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George Washington: A Revolutionary
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying rvhen there seemed to be no help at all." Dale Carnegie
After his father's death, George Washington became impatient, impetuous, self reliant and independent. His belligerent mother drove him away from rural Virginia and Washington began building his self worth by slowly acquiring land. With his lack of education and rugged edges, George was always trying to protect his reputation which he later gained not from his wealth of land, but from his persistent role in overcoming the impossible as Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
George Washington is known in America as our first president but slightly less known for his leadership in the American Revolution. His actions and guidance have been praised and criticized, but the overall outcome of his dealings regarding the rebel forces were positive as they were the start of the land of the free and the beginnings of America.
"...tactics...is only a small part of generalship. For a general must also be
capable of furnishing military equipment and providing supplies for the men; he
must be resourceful, active, careful, hardy and quick-witted: he must be both
gentle and brutal, at once straightforward and designing, capable of both caution
and surprise, lavish and rapacious, generous and mean? skilful in defense and
attack: and there are many other qualifications. some natural, some acquired, that
are necessary to one who would succeed as a general." - Socrates. t3
A great leader should have most if not all of the characteristics mentioned by the
illustrious Socrates. Many criticize the actions of General Washington as commander-in-chief of
the rebel forces but he did not lack those appealing assets of the aforementioned. He merely
lacked necessary supplies to thrive as an army force, a trained army and success in nearly every
battle that came their way. In Washington's first battle, he and his men surrendered Fort
Necessity. He ventured on only to have horses shot from under him at Fort Duquesne. But as
Winston Churchill says, "success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that
counts." washingon's defeats are what kept his army going and pushing through.
On top of the lack of enlistment, supplies, and trained militia the Continental Army,s
defeat preserved the loss of hope. General Washinglon continued to remain loyal and fight for
his troops. Although he disliked and often complained of their incompetence, he knew that that was aii he haci to work with anci that just one fight wouici unciermine the British tbrce. That is exactly what happened.
General Washington's greatest victory was on December 26,1776 at the Battle of
Trenton. His creative plan of a sneak attack on the British the day after Christmas surprised everyone' The hazardous crossing of the Delaware River made it possible for Washington to reach Trenton where they defeated the astonished British. This battle not only claimed a victory for the rebel forces but sparked interest in the Continental Army and inspired re-enlistments.
This victory serves today as proof that the weary and tired can overcome.
Even though General Washington continuously lost battle after battle phvsically he was winning mentally. Despite British provocation, he stayed with his hit and run tactics throughout the war, keeping them in New York for some time, mentally frustrating his opponents. In l-1 addition, Washington continuously wrote to others discussing his tactics and trying to get shoes, clothing and food for his inen, ai1 attempt to enfbrce continuous improvement of his regiine. And when their misfortune remained unrelenting he didn't give up.
"George Washington was not a great general but a brilliant revolutionary." When
American Citizens today learn about our nation's history, they do not memorize every detail regarding George Washington's decisions and battles, but his overall livelihood. What we all must realize is that George Washington was human. He made mistakes and he was far from perfect. After all, it is a righteous man that falls seven times, and rises again," [Proverbs 24..161.
Washington's extraordinary characteristics were his innovations, persistence, daring nature, and courage. Despite the obstacies he anci his miiitia haci to overcome, he heici his ragtag army together and weathered every storm. Because of his and his militia's role in the American
Revolution our ancestors were able to take a step forward in the direction of freedom and declare our independence from Britain. Washington is more than our first president or commander-in- chief of the Continental Army. He proves that no matter what, staying true to yourself and those who support you can only bring success. Furthermore, today's proud Americans owe it to him the fact that can speak the word freedom and mean it, something we wouldn't be able to say without the actions of the notorious George Washington. 2-L
George Washington, one of America's finest veteran commanders of all time, led his troops to many key victories and gains during the American War for Independence. He ultimately gained freedom from Great Britain in 1776 by using his audacious tactics and never surrender attitude. He built an army of strong, sturdy men around him that he envisioned would succeed in battle. He organized and trained many of the recruits during their time and came up with the plans for attacking.
