There is nothing more necessary than good intelligence to frustrate a designing enemy.
—GEORGE WASHINGTON
Insubordination. Or worse. The letter infuriated him. George gave a specific command to Captain Roger Morris; he refused to comply. First, George asked as a fellow aide-de-camp. Then he asked as a colonel. Both times, Morris acted injurious to the cause, denying George access to the journals concerning the military’s movement leading up to the Battle of Monongahela.
George would have written the details himself if not for the bloody flux. He had volunteered to serve in the Braddock expedition, yes, to serve king and country, but in truth, he had a selfish motivation, to gain knowledge of the military arts. He was very clear to the parties involved that this was his desire. Yet now he remained with nothing tangible.
He unrolled the letter from Morris to reread it:
Dear Washington
I own, I am at a loss what to say in answer to some particulars in your Letter; & shall only appeal to your Judgment, from what I say.
My orderly Books, being lost I could not gett an authentick, one that was proper, & therefore was obligd from Necessity, to omit, what I would have complyd with, with Pleasure, if I had had it in my Power.
I must now conclude to desire you to forbear your Judgment, till I am convicted by Proof, or very strong Presumption, of what I am sure at present I am innocent of—
I am as I always was Your very well Wisher, & obedt Sert
Roger Morris
George’s temper flared. Morris! He remembered how colorfully the Brit sang before sending those men to their deaths. The soldier with the floral boutonniere! George rolled the letter.
Who was in charge—a British officer of lower rank, or a soldier of the Americas of higher standing? A meeting with the commander in chief should answer his questions of whether he had justifiable command over British officers. George needed to deal with the matter immediately. The second letter granted his request to meet with the general in person in Boston to answer the question once and for all.