George Washington as Military Leader
“First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” These words were included in the memorial
to George Washington by the U.S. Congress at the time of his death. They were intended to recognize
Washington’s significant contributions to the country as Commander in Chief during the Revolutionary War and as
the first President of the United States. While Americans today recognize Washington as the first president, many
do not realize his importance as a military leader. After all, had it not
been for Washington’s success in the Revolutionary War, there would
not have been a first President of the United States.
George Washington’s military achievements can be viewed in
three ways:
1.
2.
3.
Washington’s understanding of military power
Washington’s use of strategic retreat
Washington’s important Revolutionary War victories
1. Washington’s understanding of military power
The Second Continental Congress named George Washington
Commander in Chief of the Continental Army in June 1773. His
selection was based largely on his reputation from the French and
Indian War twenty years before. Washington was involved in some
of the earliest fighting against the French and wrote about his
service in a journal that was published in Virginia and London. In
1754, at the age of twenty-two, he wrote to his younger brother
after an attack against the French, “I heard the bullet’s whistle and,
believe me, there is something charming in the sound.” The next year, Washington was with British General
Braddock when the army was ambushed and badly defeated on its way to attack Fort Duquesne.
After decades of military service, Washington would become a good field general; however, his understanding of
the political and economic issues related to military power was equally important. Washington knew that his
army’s success in the field was largely dependent on the support of the civilian government. He faced chronic
shortages of men, weapons, and other supplies. His troops would go for long periods without pay. He never defied
the will of Congress, nor did he ever use his immense popularity to appeal directly to the people. At the same time
he faced the challenge of maintaining his troops’ loyalty not only to him, but also to the civilian authority and the
rule of law. In Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington . Richard Brookhiser describes the dilemma
Washington faced: “The enemy is not the only threat a commander faces, if he fights on behalf of a nation of
laws. The army may become a law unto itself, especially if the government is capricious or incompetent” (p. 34).
During the course of the Revolutionary War, Washington would have to deal with mutinies by his troops, to rebuff
the suggestion by one of his officers, Lewis Nicola, that he become king, and to stop his officers at Newburgh who
were planning to overthrow or abandon the civilian authorities. Washington’s ability to deal with multiple
challenges off the battlefield made the eventual defeat of the British possible.
Washington also had a good understanding of the geographic factors affecting the use of military power. He was
careful never to let his troops be bottled up without a way to retreat. He was also aware of his inability to protect
specific locations like cities against superior British forces. In fact, even early in the Revolutionary War,
Washington thought an effective defensive strategy was to maintain a series of fortifications or “posts.” He would
later decide that a mobile force was less vulnerable and more effective. He also understood the important role of
naval power along the Atlantic coast of the thirteen colonies. He was always careful to consider the threat of the
British navy and realized the enormous importance of getting the help of the French navy. Several of theses
geographic factors would combine in Washington’s decisive victory over Cornwallis at Yorktown.
2. Washington’s use of strategic retreat
Washington knew that for the Revolution to succeed the Americans only had to defend themselves against the
British. The British faced the heavier burden of sending troops 3000 miles to quash the rebellion. If the British
were unsuccessful and decided to go home, the Americans would have their independence. In order to fight a
defensive war, Washington knew that at minimum his army had to survive. As long as he could keep a viable
force in the field, there was always the chance that the British would leave or be defeated. So Washington was
careful to never allow his army to be trapped where there was no retreat possible and he always recognized when
to use strategic retreat in the face of overwhelming odds so his army could survive to fight another day.
Ironically, George Washington’s early military reputation was based on a retreat in the French and Indian War.
British troops led by General Edward Braddock marched against Fort Duquesne on July 9, 1755. As the British
passed through a clearing in the forest, they were ambushed by Indian allies of the French. Braddock refused
Washington’s request to take militia into the woods to engage the Indians. Washington displayed remarkable
courage in the fighting. He had two horses shot out from under him, bullets tore his coat, and his hat was shot
off. Braddock was wounded and later died. Washington led the remaining British troops in retreat. Americans
admired Washington’s courage and gave him credit for his willingness to engage the enemy and for leading the
successful retreat. Some Americans believed that divine providence had spared Washington for important future
service.