Washington brought with him several war veterans that knew how to win and do well on the battle field. One of these men included a member of the General Staff of the Prussian Army,
Baron Van Steuben. Van Steuben brought an attitude of confidence that these men lacked and was constantly with them drilling war tactics. Along with Washington, Van Steuben changed the group of ragged men fighting for independence into a well organized army that the British needed to fear. He helped adjust the demeanor of the men, changing it from a softened attitude to conquering mind set.
Although Washington lost many battles during his reign, he never pictured an ending of the war resulting in a loss. He was a leader who put all his trust in the men that fought for him and made sure they believed in him as well. A strong army is one which has each other's backs and fight for the same goal. Washington knew this and made sure his team was on the same page throughout the entire war. He beat an attitude into these men that the loss of so many lives was not going unnoticed. They were not going to die for no reason. They were sacrificing their bodies for a nation that deserved more than what they had, a nation that deserved its own independence.
Through the cold, harsh winters Washington constantly kept the spirits of his men ascended. He was in constant contact with Congress, making sure necessities such as clothes, 2-s
shoes. and food were being sent to his militia. Many of his men were not only fighting the British army, but the sunken temperatures without clothes. Tons of men did not lose their lives due to gunshot wounds or cannons but, by freezing to death and diseases. The gruesome picture of others dying challenged the troops inner strength and determination. The only thing that kept them willing to pursue their ultimate goal was George Washington and his motivational talks.
He often kept their eyes on the same goal by reciting poems or pieces of work by famous authors. One such piece was Thomas Paine's "The American Crisis." It was a series of sixteen pamphlets explaining the hardships the troops were undergoing and the unfairness of the British government. They were meant to inspires the men of the Continental Army and cause them to fight as long as their heart was beating. The British were trying to take control that only God is capable of and the army needed to put an end to that. It was not fair to the people of the thirteen colonies.
Works like Pain's were read to troop members a day or two before going into battle to inspire them. They were seen as sometimes being the reason they were able to pull out some victories on the battle field. Some of these battles included Trenton, Princeton, and Saratoga. The victories enlightened the morale of the men fighting and showed they could win this war. George
Washington and his tactics were beginning to work. Independence was in sight and graspable. It was only a matter of time before the colonies would be able to make their own decisions on government and officials.
George Washington eventually led his army to an overall victory at the Siege of
Yorktown, where Lord Cornwallis eventually gave an order of surrender. He broke down the
British army that was said to be unbeatable and stronger. He inspired the men of the thirteen 2-l colonies to reach for a goal that had been set years in advance. They knew it was time to separate from other rule and did it when they were given the opportunity.
Washington will be remembered as one of the best leaders ever in American history. He did not just win the war or gain independence for his country, but affected the lives of so many at the time. He inspired men to go beyond their limits and fight for their goals. America's goal was independence and he was able to reach that by stepping beyond their limitations and beating an army that was supposed to be stronger. He set a high standard for Americans to abide by and will always be known as one of America"s greatest. 3-L
George Washington is often referred to in the United States of America as "the founder of our country" or the "first commander in chief'. He was elected America's first president not only because of his ideas on how to run the country at the time of its conception, but also because of his astonishingly diverse military career. While he is most certainly not the military general with the mostwins or the most courageous stories, his leadership of the Continental Army at such a critical point in the fledgling nation's history was handled about as well as it could have been. While a few may claim that his decisions were rash and rislry, George Washington managed to still in the end clinch the victory that would lead to the great nation that is the USA.
Washington's military career started much before the American Revolution.
During the French and Indian War, Washington served as Colonel (a position he obtained not because ofany sort ofbravery in battle but because ofhis handling of an orderly surrender). As a Colonel in the French and Indian War, Washington observed how little the British knew (or cared) about the American situation, and was even more enraged when the British Army refused to take him as a regular soldier, keeping him in the Virginia Militia. His enragement at the British increased more and more as time went on. 3-3
After the French and Indian War, Washington left the militia in order to focus on farming and on the politics in Virginia. Washington became very engrossed in the local politics. He famously opposed the Townshend Revenue Act of 7767 andwas also one of the first members of the House of Burgesses to create the "Continental
Congress" which was meant to preside over the colonies'welfare fconsidering the
British government didn't do much for the colonies). Washington was one of the
first to realize that if the British weren't caring about the colonies, then the colonies
must create a government themselves if they were to live in peace and prosperity.
