The life of George Washington, commander-in-chief of the American Army through the revolutionary war, and the first president of the United States

Preface

The following publication originated in the author's wish to place within reach of the great body of his countrymen, an authentic biography of General WASHING- TON.

Judge Marshall, in his valuable life of this illustrious patriot, has embraced not only the settlement and general history of the North American Colonies, but also the political history of the United States. His work is therefore necessarily too expensive to be obtained by all classes of American people. The writer of these memoirs apprehended, that by publishing the life of WASHINGTON in a compressed form, he should enable those of his fellow-citizens, who are not in possession of Marshall, to leave to their posterity a memorial of a man who was pre-eminently distinguished as a Soldier and Statesman.

General WASHINGTON was from his youth devoted to his country ; his character therefore cannot be portrayed without bringing into view many important public transactions. The plan of the writer has been to notice no individual or event, further than was necessary to display the principal character.

He has made Judge Marshall his leading authority for facts, and has in some measure followed him in the order of events. The histories of the war by Doctors Ramsay and Gordon, and several original writings, have been consulted ; bat he trusts that greater liberty has not been taken with any of them than is fair and honorable. The few facts which have not before been published, were re-

PREFACE.

ceived immediately from confidential friends of General WASHINGTON, or from gentlemen who, in respectable official situations, were members of his family during his military command.

It has been the endeavor of the author to display the character of the man who is the subject of the work, by exhibiting in a connected view his actions and his writings : and he has, as far as possible, made this exhibition in the person of General WASHINGTON.

He has not conceived that he was writing for men of erudition, but for the unlettered portion of the community; and he has for their benefit more particularly studied simplicity of style. Should he be so happy as to obtain their approbation, he will receive an ample reward of his labor.

He entertains no expectation of acquiring literary fame by this publication ; but he hopes to escape the disgrace of having written a useless book,

Chapter I

His Birth — Education — Appointed an Adjutant-General of the militia — His embassy to the Ohio — Commissioned as Lieutenant-Colonel of a regular regiment — Surprises a detachment of French troops — Capitulation of Fort Necessity — He is appointed a volunteer Aide-de-camp to General Braddock — His bravery in the action in which that General fell — He is appointed the Colonel of a regiment, and Commander-in-Chief of the Virginia troops — His efforts to defend the frontiers — His exertions in the expedition under General Forbes to gain possession of Fort du Quesne — Resigns his commission. Page 9

Chapter II

Colonel Washington's Marriage — His management of the Estate of Mount Vernon — Appointed a Judge of the County Court, and a Member of the Virginia Legislature — Chosen a Member of the first Congress — Appointed Commander-in-Chief of the American Forces — Arrives at Camp — Arranges the Army — - Deficiency or. Arms and Ammunition — Colonel Arnold detached to Quebec — Success of American Cruisers — Evils of Temporary Enlistments — An attack on the Enemy's Posts meditated — Possession taken of the Heights of Dorchester — Boston evacuated 42

Chapter III

General Washington marches the army to New York — Fortifications of the City and River— Independence declared — General Howe lands on Staten Island— Interview between General Washington and Colonel Patterson — State of the

b)

Contents

British and American Forces — Camp at Brooklyn — Battle on Long Island — Retreat from it — The City and Island of New York evacuated — Manoeuvres at White Plains — Fort Washington taken — General Howe invades New Jersey — Depression of the Americans — General Washington invested with new Powers — Success at Trenton, and at Princeton — New Jersey recovered Page 72

Chapter IV

General Washington disposes his small force for the protection of New Jersey — Army inoculated — Abuse of American prisoners — The Exchange of General Lee refused — Stores at Peck's Kill and Danbury destroyed — American Army takes post at Middiebrook — Sir William Howe moves towards the Delaware — Returns to Staten Island and embarks his troops — He lands at the head of Elk — General Washington marches to meet him — Battle of Brandywine — Effects of a Storm — British take possession of Philadelphia — Mud Island and Red Bank fortified — Obstructions in the River — Attack on Mud Island — Count Donop defeated — British surmount the Fortifications of the River — Plan to attack Philadelphia — Sir William Howe reconnoitres the American camp at White Marsh — The Army posted at Valley Forge — The privations of the Soldiers during the winter 131

