(Not a student yet? Enroll for free at www.gwschool.net.)
He is often referred to as the "Father of our Nation" and rightfully so. But there is much more to the man than is often recited in the standard history books. If George Washington had not possessed the sterling character that he did, we would very likely still be subjects of the British Empire. My lesson today incorporates a few stories from his life, which aptly illustrate why he succeeded against all odds in his role in establishing and promoting the cause of freedom and these United States of America.
It was John Adams who made the recommendation to appoint George Washington Commander-in-chief, a recommendation that was unanimously endorsed by members of the Continental Congress. After the vote, George Washington gave the following brief acceptance speech:
"Lest some unlucky event happen unfavorable to my reputation, I beg it be remembered by every gentleman in the room that I this day declare, with utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with. As for pay, I beg leave to assure the Congress that, as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment, at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit of it. I will keep an exact account of my expenses. Those I doubt not, they will discharge and that is all I desire."
Washington's first responsibility upon being appointed Commander-in-chief over the ragtag American troops was to instill discipline among the ranks and organize them into a unified fighting force. The men who were there to fight were not soldiers by any stretch of the imagination. They were just patriots who also happened to be farmers, sailors, merchants, mechanics, and in some cases, roustabouts. There was no sense of military discipline and it fell on Washington to provide it.
And so the day after he took command, he made it clear to his soldiers that they were first and foremost members of the "United Provinces "of North America" and that all distinction of colonies must be laid aside in order to remove from them the petty resentments and jealousies which had existed among the men prior to his taking command. He forbade profane cursing, swearing and drunkenness among his soldiers, and he required their attendance at worship services each Sabbath, in addition to following a strict code of health and cleanliness. Later he added the playing of cards and looting to the list of forbidden activities for his soldiers. These requirements were not the norm for soldiers of any nation's army at that time in history. But Washington understood how important following these principles was to their success.
As great a man as he was, he also had enemies within the ranks. A few subordinate officers who were jealous of Washington and his appointment as Commander-in-chief thought that they could do a much better job than Washington. When it was in their power to do so, they disobeyed orders and made it more difficult for Washington to lead the armies than it already was. One such officer was General Charles Lee who disobeyed a direct order to bring the troops under his command and join the Continental Army forces in New Jersey to fortify Washington's position and prevent the British from attacking his depleted troops.
Lee sent back a letter arguing his points as to why he would not follow Washington's order. Rather than apply the power of his office as commander-in-chief, Washington showed great grace, and instead sent letter after letter to Lee imploring him to join him and attempting to convince him of the tenuous nature of their position without fortification of the troops Lee needed to provide. He did not rail on Lee, or speak ill of him to his aides, he used reason and logic to attempt to persuade a man who hoped for Washington's failure for the possibility that he may be appointed commander-in-chief in his stead. After Lee was captured by the British (which never would have happened had he obeyed Washington's order), the worst Washington had to say about him was in a letter to Washington's brother where he referred to Lee as "imprudent."
One of my favorite stories that depicts Washington's character and influence is a recollection of Isaac Potts, a Quaker who was opposed to the war, resided at Valley Forge, and supervised the grinding of grain which Washington ordered for his soldiers. Potts related his experience to the Reverend Nathanial Randolph Snowden, who recorded it in his journal for posterity:
"I was riding with him (Mr. Potts) near Valley Forge, where the army lay during the war of the Revolution. Mr. Potts was a Senator in our state and a Whig. I told him I was agreeably surprised to find him a friend to his country as the Quakers were mostly Tories. He said, "It was so and I was a rank Tory once, for I never believed that America could proceed against Great Britain whose fleets and armies covered the land and ocean. But something very extraordinary converted me to the good faith."
