ally those of
Massachusetts, had been over-officered, and now, when the number of
regiments was less by twelve, it was evident that scores of officers
must either accept lower rank or leave the army entirely. It was found
that most of those who could not obtain equal rank were unwilling to
remain, and that they were influencing their men to leave the army with
them.

Besides this, provincial jealousies worked strongly in this matter of
officers. Massachusetts officers who had been forced out of service
might have found places in the Connecticut regiments, but the soldiers
of the other colony would have none of them. For each company and each
platoon held firmly to the old idea that it must be consulted concerning
its officers, and no private would consent to be commanded by a man from
another colony. This alone made plentiful trouble.

Finally the men themselves had ideas of their own as to whether they
cared to enlist. To begin with, the shrewd among them reckoned that if
they only held out long enough they might secure bounties for
reenlisting. Some were finicky as to their officers, and waited until
they should be satisfied. And most of them perceived that as a reward
for patriotism they might at least receive furloughs, and stood out for
them.

The details of the work of enlisting were very obscure and complicated.
It was found that officers were endeavoring to recruit their own
companies, and in their zeal had enrolled men who were already
registered elsewhere. Outsiders, anxious for commissions, were
similarly forming companies, and presenting them for acceptance.
Washington steadily refused to receive such unauthorized organizations.
And finally it was suspected that many men who had given in their names
had no intention of serving.

What would make their defection more certain was the irregularity of
pay. Congress had appropriated sums of money, but the currency reached
Washington slowly. It was very singular, he complained, that the signers
of the scrip could not keep pace with his needs. Further, Congress had a
very imperfect idea of the magnitude of his legitimate needs; the
appropriations were niggardly. As the new year approached, when it was
important that the men should be paid, and receive assurance of further
pay, Washington wrote to urge more remittances, that the soldiers might
be satisfied.

Even the crews of the little navy gave Washington no peace. His "plague,
trouble, and vexation" with th