You're listening to an airwave media podcast.

Cheese It has arrived.

A cheesy new snack that's packed full of intense cheesy flavor.

Get your hands on a pack in stores now.

Fancy a cheese hit! A cheese hit!

Yeah, cheese it. Hello and thank you for joining the American Revolution.

Today, episode 171, the Conway Cabal.

Following the victory at Saratoga, General Rachio Gates was the toast of America.

The surrender of General Burgoyne's Army was an unprecedented event. Gates had long thought that he was a better general than Washington and had a history of looking for an opportunity to replace him as

commander-in-chief. In late 1777 with Gates credited with the victory at

Saratoga and Washington losing Philadelphia to General Howe,

many others started to think that maybe Gates could be a better commander.

The Conway-Caball is the name given to a loosely defined group of leaders in Congress and in the

military who made some efforts to replace Washington with Gates as commander of the Continental Army.

Thomas Conway, who is the title conspirator in this matter, is probably not even the leading figure in the events that unfolded, but he does play a role in these events.

I've already introduced Conway as one of many French officers who arrived in Philadelphia in 1777 with commissions in hand to become generals in the Continental Army. Although born in Ireland, Conway moved to France at age six and became

a lieutenant in the Irish Brigade of the French Army at age 14.

Over the next 17 years he served as a capable officer but remained a lieutenant

even through his service in Europe during the Seven Years War. After the war ended, Conway began to find

his way up the promotion ladder, finally making captain in 1765, then Major, and finally Colonel in 1772.

Conway learned the political game of flattering superiors and making the right contacts to get ahead in the Army.

Saying an opportunity for advancement in the Revolution, he got a promised commission from

...