"What was that?" I inquired. "Do you see that woods, and that plain?" It was about a quarter of a mile from the place we were riding. "There," said he, "laid the army of Washington. It was a most distressing time of ye war, and all were for giving up the ship but that one good man. In that woods," pointing to a close in view, "I heard a plaintive sound, as of a man at prayer. I tied my horse to a sapling and went quietly into the woods and to my astonishment I saw the great George Washington on his knees alone, with his sword on one side and his cocked hat on the other. He was at Prayer to the God of the Armies, beseeching to interpose with his Divine aid, as it was ye Crisis and the cause of the country, of humanity, and of the world.
"Such a prayer I never heard from the lips of man. I left him alone praying. I went home and told my wife, 'I saw a sight and heard today what I never saw or heard before', and just related to her what I had seen and heard and observed. We never thought a man could be a soldier and a Christian, but if there is one in the world, it is Washington. We thought it was the cause of God, and America could prevail."
In his book, The Life of Washington, Washington Irving added his assessment of Washington's character, which made him such a great leader among men:
"He had the great moral qualities which, in addition to military capacity, inspired such universal confidence in the wisdom, rectitude, and patriotism of Washington, that enabled him to direct and control legislative bodies as well as armies; to harmonize the jarring passions and jealousies of a wide and imperfect confederacy, and to cope with the varied exigencies of the Revolution."
A crucial event occurred just seven months after the surrender of the British troops, one that could have derailed everything the Continental soldiers had just fought for. George Washington received a letter from one of his officers, a Colonel Lewis Nicola, rehearsing a long list of complaints suffered by the men who had risked their lives many times to throw off the British yoke. They were in rags. They had not been paid. Their food was often so scanty it was not even fit to be served as slop to pigs. What they had received in return for their service from the Congress was neither justice nor gratitude. Colonel Nicola told Washington that he was the only man who could rectify this situation and plead with him to accept the crown and serve as George I of the United States. He assured Washington that the army was prepared to put him into this position of power that none would dare challenge.
Washington was horrified that this sentiment existed among his troops and wrote back that "this temptation to abandon the revolution and return to Ruler's Law would nullify everything for which the revolution had been fought.
Washington's reply did not placate the military. Ten months after Washington received the letter from Nicola, a circular began appearing among the officers calling for a revolt and the setting up of a military dictatorship. Washington hurriedly called a meeting where he reviewed their grievances and expressed a determination to work with Congress for a just solution. He openly denounced anyone who would "open the floodgates of civil discord and deluge our rising empire in blood." Even the words of Washington failed to convince the officers, who sat silent and sullen during Washington's speech.
When Washington saw this, he reached into his pocket to retrieve a letter written by a Congressman, hoping to demonstrate that there were many in Congress who were anxious to help them, and he asked them to listen as he read the letter. Due to a shortage of paper, the letters in the words were small and squished together. Biographer James T. Flexner describes what happened:
"The officers stirred impatiently in their seats, and then suddenly every heart skipped a beat. Something was the matter with His Excellency. He seemed unable to read the paper. He paused in bewilderment. He fumbled in his waistcoat pocket. And then he pulled out something that only his intimates had seen him wear; A pair of glasses. He explained, '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 simple statement achieved what all Washington's rhetoric and all his arguments had been unable to achieve. The officers were instantly in tears, and, from behind the shining drops, their eyes looked with love at their commander who had led them all so far so long.
"Washington quietly finished reading the Congressman's letter, walked out of the hall, mounted his horse, and disappeared from the view of those who were staring from the windows."
The officers then voted to support their leader in his peaceful, constructive approach to solving their problems.
Historians have emphasized that the entire American experiment hung on this one speech at Newburgh, NY.
Thomas Jefferson wrote in praise of Washington, "The moderation and virtue of a single character have probably prevented this revolution from being closed, as most others have been, by a subversion of that liberty it was intended to establish."
And so to conclude, I say to all, that General George Washington was not only a great American hero, I would propose that he is the greatest American hero who has or who ever will live. It is to him - his sterling character and stellar leadership abilities - that we owe the freedoms and liberties we enjoy today.
