Being assured that there was every reason to believe his wishes in this respect would not be thwarted, he gave to the secretary the arrangement[57] which he would recommend for the principal stations in the army; and, on the 13th of July, addressed the following letter to the President.
[Footnote 57: _The following is the list of generals, and of the military staff._ Alexander Hamilton, _Inspector_.
Charles C.Pinckney, } Henry Knox, or, if either refuses } Major Generals.
Henry Lee.

} Henry Lee (if not Major General) } John Brooks, } William S.Smith, or } Brigadiers.
John E.Howard.

} Edward Hand, or } Jonathan Dayton, or } Adjutant General.
William S.Smith.

} Edward Carrington, Quarter Master General.
James Craik, Director of the Hospital.] "I had the honour, on the evening of the 11th instant, to receive from the hands of the secretary at war, your favour of the seventh, announcing that you had, with the advice and consent of the senate, appointed me Lieutenant General and Commander-in-chief of the armies raised or to be raised for the service of the United States.
"I can not express how greatly affected I am at this new proof of public confidence, and at the highly flattering manner in which you have been pleased to make the communication.

At the same time, I must not conceal from you my earnest wish that the choice had fallen upon a man less declined in years, and better qualified to encounter the usual vicissitudes of war.
"You know, sir, what calculations I had made relative to the probable course of events on my retiring from office, and the determination, with which I had consoled myself, of closing the remnant of my days in my present peaceful abode.