George Washington’s use of strategic retreat in the American Revolutionary War guaranteed the survival of the
Continental Army. At the Battle of Long Island in August 1776, the British soundly defeated the Americans and
Washington’s troops fled to the safety off a nearby fort. On the foggy night of August 29, Washington led a skillful
retreat of thousands of American soldiers by boat from Long Island to Manhattan. A few months later, Washington
maintained a fortified position on hills near White Plains, New York. When the British easily captured a nearby hill
that was higher, Washington successfully led his troops in retreat to even higher hills near New Castle. In
September 1777 at Brandywine Creek near Philadelphia, the British swept around and came up behind the
Americans rear defenses. Washington himself led a successful defense of the rear that allowed most of his army to
escape.
3. Washington’s important Revolutionary War victories
Washington knew that he could not maintain the morale of his troops or the support of the country by running.
While strategic retreats allowed his army to survive, Washington needed victories. His army faced a series of
defeats and embarrassments early in the war. Washington was determined to break this pattern. On Christmas
night in 1776, Washington led his cold, tired, and hungry troops across the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to
New Jersey. In a surprise attack on December 26, the Americans killed two dozen and captured over nine hundred
Hessians hired by the British. The Americans had only two wounded with no one dead. Eight days later on January
3, 1777, Washington’s army encountered two British regiments near Princeton, New Jersey. As the experienced
British soldiers moved into formation to fight, the Americans panicked. Washington rode to the front of the battle
on his tall white horse. “Parade with me my brave fellows,” he called to them as he led the attack on the British
lines. Washington is reported to have said, “It’s a fine fox chase, my boys,” as the British broke ranks and fled.
The news of the victories at Trenton and Princeton served to boost American spirits.
At the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778, George Washington again displayed remarkable courage and won a
significant victory. Marching on a British force of 10,000 with one part of his army, he encountered the other part
in chaotic retreat and under hot-blooded pursuit by the enemy. Washington berated General Charles Lee who had
allowed the retreat. Washington rallied his troops and led the attack against the British. Marquis de Lafayette, a
French ally serving on his staff, wrote that Washington, at this dangerous moment in the war, "seemed to arrest
fortune with one glance.... His presence stopped the retreat.... His graceful bearing on horseback, his calm and
deportment which still retained a trace of displeasure...were all calculated to inspire the highest degree of
enthusiasm.... I thought then as now that I had never beheld so superb a man." At the end of the day the British
retreated to New York. More importantly, Washington had held his own against the British for the first two years
of the war and ended British hopes of a quick victory.
The war would last four more years after Monmouth. The French joined the Americans in 1778 contributing
troops, supplies, and a navy. The British turned their attention to the south hoping to rally the support of
Americans loyal to the King. General Cornwallis moved east across Virginia in the spring of 1781. He moved to the
coastal town of Yorktown on the Chesapeake Bay where he was confident the British navy could support him, but
now Washington had the French navy at his disposal. The French fleet under the Admiral de Grasse drove the
British fleet from the bay. Once the French fleet was in place, Washington and his army along with French troops
under Rochambeau moved on Yorktown. Cornwallis held out for three weeks as he was pounded by Washington’s
artillery. Cut off by the French fleet from supply or retreat by sea and surrounded by American and French troops
on land, Cornwallis surrendered on October 17, 1781 bringing the Revolutionary War to an end. Despite numerous
hardships and defeats, Washington had finally achieved victory.
Discussion Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
In what war did Washington establish his military reputation?
What challenges did Washington face off the battlefield during the Revolutionary War?
Explain three ways that Washington’s understanding of military power was influenced by geography.
Why was the use of strategic retreat important to Washington’s success?
Why was Washington’s victory at Monmouth important?
What factors led to the defeat of Cornwallis at Yorktown?