It was John Adams who made the recommendation to appoint George Washington Commander-in-chief, a recommendation that was unanimously endorsed by members of the Continental Congress. After the vote, George Washington gave the following brief acceptance speech:
"Lest some unlucky event happen unfavorable to my reputation, I beg it be remembered by every gentleman in the room that I this day declare, with utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with. As for pay, I beg leave to assure the Congress that, as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment, at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit of it. I will keep an exact account of my expenses. Those I doubt not, they will discharge and that is all I desire."
Washington's first responsibility upon being appointed Commander-in-chief over the ragtag American troops was to instill discipline among the ranks and organize them into a unified fighting force. The men who were there to fight were not soldiers by any stretch of the imagination. They were just patriots who also happened to be farmers, sailors, merchants, mechanics, and in some cases, roustabouts. There was no sense of military discipline and it fell on Washington to provide it.
And so the day after he took command, he made it clear to his soldiers that they were first and foremost members of the "United Provinces "of North America" and that all distinction of colonies must be laid aside in order to remove from them the petty resentments and jealousies which had existed among the men prior to his taking command. He forbade profane cursing, swearing and drunkenness among his soldiers, and he required their attendance at worship services each Sabbath, in addition to following a strict code of health and cleanliness. Later he added the playing of cards and looting to the list of forbidden activities for his soldiers. These requirements were not the norm for soldiers of any nation's army at that time in history. But Washington understood how important following these principles was to their success.
As great a man as he was, he also had enemies within the ranks. A few subordinate officers who were jealous of Washington and his appointment as Commander-in-chief thought that they could do a much better job than Washington. When it was in their power to do so, they disobeyed orders and made it more difficult for Washington to lead the armies than it already was. One such officer was General Charles Lee who disobeyed a direct order to bring the troops under his command and join the Continental Army forces in New Jersey to fortify Washington's position and prevent the British from attacking his depleted troops.
Lee sent back a letter arguing his points as to why he would not follow Washington's order. Rather than apply the power of his office as commander-in-chief, Washington showed great grace, and instead sent letter after letter to Lee imploring him to join him and attempting to convince him of the tenuous nature of their position without fortification of the troops Lee needed to provide. He did not rail on Lee, or speak ill of him to his aides, he used reason and logic to attempt to persuade a man who hoped for Washington's failure for the possibility that he may be appointed commander-in-chief in his stead. After Lee was captured by the British (which never would have happened had he obeyed Washington's order), the worst Washington had to say about him was in a letter to Washington's brother where he referred to Lee as "imprudent."
One of my favorite stories that depicts Washington's character and influence is a recollection of Isaac Potts, a Quaker who was opposed to the war, resided at Valley Forge, and supervised the grinding of grain which Washington ordered for his soldiers. Potts related his experience to the Reverend Nathanial Randolph Snowden, who recorded it in his journal for posterity:
"I was riding with him (Mr. Potts) near Valley Forge, where the army lay during the war of the Revolution. Mr. Potts was a Senator in our state and a Whig. I told him I was agreeably surprised to find him a friend to his country as the Quakers were mostly Tories. He said, "It was so and I was a rank Tory once, for I never believed that America could proceed against Great Britain whose fleets and armies covered the land and ocean. But something very extraordinary converted me to the good faith."
"What was that?" I inquired. "Do you see that woods, and that plain?" It was about a quarter of a mile from the place we were riding. "There," said he, "laid the army of Washington. It was a most distressing time of ye war, and all were for giving up the ship but that one good man. In that woods," pointing to a close in view, "I heard a plaintive sound, as of a man at prayer. I tied my horse to a sapling and went quietly into the woods and to my astonishment I saw the great George Washington on his knees alone, with his sword on one side and his cocked hat on the other. He was at Prayer to the God of the Armies, beseeching to interpose with his Divine aid, as it was ye Crisis and the cause of the country, of humanity, and of the world.
