Thread: George Washington

He was the greatest of all American generals. Two things he and he alone did, or was even capable of doing:

1) He provided such an immense example of military virtue and image that he was regarded as dam' near holy by the troops, and it was this quality which kept men in the ranks. A personal bond existed that kept a nearly-dead army in the field and fighting on against a hopeless situation, and when he asked them for another effort, more patience, and for their re-enlistments WITHOUT PAY OR EVEN RATIONS, they believed in him. And ONLY in him. No other man could've pulled that off.

2) the absolute most difficult military art is coalition warfare with an alien ally. Washington had to time and again keep the proudest fighting men on Earth - the notoriously touchy and ever-willing-to-be-insulted French nobility - from stomping off in a huff and fighting a nominally-combined but in reality seperate war against the Brits, so that they might have been able to report to the French court that of COURSE they'd tried with all their heart to support Monseur Washington, but, well, you KNOW what those provincials are like, mon Majeste.

He had a mixed bag in the field, but some of the things that never get mentioned are what he was able to accomplish when things were at their very worst: disengagement from a victorious enemy and escape over a seemingly impassable barrier after Brooklyn Heights; the investment and capture of Boston, when NOTHING he'd asked for had been delivered; the recovery from what should have been a fatal case of treason; and without question, the sheer force of his will that carried the army through the winter at Valley Forge, when every other single military professional would've conceded the impossibility of ever meeting the enemy in the field again.

If I were to ever wish for myself the military qualities of any single historical figure, it would be George Washington. I couldn't possibily do any better.

Some boy alright, he's dad was a Jock.

I just saw this alleged quote of his;

"If all else fails, I will retreat up the valley of Virginia, plant my flag on the Blue Ridge, rally around the Scotch-Irish of that region and make my last stand for liberty amongst a people who will never submit to British tyranny whilst there is a man left to draw a trigger." George Washington, Valley Forge.


Did he really say that?

Originally Posted by DragoonGuard

I just saw this alleged quote of his;

"If all else fails, I will retreat up the valley of Virginia, plant my flag on the Blue Ridge, rally around the Scotch-Irish of that region and make my last stand for liberty amongst a people who will never submit to British tyranny whilst there is a man left to draw a trigger." George Washington, Valley Forge.


Did he really say that?

I can't verify it but it was in his character. The men who signed the Declaration of Independence were generally quite wealthy, and by signing the document, essentially they were signing their own death warrant if the revolution failed. Many if not most still lost their worldly wealth. They definitely believed in the cause for which they fought.

Has anybody remembered that after serving in the Virginia militia George Washington applied for a commissioned officer in the BRITISH Army?

But he was turned down.

Some geneologists claim that part of the reason for rejection was possible nepotism in that he was distantly related to King George.

Ironic that he later fought against his own distant cousin.

But no more ironic than in WW I the King of England, the Kaiser of Germany and the Czar of Russia were all cousins stemming back to Queen Victoria.

True, - They were all related either by blood or marriage (or both)

My old Regiment still wears today a black backing to our cap badge which comemmorates the death of Czar Nicolas 2nd of Russia. This was Queen Victoria´s implimentation.

Originally Posted by DragoonGuard

Who was that German dude he hired to teach the Contonental army European drills?

You are probably thinking of Von Steuben. He was by no means the only German who came to train the Continental Army, but he was the most successful - becoming Washington's CoS. He was hired by Benjamin Franklin.

Originally Posted by DragoonGuard

True, - They were all related either by blood or marriage (or both)

My old Regiment still wears today a black backing to our cap badge which comemmorates the death of Czar Nicolas 2nd of Russia. This was Queen Victoria´s implimentation.

That's interesting since Queen Victoria died in 1901 and Nicholas II in 1918!

Originally Posted by Kansas Bear

That's interesting since Queen Victoria died in 1901 and Nicholas II in 1918!

FYI
Czar Nicholas II was the Colonel in Chief of the Scots Greys from 1894 to his death. ( The very same Scots Greys that gave the Russians such a pasting in the Crimea). The Greys were amalgamated with another regiment in 1971
The cap badge was worn on a black facing in his memory. Regimental toasts, included "God save the Czar" and one of the regimental marches was the Imperial anthem.
Victoria may have been Nicky's auntie, but Bertie was his cousin. ( Victoria was also Kaiser Bill's Grandma, who, if female royal succession had been allowed,would have become King of England in 1901 by virtue of HIS mother ( also Victoria) being Bertie's older sister.

Originally Posted by DragoonGuard

'In God we trust' is written on US currency, - What was Washington's take on Religion being involved with politics?

I remember a statement by a recent president of the US, that anyone who was an atheist or similar was 'un-patriotic'

Is this true?

Washington, like his 'Let's pretend we're upper-class gentry' contemporaries was a product of the 18th Century enlightenment. An Anglican (Episcopalian) and Mason (Scottish Rite). Religion was for Hatching, Matchings, Despatching and to keep the peasants happy.
For most God-Botherers, then as now, the typical Anglican take is considered Atheism and most American Presidents have been Anglican ( Episcopalian).
If you want a US President that REALLY believes in God, then you get Jimmy Carter or a Kennedy who famously said " Oh ****! Do you mean I have to go to church every Sunday for Four years?"

Originally Posted by Kansas Bear

That's interesting since Queen Victoria died in 1901 and Nicholas II in 1918!

Ok it wasnt her who introduced it I guess, - I presume who ever her successor was, was who had us introduce the wearing of our black backing.

My Regimental History.............Czar Nicholas was actually my regiments Colonel - In - Chief at the time of his death/murder, - Hence the 'mourning' patch.......

George Washington simply WAS the Revolution.

As long as he kept the army in the field he kept the Revolution alive. There were times when he kept the army together by sheer force of will (Valley Forge, Morristown).

On the field of battle he often blundered badly, but he always recovered. He did not always have the greatest talent in picking subordinates (Chalres Lee, Granny Gates, etc) but he had Congress' help in some of that. But he also saw the genius in men such as Henry Knox, Nathaniel Greene, Lafeyette, etc who turned out to be excellent commanders.

He was also a shrewed businessman. He chose to serve without pay...he only asked that his expenses be covered. and he kept meticulous records which after the war garnered him in per diem abotu 5 times what his salary would have been!

Originally Posted by diodetriode

FYI
Czar Nicholas II was the Colonel in Chief of the Scots Greys from 1894 to his death. ( The very same Scots Greys that gave the Russians such a pasting in the Crimea). The Greys were amalgamated with another regiment in 1971
The cap badge was worn on a black facing in his memory. Regimental toasts, included "God save the Czar" and one of the regimental marches was the Imperial anthem.
Victoria may have been Nicky's auntie, but Bertie was his cousin. ( Victoria was also Kaiser Bill's Grandma, who, if female royal succession had been allowed,would have become King of England in 1901 by virtue of HIS mother ( also Victoria) being Bertie's older sister.

The imagination was with the 3rd Carabiniers (Welsh Regiment, or at least had a lot of Welshmen in it)

When I first joined there were still a lot of guys who had been either a Gray, or a Carabinier, - They've all gone now, so every body still serving (I'm pretty sure) will have always been a 'Royal Scots Dragoon Guard'.