When handed the manifesto by his officers, he stopped to put on his spectacles. He apologized, saying that he had given his youth, and even his eyesight for his country.
The young officers knew right then it was going to be a bad day.
The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington pin list
Hmm. Some things never change.
LOL! Yes, and there were times when it drove him nuts. He once complained that he'd walk down the stairs into a party and the conversation would die down. Think that would mess with your head? BTT...
Great story, thanks!
It’s easy to understand why he’s been compared to Cincinnatus.
Bump for almost the only revolutionary in history to give up power and go back to private life when the revolution was over.
I remember being taught this in grade school many years ago.
Another amazing thing is that this article was printed in a SF bay area paper.
Thank you. An incredible story, I am going to read it to my children.
It was the single most noble act in our history, I believe.
Of course, if he had known that a mere 80 years later, the union army would pull his pew out of the Falls Church, in order to make a stable for their horses IN HIS CHURCH, he might have chosen differently.
Thanks for posting this. Washington was an incredible gift from God.
I remember reading about this incident before, but I never thought of it in terms of keeping us from being a banana republic. Excellent analysis here.
Did you ever visit Natural Bridge Virginia? Young Washington carved his initials in the rock and “GW” is still visible.
Robert Morris, proprietor of the Bank of North America in Philadelphia, decided to act. With the assistance of Gouveneur Morris (not a relation) they approached Alexander Hamilton and asked him to approach Washington with a proposal. Washington was to take his army to Philadelphia, overthrow Congress and set himself up as King George of America. The nation's finances would be placed on a firm footing, and America would be ruled by a wise monarch. Many of Washington's officers at the Newburgh encampment thought this was a good idea, and Washington found himself with a budding fascist movement on his hands.
What happened next is described accurately in this article. But there was an aftermath.
In 1785, the Bank of North America collapsed, triggering the events that led to the final collapse of the Continental Dollar. The Pennsylvania Militia revolted and took over Philadelphia, forcing the Confederation Congress to flee to Princeton. Hamilton fulminated that Washington ought to return to the military and put down the rebellion in Philadelphia, but it all blew over rather quickly. What didn't blow over was the collapse of the basic currency unit.
At Newburgh, Hamilton had warned the Morrises that Washington would never go for the coup d'etat proposal. When the Constitutional Convention opened in Philadelphia years later, Washington was having dinner in one of the better taverns in town with Hamilton and some other members of his old wartime staff. Robert Morris, now disgraced because of the loss of his bank, made himself scarce, but Gouveneur Morris happened to be dining at the same time. Morris asked Hamilton if he could approach His Excellency, and Hamilton, who knew very well Washington's low opinion of the man, smiled and suggested he try it. (Hamilton had a puckish sense of humor and was fond of practical jokes.) Morris clapped Waashington on the shoulder and gave him a loud welcome to Philadelphia. Washington turned and gave Morris a look that would have frozen brimstone, and Morris skedaddled out of the tavern as Hamilton laughed up his sleeve.
Xlnt portrayal of this on The Revoluntion series recently on the History channel.
This event is recreated in the excellent George Washington TV mini-series starring Barry Bostwick.
See http://www.amazon.ca/George-Washington-Buzz-Kulik/dp/6302985358
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Thanks Pharmboy. And thanks purpleraine for that book description in message 33. |
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What a great man.