What came next was inevitably the war. And on fohn Addams' recommendation,
Washington was unanimouslyvoted the commander in chief of the Continental
Army.
First of all, the mere fact that Washington was unanimously elected to be the
commander in chief speaks to his character. While the most probable reason of
Washington's choosing was because the Congress needed the very powerful colony
of Virginia to be on-board with the idea of a rebellion, it in no way diminishes the
feat that he accomplished. Washington had to overcome many obstacles-that is, he
was placed in charge of an army fattached to no government) that would be
attempting to take down the most celebrated army that the world at that point in
history had ever seen (the British). Probably one of the best traits that Washington
had as commander in chief was his willingness to take risks, and thatwas something
that he exercised often. He was cunning and brave, and he showed this early on with 3-4 the occupation of Dorchester Heights, which forced the British to evacuate Boston, a vital port city.
However, when Washington proceeded down into New York City, General
William Howe of Britain was ready and waiting, with more than ten times as many
troops as Washington had. In a chase, Washington retreated through the frosted
Brooklyn Heights, Harlem Heights, and White Plains, retreating through New fersey.
Again, staying to fight would have been a horrible mistake, so Washington's
handling of the standoff in New York was satisfactory from a historical point of view.
However, at this poin! Washington made one of his most famous and risky
decisions. On Christmas Day, Washington had his troops cross the freezing Delaware
River, and managed to plant an extremely cunning surprise attack against the
Hessian brigade stationed in Trenton. Roughly a week later, Washington defeated
yet another British installment at Princeton.
Later, Washington AGAIN made a risky decision to send many of his troops
up north to prevent an invasion from then-British-owned Canada, instead of
attempting to stop General Howe from taking over Philadelphia. This decision kept
the Canadian troops from connecting with Howe, and with a 'divide-and-conquer'
mentality the war continued in the favor of the Americans. While after this (L778)
the war turned its back on the rebels, by lTBt the tide had turned yet again for
Washington, with his risky decision to ask the French for help. The French helped 3-i Washington to defeat Cornwallis at Yorktown and finally win the war for the
Americans. While Washington made many risky decisions, the majority of them worked out very well for Washington at the Continental Army. LI -Z
Webster defines leadership simply as: "The quality of character and personality giving a person the ability to gain the confidence of and lead others." Webster defines George Washington as the 1st President of the United States; commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the
American Revolution (1732-1799). It seems that Webster is implying that Leadership and
Washington are synonymous. In reality they are. There is a debate as to whether Washington was truly a leader during the Revolutionary War or that through a series of British missteps
Washington was just lucky and any other General would have been just as effective. The argument made in this essay is Washington was an effective leader and without his role as
Commander-in-Chief the war would have been lost. First, Washington was a well respected member of society who was called upon by the likes of Jefferson, Adams, and our other fore- fathers not only to be Commander in Chief of the Continental Army but at two other important junctures in American History. Those two junctures were, after the war, Washington was unanimously elected the presiding officer at the Constitutional Convention that took place in
Philadelphiain 1787 and President for two terms.
As a military leader Washington was a towering physical figure of 6' tall, which was tall for the times, and vast experience gained as a Major during the French and Indian War to lead the
Revolution against the British. He clearly demonstrated his ability to cultivate Indian allies, develop strategy, and lead soldiers on the front lines in.the heat of battle. In defeat after the
Battle of Fort Necessity, the only time Washington surrendered, his leadership skills were still evident and knowing the best plan was to surrender and retum to Virginia with his troops as opposed to fight to the death and die with pride. 1-3
At the time the colonies were formed the South and North could not have been more different.