Chapter V

Progress and Issue of the Northern Campaign — Plan to displace General Washington— His Correspondence on the Subject — Letter of General Gates— Remonstrance of the Legislature of Pennsylvania against closing the Campaign — Observations of the Commander-in-Chief upon it — Sufferings of the Army for the want of Provisions and Clothing — Measures adopted by the Commander-in-Chief to obtain supplies — Methods taken to Recruit the Army— Sir Henry Clinton appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British F orces — He evacuates Philadelphia, and marches through New Jersey to New York — General Washington pursues him — Battle of Monmouth — Thanks of Congress to the General and Army — General Lee censured — He demands a Court Martial, and is sus-

CONTENTS. 5

pended from his Command — French fleet appears on the American Coast — Expedition against Rhode Island — It fails * — Disaffection between the American and French Officers — Measures of the Commander-in-Chief to prevent the ill-consequences of it — Army goes into Winter quarters in the Highlands Page i Go

Chapter VI

Plan formed by Congress and the French minister for the invasion of Canada and Nova Scotia — General Washington's objections to it — Tardiness of the United States to prepare for the approaching campaign — The exertions of the General — His letter on the state of the nation — The remonstrance of officers belonging to the New Jersey brigade — Letters of the Commander-in-Chief on the subject — Expedition against the Indians under General Sullivan — He destroys their towns — The American army posted for the defence of the Highlands on the North River, and for the protection of the country against the incursions of the British — Sir Henry Clinton moves up the Hudson, takes possession of Stony and Verplank Points, and fortifies them — Arrangements made for assaulting these posts — General Wayne carries Stony Point by storm — The attack upon Verplank fails — Congress vote their thanks to General Washington and to the brave troops employed in this service — They vote General Wayne a medal — Evils of short enlistments— Plan of the General's to remedy them — The army in two divisions erect huts for winter quarters—The troops suffer through the scarcity of provisions — Colonel Wadsworth resigns his office — Confusion in the commissary's department — The Commander-in-Chief apportions supplies of meat and flour upon the counties of New Jersey — The winter excessively cold, and the waters around New York frozen over — Expedition to Staten Island fails 1 94

Chapter VII

Amount of Paper Emission—Congress destitute of Means to support the War — Supplies apportioned upon the States — Exertions of the Commander-in-Chief — Mutiny in a part of the

Army — The British make an Excursion into New Jersey — The American Troops bravely resist them — The Court of France promises a Naval and Land Armament to act in America — Preparation to co-operate with it — A French Squadron arrives on the American Coast — Count Rochambeau lands at Newport with five thousand Men — The American and French Commanders meet at Hartford to settle the Plan of the Cam paign — The second Division of the French Troops fails — Gen eral Arnold becomes a Traitor--He corresponds with Major Andre — Andre comes on Shore at West Point — Attempts to return to New York by land — He is taken into Custody bv three Mihtia Men — A Board of General Officers condemn him — He is executed — Letter of General Washington on the State of the Army--Congress adopts a Military Establishment for the War — The Army goes into Winter quarters. Page 219

Chapter VIII

\rnold is appointed a Brigadier in the British service and invades Virginia — Plan to capture him — Mutiny in the American camp — Violence of the Pennsylvania line — Order restored — Weak state of the army — The French Court grants a Loan to the United States — Exertion of the States to enable the General to open the campaign — The French troops march to the American camp — Plan to surprise the British Post at King's bridge — Expedition to Virginia — Count de Grasse arrives in the Chesapeake — Yorktown besieged — British redoubts stormed — The British make a sortie — Lord Cornwallis attempts to escape — He capitulates and surrenders his posts — indecisive action between the French and English fleets — Sir Henry, too late, embarks his troops for Yorktown — Thanks of Congress to the American and French commanders, and to the army — General St Clair despatched to Carolina — The other corps of the army return to the neighborhood of New York, and go into Winter quarters .250