"Such a prayer I never heard from the lips of man. I left him alone praying. I went home and told my wife, 'I saw a sight and heard today what I never saw or heard before', and just related to her what I had seen and heard and observed. We never thought a man could be a soldier and a Christian, but if there is one in the world, it is Washington. We thought it was the cause of God, and America could prevail."
In his book, The Life of Washington, Washington Irving added his assessment of Washington's character, which made him such a great leader among men:
"He had the great moral qualities which, in addition to military capacity, inspired such universal confidence in the wisdom, rectitude, and patriotism of Washington, that enabled him to direct and control legislative bodies as well as armies; to harmonize the jarring passions and jealousies of a wide and imperfect confederacy, and to cope with the varied exigencies of the Revolution."
A crucial event occurred just seven months after the surrender of the British troops, one that could have derailed everything the Continental soldiers had just fought for. George Washington received a letter from one of his officers, a Colonel Lewis Nicola, rehearsing a long list of complaints suffered by the men who had risked their lives many times to throw off the British yoke. They were in rags. They had not been paid. Their food was often so scanty it was not even fit to be served as slop to pigs. What they had received in return for their service from the Congress was neither justice nor gratitude. Colonel Nicola told Washington that he was the only man who could rectify this situation and plead with him to accept the crown and serve as George I of the United States. He assured Washington that the army was prepared to put him into this position of power that none would dare challenge.
Washington was horrified that this sentiment existed among his troops and wrote back that "this temptation to abandon the revolution and return to Ruler's Law would nullify everything for which the revolution had been fought.
Washington's reply did not placate the military. Ten months after Washington received the letter from Nicola, a circular began appearing among the officers calling for a revolt and the setting up of a military dictatorship. Washington hurriedly called a meeting where he reviewed their grievances and expressed a determination to work with Congress for a just solution. He openly denounced anyone who would "open the floodgates of civil discord and deluge our rising empire in blood." Even the words of Washington failed to convince the officers, who sat silent and sullen during Washington's speech.
When Washington saw this, he reached into his pocket to retrieve a letter written by a Congressman, hoping to demonstrate that there were many in Congress who were anxious to help them, and he asked them to listen as he read the letter. Due to a shortage of paper, the letters in the words were small and squished together. Biographer James T. Flexner describes what happened:
"The officers stirred impatiently in their seats, and then suddenly every heart skipped a beat. Something was the matter with His Excellency. He seemed unable to read the paper. He paused in bewilderment. He fumbled in his waistcoat pocket. And then he pulled out something that only his intimates had seen him wear; A pair of glasses. He explained, '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 simple statement achieved what all Washington's rhetoric and all his arguments had been unable to achieve. The officers were instantly in tears, and, from behind the shining drops, their eyes looked with love at their commander who had led them all so far so long.
"Washington quietly finished reading the Congressman's letter, walked out of the hall, mounted his horse, and disappeared from the view of those who were staring from the windows."
The officers then voted to support their leader in his peaceful, constructive approach to solving their problems.
Historians have emphasized that the entire American experiment hung on this one speech at Newburgh, NY.
Thomas Jefferson wrote in praise of Washington, "The moderation and virtue of a single character have probably prevented this revolution from being closed, as most others have been, by a subversion of that liberty it was intended to establish."
And so to conclude, I say to all, that General George Washington was not only a great American hero, I would propose that he is the greatest American hero who has or who ever will live. It is to him - his sterling character and stellar leadership abilities - that we owe the freedoms and liberties we enjoy today.
Written by Monte Bateman
Instructor, George Washington School of Freedom
(Not a student yet? Enroll for free at www.gwschool.net.)
| The George Washington School of Freedom 2975 W. Executive Pkwy, Suite 183 Lehi, UT 84043 www.gwschool.net |  |
No comments:
Post a Comment