During the retreat from Forts Washington and Lee, he dawdled with his army, and intensified a letter campaign to convince various Congress members that he should replace Washington as Commander-in-Chief.
در زمان عقب نشینی از قلعه واشنگتن و لی، او نامه‌ای به اعضای کنگره نوشت و از آنها خواست که او را جایگزین واشنگتن به عنوان فرمانده کل قوا انتخاب کنند.