The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

296 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1778.
command." Foreseeing that these orders, executed
with the spirit and ardor which characterized Lafayette,
would soon lead to an action with a large part of the
enemy's force, Washington prepared to sustain the advanced division, keeping within a distance proper for
that purpose.
General Lee's seniority of rank entitled him to the
command of all the advanced detachments; but, disapproving the plans of the Commander-in-chief and believing they would fail, he voluntarily yielded his claims
to Lafayette. After this arrangement had been made
with Washington's consent, and Lafayette had marched
towards the enemy, Lee changed his mind and applied
to be reinstated. As Lafayette could not with any
degree of justice or propriety be recalled, Washington
resorted to an expedient, which he hoped would preserve harmony, although it might not be entirely satisfactory to either of the parties. He put Lee at the
head of two additional brigades, with orders to join the
advanced detachments, when he would of course have
the command of the whole; but directed him at the
same time to give Lafayette notice of his approach, and
to afford him all the assistance in his power for prosecuting any enterprise, which he might already have
undertaken or planned. He wrote also to Lafayette,
explaining the dilemma into which he was thrown by
the vacillating conduct of General Lee, and expressing
a conviction that he would cheerfully acquiesce in a
measure, which the exigency of the occasion rendered
necessary.
While the main army moved forward to Cranberry,
and the advanced parties were hovering around the
enemy's flanks and rear, Sir Henry Clinton changed the
disposition of his line, placing the baggage train in front,
and his best troops in the rear. With his army thus