Table of

n. For even leaders like Samuel Adams and John Adams and Patrick Henry did not know Washington's ability as we have come to know it now. But they had learned enough about his wonderf

Washi

all him, as he grew up, first as a youthful surveyor, then as the trusted messenger of his colony, Virginia, to the commander o

in office or under his command, he had shown himself trustworthy and efficient, a man of

759) married Mrs. Martha Custis, a young widow whom he had met at a friend's house while he was on the way to Williamsburg the year before. Wit

War, he was given a vote of thanks for his brave services in that war. Rising to reply, Washington, still a young man, stood blushing and stammering, unable to say a word. The speaker,

e the exciting events of which we have been speaking were crowding upon one another and leading up to the Revolution; and in thi

endleton on the Way to C

at the first meeting of the Continental Congress, in 1774, going to Philadelphia in company with Patrick

ngress should choose as commander-in-chief of the American army this gentl

equal to the command I am honored with." No doubt in the dark days of war to follow he often felt in this wa

idge, under which Washingto

eep an account of his expenses. The idea of gain for himself in the t

y with a small body of horsemen, to take command of the American army around Bost

have seen in a preceding chapter, by the news of the brave

e. Nine companies of soldiers on foot escorted him as he passed through the streets in an open carriage dra

d the camp in Cambridge, and there officers

IN COMMAND

near Harvard University, Washington drew hi

at upon his horse, a superb picture of strength and dignity. He wore a three-cornered hat with the cockade of liberty upon it, and across

army was one only in name. For although the men were brave and willing, they h

ere taking their ease inside their own defenses. The autumn and the winter slipp

in camp. Many of them had been dragged over the snow from Ticonderoga o

were firing upon the British for the purpose of concealing Washington's plan, he s

ne, he saw clearly that he must drive them from the Heights or else leave Boston himself. Bu

m. He remembered too well the Bunker Hill affair. So with all his army he sailed away to Halifax, lea

ke New York in order to get control of the Hudson River and the middle co

illia

er of 1776, it was for their rights as free-born Englishmen that the colonists had been fighting. But now that King George was sending thousands of soldiers to force them to give up these rights, which were as dea

s Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, to draw up the Dec

er the Rough Draught of the

of celebration. After that, the thirteen colonies b

as waiting at New York for the enemy's attack, he had only an ill-assorted army of about eighteen thousand men to meet them. Genera

een fortified, he sent General Putnam with h

der at once, he might have captured the full half of the army under Putnam's command-and even Washington himself, who, during the heat of the battle

ey were going to capture Boston. His men had fought hard at the end of a long night march and needed rest. Besides, he felt so sure of making an easy capture of the remainder of the army that there

at from L

nscience he gave his tired men a rest after the battle on the 27th. On th

g down toward the shore noticed an unusual stir in the Brit

off our retreat," said these officers to Washington. The situation was perilous. At once Washi

int of crossing was nearly a mile. It would hardly seem possible that such a movement could be made in a single nigh

sible was done, for the arm

s post of duty on the Long Island shore until the last boat-load had pushed off.

t danger. No sooner had the Americans made their perilous escape from Long Island than the British seized Brooklyn Heights

OIC NAT

nly way to do this was to send a spy over into their camp. He called for a volunteer to go inside the enemy's line and get informatio

e of the hero whom Washington selected for this

e was chosen, and why

ions best by finding out

ticut, in 1755. His parents, who were very religious peop

s not very strong as a small boy, he grew sturdy and healthy by joining in the sports o

He became a fine athlete, tall, and well-built. He sang well, and his gentlem

eing respected and loved by his pupils. He was teaching in N

his country needed the service of every patriot

mander needed a spy, he said

he knew the danger. And although life was very dea

an H

a Loyalist, that is, an American who sympathized with England-there were

er, so that the British would not su

cations, hiding the papers in the soles of his shoes. He was just about returning when he was captured.

his prisoner to have a Bible, and even tore in pieces before his eyes the

upon the few soldiers who were standing near by as he went to his death, he said: "I only regret