Chapter IX

Preparations for another campaign — Sir Guy Carleton arrives at New York and announces the vote of Parliament to acknowl

CONTENTS.

edge American Independence — Army anxious for their Pay — Anonymous Address exciting them to a Revolt — General Washington convenes and addresses the officers — Their resolutions — Preliminary Articles of Peace received — Cessation of Hostilities proclaimed — General Washington addresses a Circular Letter to the Executives of the several States — Army disbanded — New Levies of Pennsylvania revolt — The Commander-in-Chief enters New York — Takes leave of his Officers — Resigns his Commission to the President of Congress — Retires to Mount Vernon Page 272

Chapter X

General Washington in Retirement — His Pursuits — Votes of Congress and of the Legislature of Virginia respecting him — His Visitors and Correspondents — His Plans to improve the Navigation of the Potomac and James Rivers — Declines the grant of Virginia — His Advice to the Cincinnati — State of Public Affairs — National Convention — General Washington its President — Federal Constitution recommended and adopted — General Washington requested to consent to administer the Government — He is chosen President of the United States — Sets out for the Seat of Government — Attention shown him on his Journey — His Reception at New York. 306

Chapter XI

Inauguration of the President — His Address to Congress — Answers of the two Houses — The Arrangements of his Household — His Regulations for Visitors — The reasons of their adoption — The Relations of the United States with Foreign Powers — Congress establishes the Departments of the Government — The President fills them — He visits New England — His Reception — Addresses to him — His Answers — Negotiations with the Indians — Treaty with the Creeks — War with the Wabash and Miami's Tribes — General Harmar's Expedition — St. Clair defeated — General Wayne victorious and makes a Treaty with them — Second Session of Congress — Fiscal Arrangements of the Secretary of the Treasury —

CONTENTS.

Indisposition of the President — He visits Mount Vernon — Meets Congress at Philadelphia — His Tour to the Southern States — Second Congress — The President refuses his signature to the Representative Bill — Contemplates retiring to Private Life — Consents to be a Candidate for the Second Presidency Page 341

Chapter XII

General Washington re-elected President — State of Parties — Division in the Cabinet — The President endeavors to promote union — Influence of the French Revolution — Measures to secure the Neutrality of the United States in the War between France and England — Mr. Genet's illegal practices — He insults the Government — The Executive restricts him — He appeals to the People — They support the Administration — The President determines to arrest Genet — He is recalled — Negotiation with Britain — Insurrection in Pennsylvania - Democratic Societies — British Treaty — Communication between the French Executive and the Legislature of the United States — The President refuses to the House of Representatives the Papers respecting Diplomatic transactions — His interpositions in favor of the Marquis La Fayette — Takes the Son of the Marquis under his Protection and Patronage 373

Chapter XIII

The President calumniated — His letter to Mr. Jefferson — Statement of the Secretary of the Treasury — The French Directory's attempt to control the American Government — Review of the transactions with France — The President declares his resolution to retire from Public Life — Meets Congress for the last Time — Describes the Letters that had been forged — Attends the Inauguration of Mr. Adams — Retires to Mount Vernon — Threatening Attitude of France — General Washington appointed Commander-in-Chief of the American Forces — His opinion of Public Measures — His Indisposition and Death — Conclusion 431

LIFE

or

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Chapter I

His Birth — Education — Appointed an Adjutant-General of the militia — His embassy to the Ohio — Commissioned as Lieutenant-Colonel of a regular regiment — Surprises a detachment of French troops — Capitulation of Fort Necessity — He is appointed a volunteer Aide-de-camp to General Braddock — His bravery in the action in which that General fell — He is appointed the Colonel of a regiment, and commander-in-chief of the Virginia troops — His efforts to defend the frontiers — His exertions in the expedition under General Forbes to gain possession of Fort du Ouesne — Resigns his commission.

George Washington was born in the county of Westmoreland, Virginia, on the 22d day of February, 1732. He was the third son of Mr. Augustine Washington, and the great grandson of Mr. John Washington, a gentleman of a family of some distinction in the north of England, who emigrated about the year 1657, and took up the estate on which the subject of these memoirs was born.

At the age of ten years, by the death of his father, he was left in the sole care of a solicitous mother. She gave him a private education. A grammatical

knowledge of the English language, mathematics.

IO

LIFE OF WASHINGTON.

geography, history, natural and moral philosophy, to the exclusion of the learned languages, formed the course of his youthful studies.

The candor and manliness of his disposition were early displayed among his young companions, and the commanding influence of his character was first discovered by his ascendancy over them.

The patrimonial estate of Mr. Washington was small. After the completion of his course with his tutor, he was engaged in useful industry ; and for several years of his minority, employed as a country surveyor. In this employment he distinguished himself by his diligence, and by the neatness and accuracy of his plans. His experience in this business made him well acquainted with the worth of new lands, and aided him afterwards in their selection.

The military bias of his mind was early discovered. The war between England and France in 1747, kindled in his young breast that spark, which at a subsequent period burst into a flame, and at his own importunity, the berth of a midshipman, at the age of fifteen, was obtained in the British navy. His views in this instance were defeated by the anxiety of an affectionate mother.

At a time when the militia was to be trained for actual service, at nineteen he was appointed one of the adjutant-generals of Virginia, with the rank of major; from the execution of the duties of this commission, honorable to his age, he was soon called to higher employments.

France at this period unfolded her ambitious design of connecting Canada with Louisiana, and in this way of enclosing the British colonies in North America. Her officers were directed to estab ish a line of

LIFE OF WASHINGTON.

1 1 posts from the lakes to the Ohio. This tract of country, the English held to be within the boundaries of Virginia. Mr. Dinwiddie, then the Lieutenant- Governor of the province, alarmed by encroachments, which involved the important interests of the British crown, conceived it proper officially to warn the French to desist from the prosecution of a scheme, deemed a violation of existing treaties between the two countries.

It was difficult to select a proper agent to execute this perilous mission. He must pass through an unexplored wilderness, filled by tribes of Indians ; some of which were doubtful friends, and many the decided enemies of the English. The fatigues and dangers which induced other Virginians to decline the commission of envoy on this occasion, led Mr. Washington with ardor to seek the appointment.

The very day on which he received his commission he commenced his journey from Williamsburg. At Winchester he procured the necessary provisions, baggage, and horses. On the fourteenth of November he reached Will's Creek, the frontier of inhabited Virginia ; here he hired a guide and four other attendants, to accompany him over the Alleghany mountains ; the passage of which was now attended with difficulty and hazard. The weather became incessantly stormy, and the snow deep ; and he was unable to arrive at Turtle Creek, on the mouth of the Monongahela, before the 22d. Here he was informed of the death of the French General, and found that his troops had retired to winter quarters. With extreme fatigue he pursued his journey; surveyed the country with the judgment of a soldier, and selected the forks of the Monongahela

LIFE OF WASHINGTON.

and Alleghany rivers, as a place highly expedient for the English to possess and fortify. On this site the French soon after erected Fort du Ouesne, which, when the British General Forbes gained the possession, he called Fort Pitt.

In this place he spent a few days to conciliate the affections of the Indians of the vicinity. Some of their chiefs, whose fidelity he took the wisest measures to secure, he engaged as guides, with them, ascended the Alleghany river, and at the mouth of French Creek found the first French post Proceeding up the creek to another fort, he met Monsieur le Gardeur de St. Pierre, the commanding officer on the Ohio, and to him he delivered Governor Dinwiddie's letter. Within three or four days he received an official answer to his communication, and immediately left the place on his return ; but the snow being excessively deep, and his horses growing weak from fatigue, he became impatient at the slowness of his progress. Leaving therefore his horses with necessary directions, in the care of his attendants, he and his guide wrapped themselves in watch coats, took his important papers, and the necessary provisions in their packs, and with their guns in their hands, prosecuted the journey on foot the nearest way through the woods. The next day, December 26, as he passed a place called the Murdering Town, he fell in with a party of French Indians, which lay in wait for him ; one of them not fifteen steps distant fired, but without effect. This Indian the Major took into custody and detained him till nine o'clock in the evening, then dismissed him, and continued his march through the night, that he might be beyond the reach of pursuit, should the Indians in the morning follow his track. The second day he reached the river two miles above the Shannapis, expecting to find it frozen over ; but the ice extended only fifty yards from the shore ; though quantities of it were driven in the channel. A raft was their only means of passing, and they had but one poor hatchet with which to make it. It cost them a hard day's work to form the raft ; the next day they launched it, went on board, and attempted the passage ; but before they were half way over they were enclosed by masses of ice, and threatened with immediate destruction. Mr. Washington put down his setting pole to stop the raft, that the ice might pass by, but the rapidity of the current crowded the ice with such force against the pole, that it threw him out in ten feet water. But fortunately he saved himself by seizing one of the raft logs. With their utmost efforts they were unable to reach either shore, but with difficulty they landed on an island. The cold was so severe, that Mr. Gist, the guide, had his hands and feet frozen. The next morn ing, without hazard, they passed the river on the ice, and were received into the lodging of Mr. Frazier, an Indian trader. Here Major Washington took a horse, and on the 16th of January, 1754, reached Williamsburg, and made report of his proceedings.

The fatigue and danger of this embassy are not easily conceived by persons in the bosom of civilized life. " From the 1st to the 15th of December," says Major Washington, " there was but one day in which it did not rain or snow incessantly, and through the whole journey there was but one continued series of cold, wet weather/' The journal, composed for the perusal of Governor Dinwiddie, was published, and the enterprise, judgment, and perseverance displayed in the execution of this service, exalted Mr. Washington in public opinion ; and gave his country an earnest of his future services.

The embassy to the Ohio not having induced the French to withdraw from that country, the Assembly of Virginia adopted measures to maintain the claims of the British crown. They empowered the executive of the colony to raise a regiment to consist of three hundred men. Mr. Fry, a gentleman acquainted with the western country, was appointed to command it, and the commission of Lieut.-Colonel was given to Major Washington. Enterprising and patriotic, Col Washington requested and obtained permission to march first, early in April, 1754, with two companies to the Great Meadows. The reasons which led him to this measure, were to be early in active service, to learn the designs of the enemy, to afford protection to the English settlements, to cultivate the friendship of the Indians, and to acquire a knowledge of the country, which promised to be the scene of military operations. Scarcely had he taken possession of his ground when some friendly Indians informed him that the French had driven away a working party, sent by the Ohio company to erect a fort on the southeastern branch of the Ohio, and were themselves building a fortress on the very ground which he had recommended to the Governor for a military post. They also gave the intelligence, that a force was then marching from that place to the Great Meadows. Although hostilities had not commenced, yet it was considered that the French had invaded the English territory ; and many circumstances rendered it probable that a force was approaching with hostile views. It appeared that the party had left the direct road, and had encamped in a valley, a few miles to the west of the Great Meadows, as a place of concealment Colonel Washington, under the guidance of the Indians, set out in a dark, rainy night, and surrounded the encampment At daybreak his men fired and rushed upon the French, who, being completely surprised, surrendered One man only made his escape, and Mr. Jumonville, the commander, alone was killed.

The ether companies of the regiment were, at this time, in march to join those in advance ; before these reached the camp Colonel Fry died, and the command devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel Washington. Two companies of British troops, one from South Carolina and the other from New York, also joined the regiment at the Great Meadows, making a force of four hundred effective men. The regular captains reluctantly placed themselves under the command of a provincial officer ; but pressing circumstances induced them for the time to waive dispute about rank, and to act under the orders of Colonel Washington.

For the security of their stores he erected a small stockade, and then marched towards Fort du Quesne, to dislodge the French. At the foot of Laurel Hill, thirteen miles on the way, he was met by a number of friendly Indians, who informed him, that the enemy were hastily approaching with a strong detachment. A confidential chief assured him, that he had seen a reinforcement arrive at du Quesne, which place he left two days before, and had learned that a body consisting of eight hundred French and four hundred Indians, would immediately march to attack the English, The previous information of deserters from the enemy confirmed the Indian's report. The troops had been already six davs without bread, and had but a small l6 LIFE OF WASHINGTON I1754.

quantity of meat in store. The French might appoach by water carriage, within five miles of their present encampment ; and then pass them by a different route and starve them into a surrender, or fight them with a great superiority of numbers.

In this critical situation Colonel Washixg- June 28, ton called a council of war. The unanimous I7:>4 ' advice of which was, to return to their position at the Great Meadows ; because the two roads at that place united, and the country did not allow an enemy to pass them unperceived , and at this place they might wait the arrival of a supply of provisions and reinforcement of men. The Colonel approved the advice of his officers, and immediately carried it into effect. (July 2) — His first care was to sink a ditch round the stockade, which he now named Fort Necessity ; but before it was completed, the enemy attacked him (July 3) under the command of Monsieur de Villier, whose force consisted of fifteen hundred men. The assault was gallantly made, and bravely repelled. Part of the garrison fought within the fort, and part in the ditch, which was almost filled with mud and water. Colonel Washington, during the whole action, remained without the fort, by his presence and example animating his men. The attack began at ten in the morning, and was continued without intermission as long as the light of day remained. Early in the evening Monsieur de Villier demanded a parley and mentioned the terms of capitulation which hs was willing to grant. These were rejected ; but in the course of the night, articles were agreed upon and signed. By these, the fort was to be surrendered, the garrison allowed the honors of war, to retain their firearms and bag age, and unmolested

1754-1 LlFK OF WASHINGTON. t?

to march to the inhabited part of Virginia. The capitulation was the work of haste, and written in the French language, with which neither Colonel Washington nor any of his officers were acquainted, and unfortunately contained an expression, which the translator, at the time, construed to Colonel Washington to imply, that Mr. Jumonville, in the first action was killed ; but which literally would bear the translation, was assassinated. In answer to a publication of Monsieur de Villier, Colonel Washington, soon after the event, made it fully appear that he did not understand the import of the word ; but during his presidency, an enemy had the audacity to call him, upon the strength of this capitulation, an assassin*

The killed and wounded in the Virginia regiment on this occasion amounted to fifty-eight. The enemy were stated to have had about two hundred killed and wounded.

The public gave to this brave band merited praise ; and the Assembly of Virginia expressed their sense of the resolution and judgment displayed in the above action, by a vote of thanks to Colonel Washington and his officers, and by a donation of three hundred pistoles to the soldiery.

The regiment fell back to Winchester to recruit. At this place, the companies from North Carolina and Maryland joined the Virginia force ; the whole commanded by Colonel Innes of North Carolina.

Governor Dinwiddie, with advice of council, ordered the troops to march over the Alleghany mountains ; either to drive the French from du Quesne, or to erect a fort in a favorable position. The forces were in

* In an infamous publication in the Aurora, under the signature of Jasper

DWIGHT.

number much inferior to those of the enemy, and were totally unprovided with articles of clothing and provisions essential to a winters campaign. Orders were also given immediately to fill up the regiment, although no money was voted for the recruiting service. Colonel Washington pointedly remonstrated against these measures ; but being adopted, did all in his power to carry them into effect. The Legislature soon rose, without providing effectual means for active service, and the troops did not march.

During the succeeding winter, regulations from the war office were published in America, which provided, that general and field officers of provincial troops, when serving with general and field officers commissioned by the crown, should have no rank ; and consequently, that senior provincial officers should be commanded by their juniors belonging to the regular troops.

The military ambition of Colonel Washington had been excited by his experience, and by the applause of his country ; but he possessed the spirit of a soldier, and refusing submission to these degrading regulations, he indignantly resigned his commission. At the same time he declared, that with high satisfaction he would obey the commands of his country, when her service should be consistent with his honor.