Its author, acquainted with the discontents of the army, did not seem to despair of impelling the officers to the desired point.

He affected to consider the orders in a light favourable to his views:--"as giving system to their proceedings, and stability to their resolves." But Washington would not permit himself to be misunderstood.

The interval between his orders and the general meeting they invited, was employed in impressing on those officers individually who possessed the greatest share of the general confidence, a just sense of the true interests of the army; and the whole weight of his influence was exerted to calm the agitations of the moment, and conduct them to a happy termination.

This was a work of no inconsiderable difficulty.

So convinced were many that government designed to deal unfairly by them, that only the reliance they placed on their general, and their attachment to his person and character, could have moderated their resentments so far as to induce them to adopt the measures he recommended.
On the 15th, the convention of officers assembled, and General Gates[14] took the chair.