Washington's second major strength was his charismatic and awe-inspiring persona, daring bullets at the very front of the battle, astride his huge stallion in full dress uniform, to rally his troops. His survival was another divine miracle.
Agreed on the Divine Miracles.
A month or so ago on FR there was an article about a bunch of British historians having a conference. Part (or all) of the conference was to answer the question “Who was Britain’s most difficult military foe?” (Something like that) It was for all of history, so Napolean, Hitler, and a bunch of other dead guy’s whose names I forget. But they put Washington at the top of the list.
Of course I suppose they may have also observed the hand of God with Washington. That may have added a few points to the scoring system!
True--he was a great diplomat with congress, but his troops loved him which, I believe, was even more important. His troops came through for him more often than congress.
But, we quibble. The fact that people who have read about the RevWar and the General give many different answers to the question: "What was Washington's greatest strength?" only speaks well of him.
There are many many stories about how the best marksmen couldn't hit him - many bullet holes in his coat, etc.
That God wanted him to live, and this 'Christian Nation' to be founded seems near inescapable on close examination of the almost overwhelming forces which Washington defeated.
“Washington’s second major strength was his charismatic and awe-inspiring persona, daring bullets at the very front of the battle, astride his huge stallion in full dress uniform, to rally his troops. His survival was another divine miracle. “
The Indians trying to kill him at Braddock’s Defeat certainly thought so.
They shot two horses from underneath him and shot his clothes full of holes but couldn’t lay a scratch on him. They became convinced that the Great Spirit was protecting him.