Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/195

 part to act between these two officers; they were extremely anxious to avoid the decision of the question which had arisen between them, seeing very distinctly that their decision could not but disappoint very pain- fully, that gentleman who was their favourite officer. They seem to have been apprehensive that col. Wood- ford would be led, by that decision, to resign in disgust; and were justly alarmed at the idea of losing the ser- vices of so valuable an officer, especially after the distinction which he had recently gained at the Great Bridge. Mr. Henry, however, insisted that the com- mittee or convention should determine the question, as being the only way to settle the consti'uction of his com- mission. It was accordingly taken up, and decided by the following order of the committee.

" In Committee — December mdcclxxv.

" Resolved, unanimously, that colonel Woodford, although acting upon a separate and detached com- mand, ought to correspond with colonel Henry, and make returns to him at proper times of the state and condition of the forces under his command; and also that he is subject to his orders, when the conv^ention, or the committee of safety is not sitting, but that whilst either of those bodies are sitting, he is to receive his orders from one of them.^^

The address which was thought necessary in com- municating this resolution to colonel Woodford, is a proof of the very high estimate in which he was held by the committee ; and the same evidence furnishes very de- cisive proof that colonel Henry had not owed his military appointment to the suffi:'age of those members of the com- mittee who maintained the correspondence. Thus, on the 13th of December. 1775, a member of the conven-

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