31 Ibid., vol. 36, 12-21-97. In his “Speech to the Delaware Chiefs, Washington said, “Brothers: I am a Warrior. My words are few and plain; but I will make good what I say.” WGW, vol. 15, 5-12-1779. Writing to Richard Henry Lee, however, Washington was forced to explain his words: “Dear Sir: By your favor of the 22d ultimo, I perceive my letter of the 17th has been expressed in too strong terms. I did not mean by the words, “to get rid of importunity,” to cast the smallest reflection; indeed the hurry with which I am obliged to write the few private letters I attempt, will not allow me to consider the force and tendency of my words; nor should I have been surprised, if the fact had really been so, if I am to judge of their, I mean foreigners’ applications to Congress, by those to myself; for it is not one, nor twenty explanations, that will satisfy the cravings of these people’s demands.” WGW, vol. 8, 6-1-1777. But Washington’s deeds were sometimes misunderstood as well: “Conscious that it is the aim of my actions to promote the public good, and that no part of my conduct is influenced by personal enmity to individuals, I cannot be insensible to the artifices employed by some men to prejudice me in the public esteem.” WGW, vol. 1, 4-14-1779.
32 Grizzard, George Washington: A Biographical Companion, p. 51.
33 On the western frontier, somewhere in the wilderness of Pennsylvania, Colonel George Washington, barely in his twenties, led an expedition on behalf of the British Governor of Virginia to counter the claims of the French. The Indians were on both sides of this conflict between Britain and France, concerning the possession and control of North America. He and his men, including several Indians, came across a hidden French military encampment. They opened fire killing and captured several French soldiers. To Washington, they were intruders and spies. The French, however, claimed they were a diplomatic military escort simply protecting an unarmed French ambassador who was one of the killed. This was the incident that triggered the French and Indian War. Without this shot by Washington, “the shot heard round the world” at the “rude bridge” of Lexington and Concord may not have been fired. The French retaliated with a larger force and forced Washington and his men to surrender, after a battle at Washington’s hastily built Fort Necessity. As part of the terms of surrender Washington, who did not read French at all with the assistance of his translator who did not read French well enough, signed a French document in which he unwittingly confessed to having “assassinated” the ambassador! This agreement of capitulation was later called “the most infamous a British Subject ever put his Hand to.” The French never forgave the British for this “outrage.” Willard Sterne Randall, George Washington: A Life (New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1997), p. 103ff.
34 Ibid., p. 107.
35 WGW, vol. 1, 5-31-1754 Washington wrote to John Augustine Washington, “ Since my last arrived at this place, where three days ago we had an engagement with the French, that is, a party of our men with one of theirs. Most of our men were out upon other detachments, so that I had scarcely 40 men remaining under my command, and about 10 or 12 Indians; nevertheless we obtained a most signal victory. The battle lasted about 10 or 15 minutes, with sharp firing on both sides, till the French gave ground and ran, but to no great purpose. There were 12 killed of the French, among whom was Mons. de Jumonville, their commander, and 21 taken prisoners, among whom are Mess. La Force and Drouillon, together with two cadets. I have sent them to his honour the Governor, at Winchester, under a guard of 20 men, conducted by Lieutenant West. We had but one man killed, and two or three wounded. Among the wounded on our side was Lieutenant Waggener, but no danger, it is hoped, will ensue. We expect every hour to be attacked by superior force, but, if they forbear one day longer, we shall be prepared for them. We have already got entrenchments, are about a pallisado which I hope will be finished to-day. The Mingoes have struck the French and I hope will give a good blow before they have done. I expect 40 odd of them here tonight, which, with out fort and some reinforcements from Col. Fry, will enable us to exert our noble courage with spirit. P.S. I fortunately escaped without any wound, for the right wing, where I stood, was exposed to and received all the enemy’s fire, and it was the part where the man was killed, and the rest wounded. I heard the bullets whistle, and, believe me, there is something charming in the sound. WGW Note: “From the London Magazine (August, 1754). Horace Walpole’s Memoirs of George the Second relates that the King, on hearing that Washington described the sound of whistling bullets as ‘charming,’ said: ‘He would not say so, if he had been used to hear many.’”
