Newburgh conspiracy

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The Newburgh Conspiracy was a plot hatched in 1783 near the end of the American Revolutionary War led by General Horatio Gates and Alexander Hamilton of the Continental Army to oust Congress in a coup and set up martial law. The two men wanted a tax instituted to help pay their wages.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]} Gates and Hamilton may have only created the plan as a threat, not as an actual revolt.

The winter of 1783 had seen the end of hostilities between the young nation and Britain, but a formal peace treaty had not yet been signed. The Continental Army was camped near Newburgh, New York. The British still occupied New York City, some 60 miles to the south, and any hint that there was turmoil in the Continental Army might have caused the British to use the opportunity to attack and re-establish control over their former colonies.

When General George Washington found out about the conspiracy, he called a meeting of his officers on March 15 1783 that Major General Horatio Gates was supposed to chair. It was held in the "New Building", a 40 by 70 foot (12 by 21 m) building at the camp. After Gates opened the meeting, Washington entered the building to everyone's surprise.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]} He asked to speak to the officers, and the stunned Gates relinquished the floor. Washington could tell by the faces of his officers, who hadn't been paid for quite some time, that they were quite angry and did not show the respect or deference that they had in the past toward Washington.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

Washington then gave a short speech to his officers about the precarious finances of the nation. He then took a letter from his pocket from a member of Congress to read to the officers. Instead of reading it immediately, he gazed upon it and fumbled with it without speaking. He then took a pair of reading glasses from his pocket, which few of the men had seen him wear. He then said: "Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country." This caused most of the men to realize that Washington, too, had sacrificed a great deal, more than most of them, for the cause. (David McCullough, 1776) These, of course, were his fellow officers, most having worked closely with him for several years. Many of those present were moved to tears,^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]} and with this (some say theatrical) act, the conspiracy collapsed as he read the letter. He then left the room and General Henry Knox and others offered resolutions reaffirming their loyalty, which were accepted by the group.

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