Board of War.
- Conway visited Valley Forge, where he felt Washington ignored him.
- Washington informed Congress that he would work with Conway, despite his personal misgivings.
- Gates, seeking to cover up his own criticisms of Washington and to protect Conway, accused Alexander Hamilton of copying Conway’s original letter, which was private.
- Gates and Conway were disgraced after Congress learned that Wilkinson was the source of the leak.
- Washington remained as Commander-in-Chief while Gates, Conway, and other conspirators were reassigned.
- One of Washington’s supporters, John Cadwalder, challenged Conway to a duel and shot him through the mouth.
- Conway survived and formally apologized to Washington.
Significance
The Conway Cabal is important to American History because it tested civilian and military confidence in General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. The controversy showed that some members of Congress feared Washington’s growing popularity and questioned his military leadership after setbacks during the Philadelphia Campaign in 1777. Washington’s professional conduct during the conspiracy helped protect his reputation and authority while demonstrating his respect for Congress and for civilian control of the military.
History
Background
During the 1777 campaign of the American Revolutionary War, British forces carried out two significant military expeditions. The outcome of these expeditions contributed to the development of the “Conway Cabal,” a conspiracy that sought to replace General George Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army with General Horatio Gates.
The first expedition, led by General John Burgoyne, marched southward from Canada into New York, where it sought to capture Albany and control the Hudson River Valley (see Saratoga Campaign). British officials believed this would isolate New England from the rest of the colonies and isolate hostilities to the region. Despite early victories, Burgoyne was defeated by Gates and the Northern Army at Saratoga. Burgoyne surrendered on October 17, 1777. Afterward, Gates was hailed as the “Hero of Saratoga,” even though his leadership had very little to do with the American victory.
The second, led by General William Howe, sailed southward from New York City to Maryland, where it sought to capture Philadelphia, the American capital. Washington moved his army from New Jersey to Pennsylvania to protect the city. The Americans failed to stop Howe’s advance and were routed at the Battle of Brandywine (September 11, 1777), which allowed the British to capture Philadelphia on September 26. Soon after, Washington learned that Gates was on the verge of victory at Saratoga and decided to attack British forces at Germantown, Pennsylvania. Washington launched a bold attack on October 4 and was on the verge of winning the Battle of Germantown when confusion in the ranks caused panic, leading his forces to retreat. In the weeks that followed, the British captured Fort Mercer and Fort Mifflin, giving them control of the Delaware River.
Following the events at Saratoga and Philadelphia, officers in the Continental Army and members of Congress, especially those from New England, started questioning Washington’s leadership and tactical skills.
Criticism of Washington
New England delegates sought to regain control of the American war effort’s direction.
- Critics compared Washington’s failures to Gates’s victory at Saratoga.
- Gates embellished the victory with reports that diminished the roles of his field commanders, such as Benedict Arnold and Daniel Morgan.
Several politicians formed a group that could properly be called a “cabal,” or secret political faction. This group included Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Mifflin, and Dr. Benjamin Rush.
An anonymous broadside titled “Thoughts of a Freeman” was printed, circulated, and sent to Congress. It attacked Washington’s military skills and raised concerns about his popularity with the American people.
It is widely believed that the cabal was behind the broadside and sought to spread hints and suggestions among influential people rather than openly demanding Washington’s removal.
- Henry Laurens, the President of Congress, reported information about the group’s actions to his son, John Laurens.
- John Laurens served on Washington’s staff and passed the information to Washington.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Thomas Conway, who was with Washington’s Army in Pennsylvania, wrote private letters that expressed dissatisfaction with Washington and other officers.
- Conway was a French officer of Irish birth who was recruited by Silas Deane for the American war effort.
- He served as a Brigadier General during the Battle of Brandywine and the Battle of Germantown.
- Afterward, he became critical of Washington’s leadership and made repeated requests to Congress for promotion, even though he was the lowest-ranked of the 24 Brigadier Generals in the Continental Army.
The Conspiracy Spreads
On October 28, 1777, Colonel James Wilkinson, an aide-de-camp to Gates, told General William Alexander’s aide, Major William McWilliams, that Conway had told Gates that Washington was a “weak general” surrounded by “bad Councellors.”
McWilliams relayed this information to Alexander (also known as Lord Stirling). He responded by writing a letter to Washington, informing him of the situation, saying: “The enclosed was communicated by Colonel Wilkinson to Major McWilliams. Such wicked duplicity I shall always consider it my duty to detect.”
Washington’s Reaction Exposes Conway
Washington was most concerned by evidence that two of his subordinate officers were potentially working together to damage his reputation. He responded by writing a brief letter to Conway, informing him that he was aware of the criticism. Conway replied to Washington, denying that he had acted improperly, and tried to explain the situation.
- Conway said that he had written to Gates on October 9 or 10, congratulating him on the victory at Saratoga.