36 Zall, Washington on Washington, p. 11.
37 The spurious letters were in essence forged letters intended to weaken Washington by damaging his character. WGW, vol. 5, 6-12-1776. Note: “The first of the “Spurious Letters.” They were published in London in 1776 by J. Bew in a small pamphlet under the title of “Letters from General Washington, to several of his Friends in the year 1776,” etc. Handbills of one of the letters therefrom to Mrs. Washington were struck off by Rivington, in New York, as soon as the pamphlet reached America. A photostat copy of one of these bills is in the Library of Congress (Manuscripts Division). A complete reprint of the London pamphlet was also issued in America in 1778, and Hildeburn claims it as a Philadelphia imprint. The letters were plainly political propaganda put out by the London publisher, as much, it seems, for profit as for mischief-making, though the influences behind the move have not been traced. In America the reprint was made in the hope of creating discord between the New England and Southern Colonies. Washington attributed them to John Randolph, the last royalist attorney general of Virginia. The English magazines of 1776 expressed doubt of the authenticity of the letters and their hoped-for effect fell flat. In 1796 these letters were printed again, in New York, under the title “Epistles, Domestic, Confidential and Glacial from General Washington,” to injure Washington’s political standing, and he then took the trouble to refute their authenticity in a letter to Timothy Pickering, pointing out their discrepancies at some length. (See Mar. 3, 1797, post.)”
38 WGW, vol. 21, 3-26-1781.
39 Ibid., vol. 27, 3-25-1784.
40 Ibid., vol. 32, 5-20-1792. Madison’s notes of these conversations, May 5 and 9, are in the Madison Papers in the Library of Congress. They are printed in Victor Hugo Paltsits’s, Washington’s Farewell Address (New York Public Library: 1935).
41 David Humphreys, Life of General Washington with George Washington’s “Remarks” (London: The University of George Press, 1991).
42 WGW, vol. 28, 7-25-1785.
43 WGW, vol. 28, 8-18-1786.
44 Zall, Washington on Washington, p. 13.
45 Ibid., p. 13.
46 Jackson and Twohig, ed, The Diaries of George Washington, Volume 5, November, Sunday 8th, 1789. “It being contrary to Law & disagreeable to the People of this State (Connecticut) to travel on the Sabbath day and my horses after passing through such intolerable Roads wanting rest, I stayed at Perkins’s Tavern (which by the bye is not a good one) all day—-and a meeting House being with in a few rod of the Door, I attended Morning & evening Service, and heard very lame discourses from a Mr. Pond.
1 GW correctly interpreted New England attitudes toward travel on the Sabbath. The Pennsylvania Packet, 3 Nov. 1789, noted with approval that Tristram Dalton and John Adams, on their way to Boston, broke their journey at Springfield in order not to travel on Sunday. “How pleasing the idea, that the most venerable and respectable characters of our Federal Legislature, pay such strict attention to the Sabbath.” See also Mass. Centinel, 24 Oct. 1789.
47 Jackson and Twohig, ed, The Diaries of George Washington, Friday Feb. 15th, 1760. “Went to a Ball at Alexandria—where Musick and Dancing was the chief Entertainment. However in a convenient Room detachd for the purpose abounded great plenty of Bread and Butter, some Biscuets with Tea, & Coffee which the Drinkers of coud not Distinguish from Hot water sweetned. Be it remembered that pocket handkerchiefs servd the purposes of Table Cloths & Napkins and that no Apologies were made for either. I shall therefore distinguish this Ball by the Stile & title of the Bread & Butter Ball.” Editors add additional note: “The Proprietors of this Ball were Messrs. Carlyle Laurie & Robt. Wilson, but the Doctr. not getting it conducted agreeable to his own taste woud claim no share of the merit of it. A man named Robert Wilson voted for GW in the 1758 Frederick County election for the House of Burgesses. GW apparently played cards at the ball, because on the following day he recorded the loss of 7s. ‘By Cards’”
