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The Newburgh Incident George Washington Stops A Mutiny
Ciolonial Williamsburg Journal ^ | Autum 2014 | by Ed Crews

Posted on 12/15/2014 10:41:34 AM PST by Captain Jack Aubrey

In 1783, with the Revolutionary War nearly over, the American dream of an independent republic almost died at the hands of the army that fought for it. While Continental Army officers waited in camp at Newburgh, New York, for negotiators to end the conflict, their long-simmering frustration with Congress finally boiled over. Anger swept through the corps from the lieutenants to the generals. These men had had enough—enough of inedible rations, inadequate clothing and supplies, and, most important, years of foregoing pay. A coup was in the making. Even the British knew it. As one of their spies reported, military contempt for congressmen meeting in Philadelphia was so fierce that the army was “ripe for annihilating them.”

Just eighteen months earlier, in October 1781, American troops and their French allies won a great victory at Yorktown, leading to peace talks in Paris. Now, a formal treaty ending the war and recognizing American independence was expected from Europe any day. Yet, with success now tantalizingly near, the officers of army commander George Washington were flirting with mutiny. Some were eager to march on Congress in demand of their back pay. Others wanted to abandon the cause, disappear into the wilderness, and leave the bickering politicians in Philadelphia to the mercies of the British Army. Either course would bring disaster. Attack Congress and the government would collapse. Desert and the British could renew the fight and win the war. Do either and a dangerous precedent would set the military above civilian control, perhaps forever.

(Excerpt) Read more at history.org ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; Miscellaneous; US: New York; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: backpay; bonusarmy; godsgravesglyphs; history; horatiogates; johnarmstrongjr; newburghincident; newyork; philadelphia; revolution; theframers; thegeneral; therevolution; unitedkingdom; washington
The anniversary of Washington's death was yesterday. This article from the current issue of the journal of Colonial Williamsburg makes good reading about how the "Indispensable Man" saved the country, once again.
1 posted on 12/15/2014 10:41:34 AM PST by Captain Jack Aubrey
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To: Captain Jack Aubrey

http://www.opticalheritagemuseum.org/Industry/HistoricalPresEyeglassesWashington.htm


2 posted on 12/15/2014 10:49:54 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: Captain Jack Aubrey

Washington died from strep-throat infection.


3 posted on 12/15/2014 11:12:51 AM PST by LibFreeUSA
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To: LibFreeUSA

Thank goodness for Obamacare.


4 posted on 12/15/2014 11:15:32 AM PST by sasquatch
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To: Captain Jack Aubrey

It’s too bad George Washington died. It would be nice to have him around today.


5 posted on 12/15/2014 11:18:24 AM PST by SamAdams76
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To: SamAdams76

My grandfather was a man of honor, much like Washington. None of their kind are with us today.


6 posted on 12/15/2014 11:35:52 AM PST by Louis Foxwell (This is a wake up call. Join the Sultan Knish ping list.)
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To: SamAdams76

I’m sure there are others who would have his integrity and patriotism, but they were probably fired within the last 6 years. I came across a Bible verse that floored me....

Micah 2:8
“Recently My people have arisen as an enemy—
You strip the robe off the garment
From unsuspecting passers-by,
From those returned from war.

seems symptomatic to a greater problem

Did Congress ever not get paid?


7 posted on 12/15/2014 11:40:23 AM PST by huldah1776
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To: Captain Jack Aubrey

It just re-affirms why Washington was by far and away the greatest General/President/All around leader this country has ever produced. I’ve read that story before, but loved reading it again. To go into that den of mutineers led by his enemy, the ever incompetent Gates and sway them to see his side takes a force of personality that few men or women have. I daresay, none of our elected leaders today could have swayed those men.


8 posted on 12/15/2014 11:55:11 AM PST by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: Pharmboy
Thanks Captain Jack Aubrey.

9 posted on 12/16/2014 1:44:23 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/ _____________________ Celebrate the Polls, Ignore the Trolls)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

10 posted on 02/01/2015 11:39:26 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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