- He admitted that the letter may have included his earlier criticism of American military methods.
- Conway denied calling Washington a “weak general” and offered to let Washington read the original letter he had sent to Gates.
Conway Becomes Inspector General
Likely embarrassed by the situation, Conway submitted his resignation to Congress on November 14; however, he cited his lack of promotion as one of the main reasons. He also objected to Johan de Kalb’s promotion because he had been Kalb’s superior in the French Army. Congress did not accept or reject Conway’s resignation immediately. Instead, it sent the request to the Board of War, which was heavily influenced by Thomas Mifflin. Afterward, two key events took place that seemingly undermined Washington’s authority:
- Gates was appointed President of the Board of War on November 27, 1777.
- Congress created the position of Inspector General for the Continental Army, approved it on December 13, and appointed Conway to the role with the rank of Major General. In this role, Conway would have to work with Washington, but would report directly to the Board of War.
Conway and Gates were both in a position to criticize Washington, which would give the conspirators in Congress what they needed to justify changing the Commander-in-Chief.
AHC Notes
- Conway held his Major General rank on the staff rather than in the line of command.
- He did not have authority over the Brigadier Generals who ranked above him.
Conway Visits Valley Forge
After becoming Inspector General, Conway exchanged letters with Washington. In his letters, Washington told Conway:
- The other Brigadier Generals would file a protest with Congress over his promotion
- Despite his personal objections to the promotion, he would continue to support Congress’s decisions.
Conway tried to make amends with Washington, saying, “The general and universal merit which you wish every promoted officer might be endowed with is a rare gift. We know but the great Frederick in Europe and the great Washington in this continent. I certainly never was so rash as to pretend to such a prodigious height.” At no point did Washington believe Conway’s praise was sincere.
When Conway visited Valley Forge in December 1777, many of the officers treated him with politeness but otherwise ignored him. During the visit, Washington asked Conway how he planned to carry out his new duties:
- Conway responded on December 29 with a general outline of his plans.
- He also suggested that if Washington preferred, he could return to France, where he had some business to attend to.
Afterward, Conway complained to Congress that his treatment at Valley Forge indicated Washington was refusing to support him, making it impossible to carry out his duties as Inspector General. Washington was angered by these allegations.
- On January 2, Washington sent some of the letters to Congress.
- He made it clear that he would work with Conway, but would not pretend to be friends with him.
Gates Accuses Hamilton
Conway met with James Wilkinson, who denied having repeated the criticism of Washington to Major McWilliams.
- Conway documented Wilkinson’s denial in a report that was sent to Mifflin. This upset Mifflin because it contained details from private letters originating at Gates’s headquarters.
- Mifflin wrote to Gates and told him he needed to be more careful with his private letters.
Gates responded by accusing Alexander Hamilton, Washington’s aide-de-camp, of secretly copying Conway’s original letter. In doing this, Gates apparently thought he could disgrace both Washington and Hamilton.
- On December 8, 1777, Gates wrote to Washington and claimed that someone had secretly copied Conway’s letters.
- Gates stated that no one at his own headquarters seemed responsible for the leak.
- He asked Washington to identify the person who had copied the letters, suggesting that the copies might compromise military operations.
Gates sent his report to both Washington and Congress because he did not know whether the information had come from an officer or a member of Congress. Washington responded by sending a letter to Congress identifying Wilkinson as the source of the leak. This foiled Gates’s plan to pin the conspiracy on Hamilton.
- Wilkinson responded by blaming Lieutenant Colonel Robert Troup, another of Gates ‘ aides, as the source of the leak. Troup was the one who carried the original letter from Conway to Gates.
- After Gates learned that Wilkinson was the source, he challenged him to a duel. This never took place because the two reconciled their differences.
Congress Turns on Conway and Gates
Members of Congress who supported Gates as a possible replacement for General George Washington reviewed the letters Washington had sent them. It was clear to them that the letters showed Washington was conducting himself professionally, while Conway and Gates had clearly criticized him.
- Nine Brigadier Generals submitted a formal protest to Congress against Conway’s promotion.
- Several Colonels prepared a similar protest against James Wilkinson’s brevet promotion to Brigadier General.
Laurens Supports Washington
On January 19, 1778, Gates arrived in York, Pennsylvania, with the original letter that had caused the controversy. Both he and Conway hoped to clear their names.
- Conway believed the original letter improved his position because it did not include the exact wording that Wilkinson had shared with McWilliams.
- Gates and Conway sought to publish the letter, but did not share a copy with Washington or with Henry Laurens, the President of Congress.
Laurens, who supported Washington, eventually obtained a copy of the letter. After reading it, he admitted that it did not contain Wilkinson’s exact quote; however, he suggested it was “ten times worse” than he expected.