48 Zall, Washington on Washington, pp. 13-14.
49 WGW, vol. 1, 7-18-1755.
50 Washington humorously criticizes a family member for missing church due to having a baby by using Christian language. WGW, vol. 37, 8-28-1762. Writing to Burwell Bassett on August 28, 1762, Washington writes with tongue in cheek, “ Dear Sir: I was favoured with your Epistle wrote on a certain 25th of July when you ought to have been at Church, praying as becomes every good Christian Man who has as much to answer for as you have; strange it is that you will be so blind to truth that the enlightning sounds of the Gospel cannot reach your Ear, nor no Examples awaken you to a sense of Goodness; could you but behold with what religious zeal I hye me to Church on every Lords day, it would do your heart good, and fill it I hope with equal fervency; but heark’ee; I am told you have lately introduced into your Family, a certain production which you are lost in admiration of, and spend so much time in contemplating the just proportion of its parts, the ease, and conveniences with which it abounds, that it is thought you will have little time to animadvert upon the prospect of your crops &c; pray how will this be reconciled to that anxious care and vigilance, which is so escencially necessary at a time when our growing Property, meaning the Tobacco, is assailed by every villainous worm that has had an existence since the days of Noah (how unkind it was of Noah now I have mentioned his name to suffer such a brood of vermin to get a birth in the Ark) but perhaps you may be as well of as we are; that is, have no Tobacco for them to eat and there I think we nicked the Dogs, as I think to do you if you expect any more; but not without a full assurance of being with a very sincere regard etc.”
Washington humorously writes a thank you note for a poem written in his honor by taking on the role of a spiritual confessor. WGW, vol. 27, 9-2-1783. Washington laughingly writes to Mrs. Annis Boucinot Stockton, “You apply to me, My dear Madam, for absolution as tho’ I was your father Confessor; and as tho’ you had committed a crime, great in itself, yet of the venial class You have reason good, for I find myself strangely disposed to be a very indulgent ghostly Adviser on this occasion; and, notwithstanding “you are the most offending Soul alive” (that is, if it is a crime to write elegant Poetry) yet if you will come and dine with me on Thursday and go through the proper course of penitence, which shall be prescribed, I will strive hard to assist you in expiating these poetical trespasses on this side of purgatory. Nay more, if it rests with me to direct your future lucubrations, I shall certainly urge you to a repetition of the same conduct, on purpose to shew what an admirable knack you have at confession and reformation; and so, without more hesitation, I shall venture to command the Muse not to be restrained by ill-grounded timidity, but to go on and prosper.
“You see Madam, when once the Woman has tempted us and we have tasted the forbidden fruit, there is no such thing as checking our appetites, whatever the consequences may be. You will I dare say, recognize our being the genuine Descendents of those who are reputed to be our great Progenitors.
“Before I come to the more serious Conclusion of my Letter, I must beg leave to say a word or two about these Fine things you have been telling in such harmonious and beautiful Numbers. Fiction is to be sure the very life and Soul of Poetry. All Poets and Poetesses have been indulged in the free and indisputable use of it, time out of Mind. And to oblige you to make such an excellent Poem, on such a subject, without any Materials but those of simple reality, would be as cruel as the Edict of Pharaoh which compelled the Children of Israel to Manufacture Bricks without the necessary Ingredients. Thus are you sheltered under the authority of prescription, and I will not dare to charge you with an intentional breach of the Rules of the decalogue in giving so bright a colouring to the services I have been enabled to render my Country; though I am not conscious of deserving any thing more at your hands, than what the purest and most disinterested friendship has a right to claim; actuated by which, you will permit me, to thank you in the most affectionate manner for the kind wishes you have so happily expressed for me and the partner of all my Domestic enjoyments.”
51 Washington humorously describes the very different world of a retired president laboring as a farmer than that of a busy Secretary of War. WGW, vol. 35, to the Secretary of War on May 29, 1797 “Dear Sir: I am indebted to you for several unacknowledged letters; but ne’er mind that; go on as if you had them. You are at the source of information, and can find many things to relate; while I have nothing to say, that could either inform or amuse a Secretary of War in Philadelphia.
“I might tell him that I begin my diurnal course with the Sun; that if my hirelings are not in their places at that time I send them messages expressive of my sorrow for their indisposition; then having put these wheels in motion, I examine the state of things further; and the more they are probed, the deeper I find the wounds are which my buildings have sustained by an absence and neglect of eight years; by the time I have accomplished these matters, breakfast (a little after seven Oclock, about the time I presume you are taking leave of Mrs. McHenry) is ready. This over, I mount my horse and ride round my farms, which employs me until it is time to dress for dinner; at which I rarely miss seeing strange faces; come, as they say, out of respect to me. Pray, would not the word curiosity answer as well? and how different this, from having a few social friends at a cheerful board? The usual time of sitting at Table; a walk, and Tea, brings me within the dawn of Candlelight; previous to which, if not prevented by company, I resolve, that, as soon as the glimmering taper, supplies the place of the great luminary, I will retire to my writing Table and acknowledge the letters I have received; but when the lights are brought, I feel tired, and disinclined to engage in this work, conceiving that the next night will do as well: the next comes and with it the same causes for postponement, and effect, and so on.
