Even though the men had not learned such facts from their officers, those recruits who accompanied Colonel Arnold would have at once made the matter public. At about the time Isaac finished the letter to his mother the encampment was in a state bordering on insubordination. Colonel Arnold's recruits raised in Stockbridge insisted that their leader should command the forces, not only because he was authorized to do so, but owing to the fact that he had the money and ammunition necessary to carry out the plan, while the members of Colonel Allen's regiment, known as the Green Mountain Boys were equally determined that such honor as might be gained should be their colonel's, and in a brief space of time these new-fledged patriots were ripe for riot. Now was come the hour when Corporal 'Lige had shown him some portion of that consideration which he believed due his experience in military affairs. Those members of Colonel Easton's militia regiment which had joined the expedition, jealous because their leader had given way to Colonel Allen, now demanded loudly and publicly that he must lead the party or they would turn back. Inasmuch, however, as this portion of the troops amounted to fifty or thereabouts, they had a small showing when the Green Mountain boys, who were more than two hundred strong, came forth in turn with their threats. Colonel Allen was to be retained first in command, as had been decided upon the previous evening, or they should march back to Bennington without an hour's delay. On the other hand, the men from Stockbridge insisted that Colonel Arnold was the lawful commander because he was the only one who held a commission for such purpose, and threatened that neither money nor munitions of war should be given up unless his claims were fully recognized. On this morning of the eighth of May the men were divided into three divisions according to their opinions, and it seemed much as if the officers were willing they should settle it without interference, for those highest in command remained in council among themselves, giving no heed to the threats which were uttered here and there until it seemed positive personal encounters must soon take the place of words. The men from round about Pittsfield, recognizing the need of a leader in what might properly be termed a mutiny, selected Corporal 'Lige as if by common consent, and Isaac had but just written his mother's name on the missive which had cost him so much labor, when he and the corporal were surrounded by the faction to which belonged their neighbors and friends. One of these, a butcher, whose home was in Pittsfield, thus addressed the old man, using at the beginning of his remark just that compliment best calculated to please him.