The Conway Cabal Fails
Ultimately, the effort to weaken Washington’s position as Commander-in-Chief failed completely. William Alexander referred to the scheme as a “wicked duplicity of conduct.”
Gates, Mifflin, and Conway were all reassigned, and the Board of War no longer threatened Washington’s authority.
- Gates was assigned to a command in the Hudson Highlands.
- He refused and offered his resignation, which Congress accepted.
- Gates returned to his farm in Virginia.
The Franco-American Alliance
At the time, Benjamin Franklin was in France, working to convince French officials to recognize the independent United States of America and form economic and military alliances. Burgyone’s surrender and Washington’s bold attack at Germantown helped convince the French that the Americans could win the war.
The Marquis de Lafayette spoke on behalf of France and said his country could not conceive of anyone other than Washington leading the American army. This helped convince some members of Congress to change their plans and return to supporting Washington.
These events led to the establishment of the Franco-American Alliance in February 1778.
The Cadwalader-Conway Duel
General John Cadwalader was outraged by Conway’s conduct and challenged him to a duel, which took place on July 4, 1778.
- Philemon Dickinson, Cadwalader’s cousin, served as his second.
- Both men fired and survived, but Conway was shot through the mouth.
- Afterward, Conway apologized to Washington for his conduct.
Timeline
1777
- October 9 or 10 — Thomas Conway wrote General Horatio Gates to congratulate him on the Saratoga victory and may have included criticism of George Washington.
- October 28 — James Wilkinson passed along Conway’s reported criticism of Washington to Major William McWilliams.
- November 14 — Conway sent Congress his resignation after criticism of his promotion requests.
- December 8 — Gates wrote Washington and falsely suggested that someone had secretly copied Conway’s letters.
- December 13 — Congress approved the position of Inspector General for the Continental Army.
- December 29 — Conway outlined his plans as Inspector General and offered to return to France.
1778
- January 2 — Washington sent his correspondence with Conway to Congress.
- January 19 — Gates arrived in York with Conway’s original letter.
- July 4 — John Cadwalader and Conway fought a duel. Conway was shot through the mouth but survived.
Perspectives
Conway’s Criticism of Washington
In October 1777, Conway wrote a letter to encourage Gates’ ambitions, arguing that “Heaven has been determined to save your Country, or a weak General and bad Councellors would have ruined it.” Washington learned of this letter from Lord Stirling who was informed by a member of his staff. Stirling’s colleague heard the details of the letter from a drunken James Wilkinson, Gates’ aide-de-camp. In response, Washington informed Conway that he was aware of the contents of the letter, to which Conway replied that he never penned the phrase “weak general.” Conway added that he believed Washington was influenced by men not equal to him in experience.
— from Conway Cabal, George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Gates Bypasses Washington
Precedence and military decorum dictated that news of a battlefield victory would travel first to the commander-in-chief and then through his headquarters to the governing political body. After the pivotal victory of Saratoga, Gates sent an adjutant, Major James Wilkinson, with his official report of the engagements to the Continental Congress. The young officer, treating the assignment more leisurely than timely, stopped off at the headquarters of another Continental general, Major General William Lord Stirling, for a night of revelry and drinking with the latter’s staff. During that night of imbibing, Wilkinson let slip the above quotation about “weak generals” to Major William McWilliams of Stirling’s staff and referenced a letter that Conway had written to Gates.
— from Conway Cabal, American Battlefield Trust.
Henry Laurens Identifies the Plot
With teasing allusion and shadowy inference, Henry Laurens, the new president of Congress, wrote his son John about purported intrigues. Since John was an aide in Washington’s youthful circle, the warning surely was passed on to his chief, to bore like pine beetles into Washington’s tormented psyche. Henry Laurens wrote that there was one man in particular —unnamed — whose “idleness, duplicity & criminal partialities in a certain Circle laid the foundation of our present deplorable state,” and he added that this was somebody Washington trusted, for whom he held “the most favorable Sentiments.” Henry Laurens discerned “Agents from our Enemies if not within Doors, yet too closely connected with some who sat there…I will attend to all their movements & have set my face against every wicked attempt however specious.”
— from The Conway Cabal, American Heritage Magazine.
AP US History
Definition
Conway Cabal (1777–1778) — The Conway Cabal was a controversial and possibly loosely organized movement to replace General George Washington with General Horatio Gates during the American Revolutionary War. Dissatisfied congressmen and military officers, including General Thomas Conway and Gates, criticized Washington after British victories in the Pennsylvania Campaign and Gates’s success at Saratoga. The effort collapsed after private letters exposed their conduct, Congress reconsidered Conway’s promotion, and Washington’s professional conduct strengthened his position as Commander-in-Chief.
Alignment
The Conway Cabal is part of the following units, topics, and chapters in the AP US History curriculum:
Video
This video from the American Battlefield Trust provides an overview of the Conway Cabal.