“This will account for your letter remaining so long unacknowledged; and having given you the history of a day, it will serve for a year; and I am persuaded you will not require a second edition of it: but it may strike you, that in this detail no mention is made of any portion of time allotted for reading; the remark would be just, for I have not looked into a book since I came home, nor shall I be able to do it until I have discharged my Workmen; probably not before the nights grow longer; when possibly, I may be looking in doomsday book. On the score of the plated ware in your possession I will say something in a future letter. At present I shall only add, that I am always and affectionately yours.”
52 Zall, Washington on Washington, pp. 12.
53 Saul K. Padover, ed. The Washington Papers (Harper Brothers, 1955), p. 3.
54 WGW, vol. 26, 4-18-1783.
55 Ibid., Note in vol. 26, 4-18-1783, quoting Heath’s Memories.
56 Ibid., vol. 11, 4-21-1788.
57 Washington’s writings use the words passion and passions nearly ninety times. For the following, see above, note 35 In his Speech “To the Officers of the Army”, he wrote, “In the moment of this Summons, another anonymous production was sent into circulation, addressed more to the feelings and passions, than to the reason and judgment of the Army.” “…the secret mover of this Scheme (whoever he may be) intended to take advantage of the passions, while they were warmed by the recollection of past distresses….”
58 In a subsequent chapter, we will address objections to Washington’s Christianity. This will deal with in part the question of his attitudes toward swearing and sexual ethics.
59 John E. Ferling: The First of Men, (The University of Tennessee Press, 1988) pp. 84-85.
60 Padover, The Washington Papers, p. 2 and beyond.
61 G.W.P. Custis writes of the events at Monmouth, “… by Lee’s order, a general retreat commenced, without any apparent cause. The British pursued; a panic seized the Americans, and they fled in great confusion. These were the fugitives met by Washington. The chief was surprised and exasperated, and on this occasion, his feelings completely controlled his judgment for a moment. When he met Lee, he exclaimed in fierce tones, “what is the meaning of all this, sir?” Lee hesitated a moment, when, according to Lafayette, the aspect of Washington became terrible, and he again demanded—“I desire to know the meaning of this disorder and confusion!” The fiery Lee, stung by Washington’s manner, made an angry reply, when the chief, unable to control himself, called him “a damned poltroon.” “This,” said Lafayette, when relating the circumstance to Governor Tompkins, in 1824, while on his visit to this country, “was the only time I ever heard General Washington swear.” Lee attempted a hurried explanation, and after a few more angry words between them, Washington departed to form his line….After the battle, Lee wrote insulting letters to Washington. He was arraigned before a court-martial, because of his conduct on the twenty-eighth, and was suspended from all command, for one year.”. Custis, Recollections, pp. 218-19. Washington’s letter to Lee, WGW, vol. 12, 6-30-1778, says: “Sir: I received your Letter (dated thro’ mistake the 1st. of July) expressed as I conceive, in terms highly improper. I am not conscious of having made use of any very singular expressions at the time of my meeting you, as you intimate. What I recollect to have said was dictated by duty and warranted by the occasion. As soon as circumstances will permit, you shall have an opportunity, either of justifying yourself to the army, to Congress, to America, and to the world in General; or of convincing them that you were guilty of a breach of orders and of misbehaviour before the enemy on the 28th. Inst in not attacking them as you had been directed and in making an unnecessary, disorderly, and shameful retreat.” Note: The phrase, “justifying yourself to the army, to Congress, to America, and to the world in General,” was an exact repetition from Lee’s letter.
62 There is some evidence that Lee, who also had been “captured” by the British earlier in the war, may have been acting as a traitor to the cause. See Benson J. Lossings’ note in Custis, pp. 292-93.
63 Padover, The Washington Papers, p. 2.
64 Zall, Washington on Washington, pp. 17-18.
