As the American army fell back mile after mile the character of the leader was tested to its utmost. His generals grew insubordinate, his men deserted by whole companies, through out the Jerseys thousands took oath of allegiance to George III, and everywhere there were mur murs of. discontent with this sort of a campaign. Then it was seen that Washington's courage was not mere disregard of danger, but the sort that long endures uncertainty and never shrinks responsibility, bearing in silence temporary unpopularity or exasperating misrepresentation.
When the army at last crossed the Delaware the roll-call would muster but 3,000 men. Straining his powers to the furthest bounds, Washington kept this force together, and.added as many more. Concerning some of his ex traordinary measures, Washington wrote Con gress: °A character to lose, an estate to for feit, the inestimable blessing of liberty at stake, and a life devoted must be my excuse." Be fore the holidays he was ready to strike a blow for liberty, and to sustain his character. Cross ing the Delaware, 25 Dec. 1776, in spite of pitchy darkness and grinding ice, he marched through a sleeting storm nine miles to Trenton. The Hessians there were surprised and driven to surrender. Some 900 prisoners were taken to the other side of the river, and then Wash ington crossed again to win another victory at Pnnceton. The whole situation was changed. The wretched retreat was forgotten or regarded as only the prelude to the startling and brilliant victories. In England, Walpole declared that Washington was both a Fabius and a Ca millus. His whole campaign got a new color because of its issue. In the Russian court, in Frederick's cabinet, and in the aristocratic cir cles of Paris, Madrid and Vienna the campaign was praised as if the end had been in Washing ton's view from the first. The victories made Washington's military reputation rest on some thing tangible, to which men might point. Mere faith such as the Americans had shown hereto fore had little effect on foreign critics. The European soldiers grew more interested, and their favorable opinion had vast influence in winning foreign aid. Washington had been so consistently patient and brave in adversity, so silent under unjust criticism, never talking down his mistakes, or glossing his errors, that the hour of victory brought its ten-fold reward in sympathy and confidence. He had quietly as
sumed so much obloquy that any stint of his praise seemed unjust and ungenerous. The vic tories renewed American confidence in their leader, and from that time on whatever there was of unity for political or military purposes among the 13 States came of the common faith in Washington.
Congress now put its whole trust in him — until a temporary reverse put him again in the shadow of Its distrust. It provided for long enlistments to take the place of the evanescent three months' levies that had ruined Washing ton's army heretofore, just as he had it drilled. He was made a veritable dictator as to all that might affect the success of the army, its disci pline and its supplies. It was well that the commander-in-chief had made this brilliant stroke, which appealed to all those who saw only the surface of the Revolution. For 18 months thereafter nothing but reverse and mis fortune and terrible trial fell to the leader's lot. While Gates was gathering unearned laurels at Saratoga, and the American cause was vastly advanced by Burgoyne's defeat and the conse quent French alliance— while others were get ting glory and significant victories, Washington was manceuvring with Howe, always refusing battle, or, as at Brandywine Creek, 11 Sept. 1777, and Germantown, 4 Oct. 1777, meeting de feat. To the superficial observer there was only failure for Washington and success for his rivals. There seemed no great work in merely keeping an army together, delaying Howe and keeping him from going north to Burgoyne's rescue. When, at last, the British settled down cosily in the °rebel capital*— when Philadel phia had taken Howe, as Franklin so cleverly expressed it — Washington encamped at Valley Forge, 19 Dec. 1777, his popularity waning at the very moment when he began to render his greatest service to his country. There, in the mast trying hour, he continued to do what had been his greatest task from the first. In spite of jealous States and a wrangling Congress, and while deprived of aU that source of power which a strong government gives to a com mander, Washington kept together a starved and suffering army by his personal firmness, patience and judicious handling of men.