However, the fact that Washington was a Southerner was not an issue. He was perceived by
Northern and Southern fore-fathers as a credible figure and one fully capable of leading the
Revolution. It would be prudent to talk about his specific tactics and details during battles but those are well documented. The events like the Christmas Night Attack against the Hessians in the Battle of Trenton, Outmaneuvering the British during the Battle of Princeton, and The Battle of Yorktown leading to the British surrender and ending the war. Each of those events only come about because of Washington's Leadership and hands-on involvement otherwise if any other person was chosen to lead the Continental Army the Title of this essay would be "Failed
Military Leadership by Colonist Traitors." Several examples include keeping his troops together after Congress would not allow enlistments to last more than ayew especially during the Battle of Trenton where he persuaded soldiers to stay for 6 more weeks. This incident was not a specific battlefield tactic but one where personal persuasion was required at a time when morale was low. The Battle of Monmouth which the colonists under General Charles Lee were erratic in battle and Washington skillfully held ground as the British Army returned to New York. The
Newburgh Conspiracy where Washington intervened to stop a rebellion by Officer's after not getting paid or rewarded for their service to the country. A true leader leads by example and stays true to his convictions and beliefs. George Washington throughout the war was on the front lines and leading troops in every major American Revolution battle. But, the most important example of his leadership is that during the war and more at the end of the fighting
Washington had near Dictatorial Powers. Washington could have taken advantage of this and in essence make himself a King. However, Washington never lost site of the reasons for the
Revolution. Washington, staying true to his principals, resigned his commission because he 4-4 knew the bigger issue was to create a Government that would be governed by the people.
Unknown by the casual students of the American Revolution was Washington, although not a prolific writer as the key figures of the er4 had very strong views of what should come about after the Revolution. Washington writings reflected his views and were similar to the great fore- fathers of the time. Washington wanted a strong union, a legislature chosen by the people, a written constifution, the rule of law, an executive with power to enforce the law, a favor of federal law over individual state laws, and a permanent national military under civilian control.
Washington was willing to die to achieve those goals and by resigning his commission so the country could be formed in his, and others, vision is the single most important example of his leadership. That is, to sacrifice which could have been enoflnous personal gain for the good of the cause.
ln conclusion, a leader needs a vision and everything Washinglon warned about that could destroy the young country is true today. The two-party political environment today is divisive, our national debt is a threat to security, and education is more important than ever given the modern day media spin. No other example of the respect Washington commanded and a tribute to his time-tested leadership skills is on July 4,1976, one hundred and seventy-six years after his death, he was promoted to the Rank of General of the Army of the United States so that no other
Officer would ever hold a higher rank in Military History. Under our Constitution the President, a Civilian, is Commander in Chief. Washington was the Commander in Chief and had unprecedented powers. As a true leader he gave up those powers for the good of forming a nation. A nation today that is still true to his vision! 5-2
George Washington's leadership of the Continental Army has been both praised and criticized for over 200 years. George Washington as a man made his performance as commander-in-chief of the rebel forces during the American War for lndependence excellent. George Washington knew the military scene and atmosphere. He was taught very young by his father. As a kid George Washington was trained in fencing and the manual of arms. George Washington use to take walks in the woods just to explore and camp out there. So when it came time for him to fight as commander-in-chief of the rebel forces he already knew the woods and how to survive in them. All he had to do was teach his men the techniques that he already knew and practiced.
The main events that happened with regard to George Washington's performance as commander-in-chief of the rebel forces during the American War for Independence was leading them to victory. Washington attacked the British on the night of Christmas
Eve when all the British were ready to go to bed and not worry about anything but to enjoy Christnas day. George Washington forced the British out of Boston, lost New York but crossed the Deleware River in New Jersey. Later on that year Washinglon defeated the surprised enemy units. As a result of George Washington's strategy, revolutionary forces captured the two main British combat armies at Saratoga and Yorktown.
George Washington's performance as a commander-in-chief of the rebel forces in the American War of Independence was extraordinary. When Washington had a task it was mandatory to him that he gets it done. He didn't want it done any kind of way but wanted it done right and that's what he did. 6-2
In the relatively short time that humans have recorded history, the world has seen some truly remarkable human beings, including one of the most studied and respected men of all time
George Washington, the man who took on the greatest empire of the age and won. Still, today
General Washington's leadership of the Continental Army has been both praised and scrutinized with people debating whether or not he truly was a good commander. On the one side, it's clear that General Washington did make some mistakes, including strategically, where the more experienced generals like William Howe forced him out of crucial areas like New York.
However, the other side, which I happen to be part of, would argue that General Washington must be celebrated as a brilliant commander for three main reasons; that he did an incredible job with his limited resources, that he won when he needed to, and most importantly that he inspired an anny of untrained, undisciplined, and poorly paid men that was always on the verge of collapse.
At the beginning of the war, it seemed likely that the vast British Empire would crush the colonists, especially since they had little money and supplies, and were barely unified behind the
Continental Congress. And then came Washington. From the beginning, Washington, who asked for no salary- only that his expenses be paid, understood the situation that the Continental Army was in, and how important it was to conserve resources. A lesser commander might have been defeated when supplies from the Continental Congress Quartermaster were late or never came, but Washington was able to fight, and win, the entire war with the limited food, ammunition, and clothing that was so desperately needed. No other general that I can think of was supplied by a non-existent country and a weak and disorganized Congress, and then still won the war. For this
Washington must be praised, and yet a general cannot be great unless he wins battles, something
Washington was able to do when necessary. L-s
If one were to look at the winning and losing record of Washington during the war, it would be clear that he lost more battles than he won. In fact, aside from some inconsequential victories like Monmouth, Washington really only won three key battles; Trenton, Princeton, and
Yorktown, while losing at least nine. So how could a general who lost so much more than he won win awar? The answer is that General Washington could sense a key battle when it was taking place. All of those losses such as Brandywine in the beginning of the war were demoralizing and almost led to the collapse of the a(my. but the fact is it did survive, and
Washington knew that if he could just elude the enemy long enough, eventually a mistake would be made and he could turn the tide of the war. After being chased through New Jersey,
Washington f,rnally got that chance in the form of Trenton. On December 26,1776, only a general who recognizedthe potential importance of a sneak attack on the Hessians in Trenton would have dared brave the harsh weather and icy Delaware River. Yet, Washington decided to take this chance, and when it was over he had won one of the most important battles of the war.
Then only a few days later, on January 3, 1777, Washington followed up with another amazing surprise attack victory at Princeton, after successfully deceiving the British forces into thinking he hadn't left Trenton. These two victories boosted morale, led to the reenlistment of many soldiers, and showed people that the British army was not invincible and perhaps they could be bested. And of course no battle was as important as Yorktown, where once again Washington recognized the potential importance of the battle. In September 1781, Washington and his French allies led by compte de Rochambeau managed to trap General Cornwallis in Yorktown, and after a month long siege, forced him to surrender and eventually end the war. Many people deserve credit for these three victories, and yet if it had not been for the foresight of General Washington, these opportunities might have gone to waste. 6-4
Finally, one of the most important, and often overlooked, reasons that Washington should
be considered an outstanding commander, is the way in which he was able to keep together an
army that fought most of the war without any training, hardly ever got paid, and had to survive
harsh winters in terrible conditions. For example, throughofi 1776, Washington and his troops
were chased throughout New Jersey, and combined with a lack of adequate pay; this must have
left the troops completely demoralized. So when Christmas Eve 1776 arrived, and it was time to
prepare for the surprise attack on Trenton, Washington knew he had to do something to motivate
his army lest they lose the will to win the next day and hnish their active duty the following
week. That night, Washington ordered all of his officers to read a copy of "The Crisis" by
Thomas Paine to the troops to remind them of why they were there and what they were fighting
for. And it must have worked because the next day the Continentals fought brilliantly, with only
two casualties. Additionally, later in the war Washington decided that it was time to train his
men, and so while they were camped at Valley Forge, he brought in Prussian officer Baron von
Steuben to whip his men into shape. While this decision probably wasn't popular at the time, it
definitely made the Continental Army more effective and allowed them to win battles like
Yorktown.
There will always be a debate about whether Washington was a good commander. Yet for me, I can think of no other general who faced such odds and won. That only convinces me that he was a remarkable general, and I am extremely thankful that he was around to fight the most important war in the history of United States. 7-z
Our current perspective on history tends to dilute the realities faced by the participants of the past. Nothing is truer than the enormous challenges facing the Commander in Chief of the Continental
Army, George Washington.
The colonies faced an imminent attack from Britain, provoked by the colonist's resistance and reaction to the lntolerable Acts. Previous incidences like the famous Boston Tea Party had escalated the likelihood of a British attack. George Washington recognized that the success of defending the separate colonies would be futile by relying on the militias from the thirteen separate colonies from not only an initial attack but also from defending sustained attacks from Britain. At that time he could not have realized that the Revolutionary War would persist eight years. lnternally, he faced opposition from the colonists who did not want a standing army. This aversion came about from the distaste of quartering solders in one's home. Later this aversion leads to the Third Amendment of the Constitution as well as influenced the Bill of Rights. Washington did however recognize that the colonists had a strong initial colonial spirit, fueled by the outrage against the lntolerable Acts. He also recognized the rising sentiment of becoming separated permanently from Britain. I believe Washington took these ideals to heart and used that spirit to rally the colonies to accept a unified army. On June 15, t776,the Second Continental
Congress elected George Washington to become Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.
One can argue that gaining colonist's acceptance was the easier aspect of creating the
Continental Army. Even understanding that Washington needed to build an army from the "boots up" was also easier in comparison, but should not be taken lightly. The real challenges began once the army was in place. Meager funding, poor food rations, and limited clothing resulted in solders fleeing from the army. He now faced mutiny on many fronts from his solders. lnterestingly, it is noted that Washington did not collect a salary, only his expenses were paid. This gives some perspective to his awareness of empathy toward his troops as well as personally experiencing the effects of insufficient funds.
Page 1 of 3 7-3
Furthermore, colonists who initially joined the Continental Army and got caught by the British would be charged for treason. This resulted in being imprisoned in abject conditions. Colonists would be held in ship hulls or Iarge warehouses, in close contact, without food or fresh water and living in unsanitary conditions. This too, Washington needed to face head on.
His early setbacks like the invasion of the New York area by the British General William Howe, exposed the lack of military training Washington's troops received as compared to the well trained and professional British troops. This further reduced troop morale and general hopes for independence.
However, George Washington as well as his troops persisted and learned along the way, although at great peril to loss of life and limb.
Washington's crossing of the Delaware River is often used to exemplify the lack of supplies and basic military clothing his troops had on that cold and wet Christmas Day in 1776. History sometimes can be brought even closer to home. I live only a few miles away from where the Pompton Mutiny at Federal
Hill took place. As a result of the dissent of Washington's solders under Commander lsrael Shreve , two soldiers were claimed to have been executed on the spot for mutiny, as reported by General Robert
Howe (not to be confused with British GeneralWilliam Howe). The 160 solders mutinied because of bad conditions, insufficient clothing and limited food. Again, this was a common theme among troop discontent. Although no remains of the bodies were ever found, it does bring home the realities faced by Washington and the extent of actions needed to be taken in order to keep control of the troops in the ContinentalArmY.
George Washington, I believe was successful at leading the Continental Army. lt is certainly difficult to fully understand the magnitude of maintaining communications and control over an army quite dispersed without our modern day conveniences such as the internet and satellite communications, let alone the availability of modern day weaponry. His success is in the results. The
Page 2 of 3 1-'l
results of the actions of the Continental Army was significant in that it lead to the Treaty of Paris,
brought an end to the American Revolutionary War and laid down the foundation to the next phase in
American history. lndependence was finally a result. Even at the end of the Revolutionary War, and with the success of the Continental Army, Washington continued to struggle with retaining a peace time army. Congress finally agreed to Washington's concept, but to a much smaller army. Eventually this
peace time army would grow and become more organized. The Continental Army ultimately resulted in the transformation into the current United States Army. Without the successful results of George
Washington's leadership and persistence of the Continental Army, perhaps our country would not have
become the independent United States of America but perhaps a united colony of the United Kingdom.
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At the beginning of the American Revolution, George Washington was in the prime of his life. A large man for his time, standing six foot two inches tall about 190 pounds,
Washington looked like a man that demanded respect and obedience. After the battles of
Lexington and ConcordinlTT5, Washington was officially made Commander in Chief of the
Continental Army. Throughout the eight year war, Washington proves his honorable leadership
during victories, such as the Battle at Trenton, draws, such as the Battle of Monmouth, and
defeats, such as the Battle at Brandywine. All commanders win and lose, but it is relatively clear
that through his overwhelming leadership skills, Washington's performance as Commander in
Chief of the Rebel Forces during the American Revolution is one of the most prominent factors
in the United States' victory over our oppressors.
In May of 1778, after several years of difficult battle, WashinSon decided to attack the
British and Hessian forces as they evacuated Philadelphia. Although the baggage train was only
evacuating, the America troops took the opporhrnity to harass the British troops by burning
bridges, ruining wells, and blocking the roads with cut down trees in order to prevent them from
moving very far. Washington wanted an all-out attack on the enemy forces, but was
outnumbered by a vote of officers. Washington's impeccably military strategy should not have
been questioned simply because he recognized that the enemies were spread out across the state
in the baggage train and therefore more vulnerable to attack and more likely to be defeated.
However, being the fair man that he was, Washington chose to act on the majority decision, yet
he still made preparations for an attack. On June 28,1778, after consolidating his troops near
Monmouth, New Jersey, Washington orders an attack for the next day. Shortly after the Battle
of Monmouth begins and the troops begin to retreat, Washington's leadership shines through
when he rides into the midst of the retreat and tells his men to turn around. Washington was B-.-3 reported to have been riding all over the field, under enemy fire himself, encouraging his troops and his presence actually reverse the action of the battle. The fight ended at nightfall in a draw, however when examining the American Army's ability to hold the field against the British
Regulars, victory in favor of the rebels can be argued. Yet, it is obvious that without General
Washington's immense leadership skills and overwhelming courage the American Army would have retreated in tatters and ultimately the rebellion would have been lost.
Just as many other commanders, George Washington did not win every battle. However, he still managed to assert strong leadership and courage in the face of battle, even when it seemed impossible. On September ll, 1777, the British forces began marching towards
Philadelphia with intentions of taking the city. Waiting out along the Brandywine Creek,
Washington believed the entire British force was going to attack the front of his line planned for such an attack. Unfortunately, he was severely outmaneuvered when they appeared at his right flank. In an attempt to save his army, Washington moved many of his men to higher ground, but the sudden appearance of the enemy at the left and the sudden change of orders caused too much confusion and the Americans were unable to defend themselves. After a heated battle in which the Americans fought valiantly, Washington's army retreated. The loss had nothing to do with the American's ability to fight or Washington's leadership; if anything both factors prevented more severe losses. However, the rebel forces did decrease from around 15,000 to around 6,500 men. Although there were still many casualties, prisoners, and desertions, Washington's leadership shone as he prevented more severe losses and had total control of his army at all time.
Clearly, Washington's undeniable leadership gave the troops courage and ultimately led to the victory of the Rebel Forces during the War of Independence. ?- r(
Finally, the most evident example of George Washington's leadership and courage is the
Battle of Trenton on December 26,1776. After losing much of his army to enlistment
expirations at the beginning of December, the threat of losing more to expirations at the end of the year caused Washington to plan an attack on the enemy troops that had just retreated over the
Delaware River. Washington's incredible military strategic mind planned a three stage attack to
surprise the Hessians on the day after Christmas. When bad weather fell upon the troops,
Washington's courage overcame that of the other two segments and he crossed the partially
frozen Delaware River in freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and sleet. Although he wanted to
attack under the cover of darkness, the bad weather delayed him and he attacked the Hessian troops early the next morning, much to their surprise. This battle is still one of the most victorious of the Revolutionary War simply because there were only two American casualties, neither from battle, and the American forces managed to capture around 900 Hessian soldiers and inflicted 100 casualties on the enemy ranks. The army that was once at risk of losing most of its numbers now had an influx of new enlistments and many men renewed their enlistments.
This victory exemplified Washington's leadership and courage as his segment was the only one that proceeded in the unfavorable weather and the victory solidified his command. Clearly,
Washington's skills as a commander and his undeniable courage aided the American troops in their ultimate victory during the war for independence from Britain.
At the beginning of the American Revolution, the Rebel Forces were severely outnumbered, had little or no military skills, and lacked proper equipment. The one strength the rebels had was their commander, General George Washington. An impressive man for his time,
Washington looked and acted the part of a commander. Throughout the course of the eight year war for independence, Washington proved his honorable leadership during defeat, such as the 8,d
Battle of Brandywine, victory, such as the Battle at Trenton, and draws, such as the Battle of
Monmouth. Although no commander wants to lose, Washington still displayed honorable leadership skills and outstanding courage and ultimately ledthe Rebel Army to victory over
Great Britain. q-z
George Washington is a fantastic figure of the American Revolution and the earliest days of the nation in which we live. General Washington was responsible for both military strategy and leading the men under his command. He had an unparalleled sense of what his soldiers and officers needed to survive, and for that they respected and honored him. His 'success' in military strategy and in the execution of maneuvers is really more myth then real success. This being said, General George Washington was undeniably a fantastic leader, but his military career lacks the greatness of a true military mastermind.
George Washington truly understood the needs of the men under his command, but unfortunately, at times he was unable to do anything for his men. In the winter of l78l-l782,the
Continental Army was cold, hungry, and missing the pay it was due. Washington was faced with a number of mutinies in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey companies due to these grievances.
Washington managed, through his efficient dealings, to put these uprisings down with very liule loss of life and prevented other mutinies from occurring (Zinn 81-82). Late in 1873, Washington prevented another mutiny, this time in the ranks of his officers, who had not been paid for their service. Washington sensed their despondency and spoke to them, recognizing their years of sacrifice and appealing to their senses of honor and reason. James Thomas Flexner, a
Washington biographer, stated that "Washington saved the United States from tyranny and discord" (Stazesky). George Washington was truly a leader of men; he managed to maintain focus on his overall goals and the commitment to his cause of independence, all in a very trying time in the newly formed republic. He also had a way of winning the hearts of his officers and the enlisted men that he encountered. Washington made sure that his men were well equipped to fight their enemy and attempted to obtain their pay for their service in the Continental Army.
This showed an unparalleled understanding of the needs and desires of ordinary men (Stazesky). 9-s
However, Washington lacked a sense of the natural assets of the Continental Army. At the time of the American Revolution, the British Army was the greatest army in the world. They were used to the European style of fighting, which encompassed countless rows of men lined up in a field firing guns at one another. The Continental Army, however, was better suited to the
Native American style of warfare, which encompassed the use of ambushes and surprise attacks.
This was displayed in the initial success of the Massachusetts militia at Lexington and Concord, where the militia used their knowledge of the terrain and the cover of the woods surrounding the road to attack the British Army as they retreated to Boston. Although Washington did not lead these men, he should have identified the Continental Army's strengths and their advantage in using surprise attacks versus attempting to use the European style of warfare (Newman 80). At the Battle of Long Island, General Washington attempted to defeat the British in the European style of fighting, but realized, almost too late, that he was out maneuvered and out matched
(Logan). Had he realized the advantage of his army's knowledge of the terrain and guerrilla warfare, this stunning defeat could have been avoided. The general began to show arealization of his army's strengths at the Battle of Trenton, where he surprised the British troops early on
December 26, 1776 (Logan). Yet, Washington returned to his previous strategy of attempting to beat the British with their own style of warfare (Logan). Finally, after six years of war, General
Washington realized the assets he had in his army. He began to use his army in an advantageous way, especially at the end of the war in the Battle of Yorktown, where he utilized a siege and capitalized on the opportunities that General Cornwallis presented (Logan).
George Washington was a man of many talents and one who had a true understanding of people. Washington's adept handling of the Whiskey Rebellion in his time as president proves this; however he struggled with military tactics and maneuvers. In the French and Indians War, q-l
Washington built a fort in a valley! Although it was a necessity, this showed poor military and tactical judgment, something the young Washington struggled with for years. While this did not affect George Washington's true ability as a natural leader, it did make him more human than god. George Washington was a man who could comprehend the needs of others in a way that was not matched by any other man of his time. His leadership qualities are what cause him to be such an inspiration to this day and why we Americans are proud to call him the "Father of Our
Country". It is also why we, as Americans, can so easily forgive his flaws.
Sources
Logan, Joseph. "The American Revolution." The Battle of Chelsea Creek. N.p., 2011. Web. 31
J an 2012. Newman, John, and John Schmalbach. Preparingfor the advanced placement examination, Unrted States History. Second Edition. New York: Amsco School Publications,2010. Print. Stazesky, R. C.. "George Washington, Genius in Leadership." The Papers of George Washington N.p.,2000. Web. 3| Jm2012. Zinn, Howard. A People's History Of The United States, 1492-presenl. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2005. Print.