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.

PARTII.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 213
of General Burgoyne and his army, or rather suspending their embarkation, till the convention of Saratoga is
explicitly ratified and notified by the court of Britain,
shall remain secret here till they are duly announced
by Congress. This procedure, when known to the
General, will chagrin him much; for I learn by a letter
from General Heath, that the refusal to let his troops
embark at Rhode Island, or in the Sound, had given
him some uneasiness. I have nothing of importance
to communicate; and have only to add, that I have
the honor to be, with great respect, &c.
TO BARON STEUBEN.
Head-Quarters, Valley Forge, 9 January, 1778.
SIR,
I yesterday received the honor of yours from Portsmouth, enclosing the copy of a letter from Messrs.
committee should be sent to the camp, empowered to consult with
General Washington, and, in conjunction with him, to mature a new
system of arrangements for the administration of the army. The committee were invested with ample powers for effecting all the desirable
objects of reform; or rather for digesting and reporting a plan of the
same to Congress. The persons chosen were Dana, Reed, and Folsom
in Congress; and Gates, Mifflin, and Pickering from the Board of War.
When it was found, that these latter gentlemen were fully occupied
by their official duties, they were excused, and two members of Congress,
Charles Carroll and Gouverneur Morris, in addition to the above three,
were chosen in their place. The committee therefore consisted of five
members of Congress, who repaired immediately to Valley Forge. General Washington communicated to them a memoir, extending to fifty
folio pages, exhibiting in detail the existing state of the army, the deficiencies and disorders, with their causes, and suggesting such changes
and improvements as he thought essential. This formed the basis of
the plan adopted by the committee, who, after remaining in camp nearly
three months, returned to Congress. The report, containing the result
of their proceedings and the new scheme of the army, was approved.-,
Journals, Januay 1.Oth, 12th, 20th.