ome ways his organization was already complete. He had under him
many of the men who were to serve him through the war. To be sure, he
had Charles Lee, "the worst present that could be made to any army;" but
Lee's part in the siege was slight, for Washington frequently employed
him for distant undertakings. Gates was still present also, but in a
subordinate capacity. And another of those who, before the war was over,
did their best to wreck the American cause, was present for a while in
the person of Benedict Arnold, already distinguished by his share in the
taking of Ticonderoga. Early in September, however, Arnold was sent on
his fruitless mission against Quebec.

But besides these men, not one of whom had as yet proved his weakness,
Washington had already at his back some of the best soldiers whom the
war produced. Among the higher officers were Putnam, Thomas, Sullivan,
Heath, and more particularly Greene. Of lower grade were Stark, Morgan,
Prescott, and, not yet well known, Knox, the Boston bookseller whom we
have seen endeavoring to prevent the Massacre, who had studied tactics
in his own volumes and at the manoeuvres of the regulars, and who had
escaped from Boston just before the 17th of June. There were yet others
who were destined to distinguish themselves, and Washington knew that he
had, among his officers, as courageous and intelligent soldiers as were
to be found anywhere.

Yet they were but a nucleus, while his supplies remained few and poor,
and the organization of the army unsatisfactory. As the winter
approached, Washington looked forward uneasily to the expiration of the
terms of enlistment of his troops. Some would lapse in December, the
rest at the first of January. His regiments were not uniform in size,
and they retained too much of the provincial jealousy which had already
troubled him, and which had perhaps lost Bunker Hill. It was very
evident to him that an entirely new army should be organized.

It was therefore welcome to him that Congress should send a committee
to help him in the matter of reorganization. On October 18 the
committee, with Franklin at its head, met with Washington, his staff,
and delegates from the four colonies which until now had, practically
alone, been prosecuting the siege. The subject had been already
discussed by the council of war, and the little convention was made
acquainted with the discrepancies in the organizations of the different
regiments, and the needs of