The Conway Cabal: The Anonymous Plot to Dethrone George Washington
In the frozen hell of Valley Forge during the winter of 1777–1778, George Washington was fighting two wars. One was against the British Empire; the other was against his own officers.
While the Continental Army starved, a faction of politicians and disgruntled generals launched a coordinated, anonymous campaign to strip Washington of his command. Known to history as the Conway Cabal, this coup attempt nearly replaced the “Father of His Country” with a man who would later lead the army to one of its greatest disasters.
1. The “Hero of Saratoga” vs. the “Loser of Philadelphia”
By late 1777, Washington’s resume looked grim. He had lost the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, and the British had successfully occupied the revolutionary capital of Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, in the north, General Horatio Gates had just won the Battle of Saratoga—the greatest American victory of the war. To many in the Continental Congress, Gates looked like a winner, and Washington looked like an amateur. The stage was set for a “palace coup.”
2. The Anonymous Attacks
The primary weapon of the conspirators was the “anonymous letter.” These letters, sent to the President of Congress, Henry Laurens, were brutal. They accused Washington of “idolatry” and “weakness,” claiming that the Revolution’s survival was due to “divine intervention” rather than Washington’s leadership.
One particularly venomous line suggested: “The people of America have been guilty of idolatry by making a man their god…“
3. The Players: Conway and Rush
The “Cabal” was named after Brigadier General Thomas Conway, an Irish-born, French-trained officer who viewed Washington’s tactical abilities with open contempt.
Supporting him from the shadows was Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Rush privately lobbied for Washington’s removal, believing the General lacked the “decisiveness” required to win. Together, they worked to appoint Gates as the President of the Board of War, a move designed to make Gates Washington’s boss.
4. How the Plot Unraveled
The conspiracy fell apart not through a battle, but through a leak. A drunk aide-de-camp to General Gates mentioned the contents of Conway’s letters to an aide of Lord Stirling (a pro-Washington general).
When Washington heard of the betrayal, he didn’t fly into a rage. Instead, he sent a brief, ice-cold note to Conway, simply quoting the General’s own words back to him. The realization that Washington knew about the plot sent the conspirators into a panic.
- The Duel: The tension eventually led to a duel between Thomas Conway and Washington’s defender, General John Cadwalader. Conway was shot through the mouth and neck.
- The Apology: Thinking he was dying, a repentant Conway wrote a letter to Washington, admitting: “You are in my eyes the great and good man.”
5. The Aftermath: A Restored Command
By the spring of 1778, the plot had collapsed. Gates’ reputation took a massive hit, and his later defeat at the Battle of Camden in 1780 proved that his success at Saratoga had more to do with his subordinates (like Benedict Arnold) than his own genius.
Washington emerged from the Cabal stronger than ever. The failure of the anonymous plot proved that the Army’s loyalty was tied to Washington personally, not just his rank. It was a victory won without a single shot fired at the British, yet it was the victory that kept the Revolution alive.
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The Conway Cabal: The Anonymous Plot to Dethrone George Washington
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