Washington was one of the six Virginian delegates appointed to the first continental congress; and in June, 1775, was appointed by that body commander-in-chief of the continental army. For this important position his previous education had exactly adapted him. Not only was he skilled in military affairs; taught by precept and experience the art of war; but his extensive knowledge of the geographical-character of the country, and his familiarity with the characteristics and qualifications of the royal army, made him certainly the most dangerous antagonist as a commanding officer, with whom that army could have to cope in the colonies.
Immediately after his appointment Washington left Philadelphia and joined the army at Cambridge, assuming command on July 2, 1775. This army numbered 17,000 men, all told, including the sick. It was in want of everything which could make it an effective fighting force—arms ammunition, accoutrements; and, worse than all, esprit de corps. The course pursued by congress in making its appointments had occasioned much discontent among the general officers; tin organization was defective; a commissary and adj.gen. were more needed than a brave warrior, or a skillful tactician. In Washing ton, fortunately for the country, were combined all three. He proceeded at once to complete an effective organization of his small army, by forming it into six brigades of six regiments each, keeping the troops from each colony as far as practicable, together, and placing them under a commander from their colony. He sustained a constant cor respondence with congress; pressing his views earnestly upon that body, and, though slowly, with marked success. All the officers were commissioned anew by congress, and by degrees a continental army was formed. Washington corresponded with the heads of the different colonial governments, and afterward with the governors of the various states; and by these various means succeeded at length—not only in creating the American army, but in becoming the sole channel of communication between it and the numerous and complicated depositories of authority in the United States. But all this was accomplished amid embarrassments innumerable. The army itself became dimin ished by the expiration of terms of enlistment; there were cabals among the officers, and disagreements with the civil authorities; yet, despite all opposing influences, the British were held in check during the year 1775, and until a new army could be collected, and arms and ammunition supplied. On March 4, 1776, the Americans took possession of Dorchester heights, and ou the 17th the British evacuated Boston, and their fleet put to sea; whereupon Washington at once proceeded to New York, with the design to pre vent a landing. In this he was foiled; partly through the incompetence of his own offi tiers; partly on the account of the royalist Strength in New York. The landing was effected, and the Americans were defeated in the battle of Long Island, Aug. -17, 1776; and Washington was forced to abandon New York to its fate, and retreat up the e. bank of the Hudson. He crossed the Hudson, Nov. 12, with only 4,000 men; was hotly pursued through New Jersey by the British; and, when he crossed the Delaware into Pennsylvania, had less than 3,009 weary, half-starved, dispirited soldiers underhis com mand. Three weeks later, with only 2,400 men, he captured more than 1,009 Hessians at Trenton ; stole away from the superior forces of Cornwallis, defeating his reserve at Princeton; and by Mar. 1, 1777, not a British or Hessian soldier was to be found in New Jersey, save a remnant at New Brunswick and Amboy. Frederick the great declared, with regard to the achievements of Washington and his little band of heroes, between Dec. 25, and Jan. 4, following, that they were not excelled in brilliancy by any recorded in the annals of military actions. In the mean time congress had seen the necessity of enlisting a regular army of men for a longer period than a year, which had been its pre vious judgment; and it now conferred dictatorial powers on gen. Washington. The cam
paign of 1777 opened about the middle of June, and was disastrous to the Americans from the beginning. They were defeated in the battle of the Brandywine, Sept. 11; and the British entered Philadelphia two weeks later. On Oct. 4 they were again defeated at Germantown; and early in December, Washington and his half-clothed and worn-out command made their terrible march to Valley Forge; where on the 11th they went into winter quarters, in a fortified encampment. During that winter Washington and his troops were subjected to inconceivable privations; and to add to his embarrassment, a conspiracy among his own general officers had nearly resulted in deposing him from his command; and was only frustrated by the firmness and good sense of congress, and by theiriendly influence of Lafayette and De Kalb, who fully sustained him in this try ing moment. Meanwhile, the men suffered for lack of food and proper clothinc; the quartermasters and commissariat departments were deranged and inadequate; and the patriot cause was at the lowest ebb of its fortunes. But congress took up the question of properly recruiting and providing the army; a treaty with France was ratified with great rejoicing on the part of the Americans; and the British, although only 20 m. dis tant from the American camp, permitted the winter and spring to pass without any of fensive movement. All of these circumstances combined enabled Washington to open the campaign of 1778 in somewhat better condition, and with an army in good spirits. Howe evacuated Philadelphia June 18, and Washington crossed the Delaware with his whole army, attacking the enemy at Monmouth, when they retreated, after a sharp en gagement. Washington continued his march to the Hudson, which he crossed, and en camped near White Plains. He now distributed his troops in a line of cantonments around New York, extending from Long Island sound to the Delaware; arranged for the defense of New England; and in December went into winter quarters. During the whole of 1779 Washington retained his position In the highlands of the Hudson, and remained on the defensive. In 1780 the French government sent out count Rocham beau, who arrived at Newport, It I., July 10, with an expedition ; and combined oper ations were concerted, but not carried out on account of the naval superiority of the British. The features of importance of this year were the capture and execution of inaj. Andre, and the discovery of the treason of Benedict Arnold. The year 1781 found Washington hampered by a vacillating and unreliable congress, doubtful of its own powers, and, althowth now strongly supported by the French auxiliary army and lib eral supplies from Prance, unable to bring these advantages into full use and applica tion. But in the latter part of, September the Americans and French united completely invested Yorktown, Va., where was lord Cornwallis, with the British force. On Oct. 17 the latter proposed a cessation of hostilities; and two days later lie capitulated with his whole army. This concluded the active operations of the war, and the following year was chiefly occupied by Washington in endeavors to heal quarrels among his offi cers, and to obtain for them from congress the concessions they demanded, and to which they were doubtless rightfully entitled. There is no doubt that had Washington so de sired, he could at this time have founded a monarchy, sustained by the bayonets of his army. He took the course, on the contrary, of quelling this disposition on the part of his soldiers, whenever it showed itself. On Nov. 25, 1783, the British evacuated New York; ou Dec. 4 he delivered his farewell address to the army; and on Dec. 23 lie re signed his commission and retired into private life.