George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 8

[318] and men, whom he sent forth, with fearless gallantry

Chap. LX.} 1776. Mar.

and a terrible loss of life, shed over Virginia a lustre that reached to Tennessee and Kentucky. Congress soon repented of its election; and in less than a year forced Lewis to resign, by promoting an officer of very little merit over his head.

To meet the expenses of the war, four millions of dollars in bills were ordered to be struck; which, with six millions already issued, would form a paper currency of ten millions. A few days later a committee of seven, including Duane and Robert Morris, was appointed on the ways and means of raising the supplies for the year, over and above the emission of bills of credit; but they never so much as made a report. Another committee was appointed, continued, and enlarged, and their labors were equally fruitless. Congress had neither credit to borrow nor power to tax.

An officious and unauthorized suggestion from Lord Drummond to send a deputation to England in quest of ‘liberal terms founded in equity and candor,’ could claim no notice; the want of supplies, which was so urgent that two thousand men in Washington's army were destitute of arms and unable to procure them, led to an appeal in a different direction; and Silas Deane,—a graduate of Yale College, at one time a schoolmaster, afterwards a trader; reputed in congress to be well versed in commercial affairs; superficial, yet able to write and speak readily and plausibly; wanting deliberate forecast, accurate information, solidity of judgment, secrecy, and integrity;—finding himself left out of the delegation from Connecticut, whose confidence he never possessed,