TRIAL FOR

hen the Americans left the Long Island shore, the British promptly occupied it. On Brooklyn Heights they planted their cannon, comma

with three thousand men were captured by the British. The outlook was gloomy enough, and it was w

n the Mid

ladelphia. With the British army, in every way stronger than his own, close upon him, it was a race for life. Sometimes there wa

ecause the men whose term of enlistment had expired were leaving to go to their

s army safely across at a place a little above Trenton. As the British had no boats, they had to come to a halt. In their usual easy way, th

certain. General Cornwallis was so sure that the war would soon come to an end that he had alrea

Washington was not that kind of man. He faced the dark outlook with all his courage and energy. Full of faith in the cause for which

TORY AT

Hesse-Cassel, hired as soldiers by King George), was stationed at Trenton, and Washington planned t

bove Trenton. The ground was white with snow, and the weather was bitterly cold. As the soldiers marched

nd Hessia

y gusts of wind, and great blocks of ice swept along by the swift

men know where to land. For ten hours boat-load after boat-load of men made the dangerous crossing. A long, long night this must h

ton was nine miles away, and a fearful storm of snow and sleet beat fiercely upon them as t

quite unaware of the approaching army. About sunrise they were s

very patriot heart. The British were amazed at the daring feat, and Cornwallis decided not to leave America

near Trenton, and thought he had Washington in a trap. "At last," said Cornwallis, "w

ornwallis's camp and, pushing on to Princeton, defeated the rear-guard, which had not yet joined

sk, and Buckshot-Pouch

with glorious victory. The Americans now felt that their cause was by no means hopeless. It was well that they had this enco

NE'S I

is plan: Burgoyne with nearly eight thousand men was to march from Canada, by way of Lake Champlain and Fort Edward, to Albany, where he was to meet a small force of British, who also were to come from Canada by way of the

ded if General Howe had done his

however, was not so easy as he had expected it to be. Washington's army was in his pathway, and, not caring to fight his way across, he ret

andywine Creek, and a battle had to be fought. The Americans were defeated, it is true, but Washington handled his army with

ington until it was too late fo

rom the Mohawk Valley, for the army which was to come from that direction ha

e Surrendering

s way, and also behind him, preventing him from retreating or from getting powder

pected aid and penned in by the Americans, ther

ratoga and the defeat of the British. In the end Burgoyne had to surre

ish plan worked out. Of course the

France had been watching closely to see whether the Americans were likely to win in their struggle, before aiding them openly. Now

ate paper-he went to France to secure aid for the American cause. He must have been a quaint figure at the French court, his plain hair and plain cloth coat contrasting strangely with the fashion and elegance about him. Yet t

OINS THE AM

She had sent them money and army supplies and, besides this, able Frenchmen had come across

de Laf

of the American people fighting for their liberty. It interested and deeply moved him. For in his own land a desire for freedom had been growing,

aby, whom he regretted to leave. But he believed that his duty called him to join the cause of freedom.

of influence. His relatives and also the men in power were very angry

ring His Servi

with army supplies. Then, disguising himself as a po

e he reached the United Stat

or-general, but in accepting it Lafayet

son. The older man made the young major-general a member of his military family, and Lafayette was always proud to serve his chi

strong position among the hills at Valley Forge, about twent

were in rags, only a few had bed clothing. Many had to sit by the fire all night to keep warm, and some of the sick soldiers were without beds or even loose straw to lie upon. Nearly three thousand of the

in the end the American cause would triumph. A beautiful story is told showing the fa

at Vall

eks wet with tears, praying for help and guidance. When the farmer returned to his home, he said to his wife:

think so, Isaac?"

to-day, and the Lord will surely hear his prayer.

all his army at Yorktown, but these we shall take up in a later chapter. Washington had led hi

further on, he was not permitted to spend the remainder of his days in the quiet rural life which he liked so well. For his countrymen

ngs to T

shington have when he to

ion of Independence,

a general at New York? What great mis

Hale do? What do

gton in the attack upon Tren

sults of the cap

nd what did he do fo

an the sufferings of the

g frequent us