Henry Knox was a morbidly obese Boston bookseller who signed on as an officer in Washington’s command. The other officers ribbed him constantly about his weight. When they saw Knox on horseback, they would facepalm and say, “Oh that poor horse.”
As Washington’s staff was planning the crossing of the Delaware, Knox approached Washington to complain about his treatment from the other officers. The worst time to approach your commanding general to say “The other boys are making fun of me” is right before a major battle, and witnesses saw Washington’s jaw tighten.
George Washington had a ferocious temper that he struggled all his life to place under iron discipline. When his jaw tightened, it was considered acceptable to vacate the premises immediately. But Washington’s jaw relaxed, and he sent Knox on his way.
As the boats were departing the dock that night, Washington noticed that his own boat was listing to one side. Peering through the darkness, he noticed that Henry Knox was seated alone on the last bench with one enormous butt cheek perched to one side. Turning around, Washington called into the darkness, “Shift your ass, Knox, and trim the boat!”
There was raucous laughter from the assembled officers. Washington had put Knox in his place in a humorous way and broken the tension.
Knox was fat. So are a lot of people. “Mobidly obese?” That’s the kind of thing Pelosi says.
Kek! Very funny, thank you for that.
marvelous!