Part 2 (1/2)

Aton ordered ruffles, silk stockings, and gold and scarlet sword knots to coant costume as commander He had already sketched out unifor them in vivid terms what they should don: blue coats with scarlet cuffs and facings, scarlet waistcoats trimmed with silver lace, and ”every one to provide himself with a silver-laced hat of a fashi+onable size”4 Froton also ordered two handsome livery suits, emblazoned with his coat of ar the scarlet waistcoats and silver-laced hats, the livery suitsit clear that Washi+ngton planned to ride about in high style, accompanied by fancily dressed servants and soldiers Froton also ordered two handsome livery suits, emblazoned with his coat of ar the scarlet waistcoats and silver-laced hats, the livery suitsit clear that Washi+ngton planned to ride about in high style, accompanied by fancily dressed servants and soldiers

As chief of the Virginia Regi to police a frontier 350 e enemy,” as he put it5 He had to supervise fifty officers and a few hundred roused about ”indolent” officers and ”insolent” soldiers He had to supervise fifty officers and a few hundred roused about ”indolent” officers and ”insolent” soldiers6 As regiton received a coa pay disputes As he supervised every aspect of his operation, his pheno ton wanted to prove that he could transform colonial recruits into buffed and polished professionals on a par with anything England could muster As always, he worked assiduously at self-iiton received a coa pay disputes As he supervised every aspect of his operation, his pheno ton wanted to prove that he could transform colonial recruits into buffed and polished professionals on a par with anything England could muster As always, he worked assiduously at self-i Humphrey Bland's A Treatise of Military Discipline, A Treatise of Military Discipline, a manual popular in the British Army a manual popular in the British Army

As he set up caton ran into such a chaotic situation that he threatened to resign less than twothe post He told Dinwiddie that he couldn't co the inhabitants The House of Burgesses had exe poor ton had a dreadful ti area, where settlers resented coercive recruitingto a recruiting officer who had resorted to terror to collarthose ould not voluntarily enlist” and noting that this ”not only cast a slur upon your own character, but reflect[ed] dishonour upon ton inspired considerable fear in the region, although he vowed to Dinwiddie that he would persevere until the inhabitants ”execute what they threaten, ie 'to blow out ton inspired considerable fear in the region, although he vowed to Dinwiddie that he would persevere until the inhabitants ”execute what they threaten, ie 'to blow out ton that, contrary to regimental rules, his company included two blacks and two ton allowed them to remain in an auxiliary capacity When one captain inforimental rules, his company included two blacks and two ton allowed them to remain in an auxiliary capacity

Once herded into service, theand ar deserters into chains, throwing theorously The only way to avert costly desertions, Washi+ngton avoas to ”terrify the soldiers from such practices”9 In October 1755 he and Dinwiddie lobbied the Virginia assembly for a bill to permit the death sentence for h Washi+ngton wasn't aout harsh punishh but scrupulously fair, and his inflexible sense of justice didn't shrink fro lashes to deserters In 1756 he decreed the death penalty for one Henry Campbell, whom he labeled ”a nominious death” In October 1755 he and Dinwiddie lobbied the Virginia assembly for a bill to permit the death sentence for h Washi+ngton wasn't aout harsh punishh but scrupulously fair, and his inflexible sense of justice didn't shrink fro lashes to deserters In 1756 he decreed the death penalty for one Henry Campbell, whom he labeled ”a noed seven others to do so Washi+ngtonpeople in public to deter others His frontier experience only darkened his view of human nature, and he saw people as motivatedits desired effects, rather es,” he told Dinwiddie Caed seven others to do so Washi+ngtonpeople in public to deter others His frontier experience only darkened his view of human nature, and he saw people as motivatedits desired effects, rather es,” he told Dinwiddie11 Washi+ngton's ly cruel to modern eyes, were standard practice in the British Arly cruel to modern eyes, were standard practice in the British Arton remained a stickler for discipline, which he identified as ”the soul of an ared military discipline even in private a, which was especially disruptive in an army, he set down strict moral standards for his radually expanded Unwilling to tolerate swearing, he warned that offenders would receive twenty-five lashes for uttering an oath, with more severe punishment reserved for second offenses He was so upset by men ”incessantly drunk and unfit for service” that he ordered fifty lashes for any inia's licentious culture of ga, which was especially disruptive in an army, he set down strict moral standards for his radually expanded Unwilling to tolerate swearing, he warned that offenders would receive twenty-five lashes for uttering an oath, with more severe punishment reserved for second offenses He was so upset by men ”incessantly drunk and unfit for service” that he ordered fifty lashes for any in shops13 As an antidote to such behavior, Washi+ngton lobbied for the appointimental chaplain ”Common decency, sir, in a caton infor that such an appointh the As an antidote to such behavior, Washi+ngton lobbied for the appointimental chaplain ”Common decency, sir, in a caton infor that such an appointh the world world should be so uncharitable as to think us void of religion and incapable of good instructions” should be so uncharitable as to think us void of religion and incapable of good instructions”14 With a sovereign faith in leadershi+p by exainated fro the American Revolution: ”This is the true secretthat wherever a regiment is well officered, the men have behaved hen otherwise, ill-the [ with the officers, who have set the exaton tended to stint on praise, reflecting his stoic belief that officers didn't need encourage their duty When he offered praise, he was careful to direct it not at individuals, but at the regiton tended to stint on praise, reflecting his stoic belief that officers didn't need encourage their duty When he offered praise, he was careful to direct it not at individuals, but at the regiment as a whole

In his correspondence at the ti h at himself, or leaven responsibility with hu his officers, who valued his courage, dignity, and even-handed treater or hardshi+ps and by his easy, polite behavior has gained not only the regard but affection of both officers and soldiers,” wrote one officer16 At the saton's code of leadershi+p stipulated that, for maximum effect, the co respect instead of affection As one writer later suy: ”Power required distance, he seems to have reasoned, familiarity and intiton's code of leadershi+p stipulated that, for maximum effect, the co respect instead of affection As one writer later suy: ”Power required distance, he seems to have reasoned, familiarity and intimacy eroded it”17 This view of leadershi+p unfortunately had a way of distancing Washi+ngton fro relaxed camaraderie This view of leadershi+p unfortunately had a way of distancing Washi+ngton fro relaxed caton was frustrated by the wartiiment While he advocated an offensive posture to end frontier raids byon Fort Duquesne, the asse of frontier outposts This, Washi+ngton noted cynically, was done ”more with a view to quiet the fears of the inhabitants than fro security on so extensive a line to the settlements” 18 18 It thrust hi raids that never ended In the meantime, the British shi+fted thethe Ohio Valley as a sideshow This experience of being set up for failure, as he saw it, haunted Washi+ngton for the rest of his life It thrust hi raids that never ended In the meantime, the British shi+fted thethe Ohio Valley as a sideshow This experience of being set up for failure, as he saw it, haunted Washi+ngton for the rest of his life

While Washi+ngton was suffering fro esses in Frederick County, which included Winchester He was qualified to run there because his Bullskin Plantation lay in the region Later in his career, the word defeat defeat never appeared in the Washi+ngton lexicon, but he took a sound drubbing in this first election His friends entered his na Already interested in running for office, Washi+ngton may not have known that his friends had placed hiht unsee, so they relied on proxies, professing all the while a saintly indifference to power Luckily for Washi+ngton, the age frowned upon direct, backslapping politics, which would never have suited his reticent style never appeared in the Washi+ngton lexicon, but he took a sound drubbing in this first election His friends entered his na Already interested in running for office, Washi+ngton may not have known that his friends had placed hiht unsee, so they relied on proxies, professing all the while a saintly indifference to power Luckily for Washi+ngton, the age frowned upon direct, backslapping politics, which would never have suited his reticent style

At the ti systeht to prevent corruption, it enhanced the power of landowners who could personally monitor how their tenants voted Voters stepped forward to announce their votes, which were then recorded by clerks seated at a table At the election in Winchester on Deceton was crushed by his two opponents; Hugh West received 271 votes, Thoton a mere 40 His friend and fellow officer Ada his eleventh-hour entry into the race ”I think your poll was not despicable, as the people were a stranger [to] your purpose until the election began,” he wrote19 For future use, Washi+ngton pocketed a sheet with the voting tally, as if resolved to fare better next titon pocketed a sheet with the voting tally, as if resolved to fare better next titon had refrained fro for election in Fairfax County because it would have pitted hi to legend, Washi+ngton attended the Fairfax County election and ended up in a heated exchange about George Willia candidate Their confrontation grew so angry that Payne struck Washi+ngton with a stick, knocking hiot to his feet, he had to be restrained fro Payne In the prevalent honor culture of the day, Washi+ngton ht have been expected to issue an invitation to a duel Instead, he sent Payne an apology forthwith Whether true or apocryphal, the story squares with the fact that Washi+ngton never fought a duel and usually tried to harui for a royal commission His frustration crested in late 1755, when he clashed with a worthy at Fort cumberland on the Maryland frontier As a colonial captain froworthy held a rank that seeton's, but he claimed superior authority based on an old royal coton threatened to resign if he had to truckle to the hated Dagworthy Dinwiddie appealed to Governor William shi+rley of Massachusetts, a barrister who had succeeded Braddock as supre at deeper institutional change, Washi+ngton also wanted shi+rley to absorb his regi the two-tiered systeranted him permission to travel to Boston so that he could confront shi+rley in person When he set off for Boston in February 1756, Washi+ngton was accompanied by two aides and two slaves who sported the fine livery custo colonel, very dashi+ng in his blue regimentals, enjoyed his first taste of a northern city and e, hats, jewelry, and saddles He was pleased by the clean, well-ordered tohich a friend was to tout to hiions,” while expressing adreat man Mr Penn”20 Christopher Gist had already notified him that his fame had spread to the city ”Your name is more talked of in Philadelphia than that of any other person in the army,” he had written the previous fallChristopher Gist had already notified him that his fame had spread to the city ”Your name is more talked of in Philadelphia than that of any other person in the army,” he had written the previous fall 21 In New York, Washi+ngton socialized with his friend Beverley Robinson, son of the powerful speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, and he may have entered into a romantic dalliance with Robinson's sister-in-law, Mary ”Polly” Philipse The twenty-six-year-old Polly would have been a pri man: she was slim, dark-haired, beautiful, and heiress to a colossal fortune Unsubstantiated legend claie; if so, he lost out to Major Roger Morris, son of an English architect, who had fought with Washi+ngton at Braddock's defeat

By the titon's triumphal journey attracted considerable interest When he arrived, the Boston Gazette Boston Gazette saluted hientleh reputation of h success has not always attended his undertakings” saluted hientleh reputation of h success has not always attended his undertakings” 22 22 Aside froton's military renown, Governor shi+rleyhim: his son had also acted as an aide to Braddock and was killed during the caovernor on March 5, 1756, Washi+ngton h shi+rley confirworthy, he wouldn't budge on other ton's officers for inclusion in the royal establish Governor Sharpe of Maryland to lead the next caainst Fort Duquesne-a ton already harbored a rich fund of fantasies On his way home, the disappointed colonel stopped to confer with Sharpe, an interview that left hin ton's military renown, Governor shi+rleyhim: his son had also acted as an aide to Braddock and was killed during the caovernor on March 5, 1756, Washi+ngton h shi+rley confirworthy, he wouldn't budge on other ton's officers for inclusion in the royal establish Governor Sharpe of Maryland to lead the next caainst Fort Duquesne-a ton already harbored a rich fund of fantasies On his way home, the disappointed colonel stopped to confer with Sharpe, an interview that left hin , he was soed by news that the asseinia's forces to fifteen hundred ed by news that the asseinia's forces to fifteen hundred s with powerful older ton hadn't yet developed the tact that would distinguish hie, he seened a subordinate position His emotions were still raw, and he exhibited a naked, sometimes clumsy a careerist brooded interainst colonial officers and betrayed a heightened sense of personal injustice-feelings that would assu the Aravitas about the young Washi+ngton, a seriousness of purpose and a fierce determination to succeed, that made him stand out in any crowd

AS SOON AS WAshi+NGTON returned to Winchester in early April, he confronted a fresh crisis Indians had sacked so many settle faton as their savior At first he could barely scrape up a few dozenan equal battle with the Indians, telling Governor Dinwiddie that ”the cunning and craft” of the Indians ”are not to be equalledThey prowl about like wolves and, like the theton issued a plea for intercolonial union that foreshadowed his later stress on national unity ”Nothing I more sincerely wish than a union to the colonies in this tiovernor Robert Hunter Morris Feeling eton issued a plea for intercolonial union that foreshadowed his later stress on national unity ”Nothing I more sincerely wish than a union to the colonies in this tiovernor Robert Hunter Morris25 Even as a young le reason for his actions His pursuit of self-interest and selfless dedication to public service were often interle his true motives Perhaps for this reason, he could always discern both the base and the noble sides of huton, the French and Indian War presented few elevating ideas beyond the nation about the savagery he purported to see practiced by his French and Indian foes seean to view himself as the self-styled champion of the backwoods people and was ht In a remarkable letter to Robert Dinwiddie on April 22, 1756, he made an impassioned statement about the murder of frontier fa

I ae to atteh I have a generous soul, sensible of wrongs and swelling for redress But what can I do? If bleeding, dying! would glut their insatiate revenge, I would be a willing offering to savage fury and die by inches to save a people! I see see their situation, their situation, kno their danger, and participate [in] their their danger, and participate [in] their sufferings sufferings without having it in ive them further relief than uncertain pro petitions from the men melt me into such deadly sorrow that I sole sacrifice to the butchering enemy, provided that would contribute to the people's ease without having it in ive them further relief than uncertain pro petitions from the men melt me into such deadly sorrow that I sole sacrifice to the butchering enemy, provided that would contribute to the people's ease26 Here one can sense a flood of deep feeling welling up beneath the surface of Washi+ngton's tightly buttoned personality A spark of idealis about his personal status-a spark that would soht flame

Faced with Indian raids that depopulated whole settle up the ton suddenly found himself at the head of a thousand tehborn officers Reflecting this resentinia Gazette blasted Washi+ngton's officers as ”rank novices, rakes, spendthrifts, and bankrupts” who ”browbeat and discouraged” the ave them ”an example of all ton's officers as ”rank novices, rakes, spendthrifts, and bankrupts” who ”browbeat and discouraged” the ave them ”an example of all manner of debauchery, vice, and idleness”27 Livid over this bad publicity, Washi+ngton infors he had issued about these vices and proor than has hitherto been practiced, since I find it so absolutely necessary” Livid over this bad publicity, Washi+ngton infors he had issued about these vices and proor than has hitherto been practiced, since I find it so absolutely necessary”28 Washi+ngton presented the strange spectacle of a youngdissolute behavior, and Dinwiddie stood solidly behind hih reat e spectacle of a youngdissolute behavior, and Dinwiddie stood solidly behind hih reat ton squawked about the fickle militia, who disappeared whenever an Indian threat materialized Apparently concerned by the e, Colonel William Fairfax preached a stoic cal the ood health and fortune is the toast of every table,” he reassured Washi+ngton ”Aard shown to any of their chieftains was always estee up Caesar and Alexander the Great as ton shouldn't be disturbed by unreliable nanimity [as] those heroes remarkably did”30

IN MID - AUGUST, Colonel Washi+ngton staged a seant in Winchester to mark the official start of the French and Indian War, announced in London three months earlier Escorted by toorthies, he round and read aloud the declaration of war, urging his s and by a strict attachment to his royal commands [to] demonstrate the love and loyalty we bear to his sacred person”31 With that, numerous toasts were drunk and muskets boomed Nevertheless the absolute power of distant bureaucrats in London preyed on Washi+ngton's s to John Campbell, Earl of Loudoun, the new coer a ton touted himself as a war veteran and seasoned his welcome with self-promotion: ”We humbly represent to your Lordshi+p that ere the first troops in action on the continent on [the] occasion of the present broils and that by several engagements and continual skire of them and of their crafty and cruel practices” With that, numerous toasts were drunk and muskets boomed Nevertheless the absolute power of distant bureaucrats in London preyed on Washi+ngton's s to John Campbell, