Short Essay-- George Washington-- Written April 2017
The Indispensable Man[1]
Indispensable.
This is the word
used by James Thomas Flexner to describe General George Washington. It is an
accurate choice, for though the general was not always popular, he was certainly
needed.[2]
Among other descriptions, he is also known as the ‘father of our nation’—a
title at times debated among searchers of history. Flexner’s work describes a
fallible, flawed, but stubbornly forward-moving man whose sole motivation is to
improve upon the things within his sphere of influence. The accounts therein
lead one to the conclusion that Washington was, indeed, the father of our
nation; though not the only founder nor the principal one, it was his ideas of
a union, initiated under his command through the establishment of an army
united throughout territories, that eventually took shape as the constitution
of the United States.[3]
General Washington’s
views, however, were not always held in favor by those he associated with.
Washington was ridiculed, reviled, and even undercut by some of his fellow
officers.[4]
Often, at the culmination of what is now known as the Revolutionary War,
Washington was even given the sole blame for the situation of his poor and
ill-equipped armies.[5]
How, then, did he climb from ridicule and failure to the decorated reputation
he holds now, as the general who won the war?
The answer is not a
simple one, nor was it a simple endeavor for our general. Washington struggled
from the beginning of his appointment as Commander to secure the supplies
needed for his armies and, at times, the armies themselves.[6]
Often, the armies he did secure were not only insufficient in numbers, but in
courage—many fled in the face of the British armies.
To General
Washington’s frustration, Congress urged him more than once to seize needed
supplies at bayonet point[7],
an act which Washington found not only cruel, but counterproductive: he felt
the civilians’ support was an essential piece to the puzzle of winning the war.[8]
Washington’s suppositions in this regard proved to be true.
There are many
factors which went into the turnaround that led to General Washington’s
eventual success in the Revolutionary War. Were we to explore them in detail,
we would find ourselves in a long-winded discussion occupying many hours. Due
to this, I will restrict my comments to the points which were most influential
in ensuring General Washington’s success.
The first of these
is the oft referred to state of General Washington’s views on the subject.
Washington considered the war to be a great deal more complicated than simple
army tactics. It was a war of psychology, unity, and loyalty; both to ideals
and to individuals. Washington’s own loyalty lay with the people: “If bleeding,
dying! Would glut their insatiate revenge, I would be a willing offering to
savage fury, and die by inches to save a people!”[9]
One view of
Washington’s which proved to be controversial was that of a united nation and a
declaration of independence[10].
At the time of the war, the territories considered themselves separate nations
and operated under the assumption that they were in alliance to secure their
freedom, and would then disband to separate, small nations. It was thus
unpopular when Washington treated the army as one united entity, rather than
separate state militias.[11]
However, it was this
unique view, along with others, that made General Washington the influential
leader that he became. The General’s willingness to learn from prior
misfortunes and mistakes[12]
coupled with an open-mindedness and determination unique among leaders[13],
enabled him to persist through disagreements, scorn, and compromise, leading to
a nation which he hoped would prove to be a peaceful united republic.[14]
[1]
Reference material: George Washington, The Indispensable Man, by James Thomas
Flexner
[2] Well-illustrated
on p. 174, par. 2-5 – p. 175, par. 1
[3] P.
211, par. 3
[4]
P.116, the Conway Cabal.
[5] P.
110, par. 5
[6] P.
109, par. 5
[7] P.
110, par. 1
[9] P.
30, par. 4
[10] P.
49, par. 3
[11] P.
79, par. 1
[12]
Pg. 38, par. 3
[14] “He
was deeply impressed by Thomas Paine’s arguments and exhortations in Common Sense.” P. 74, par. 2
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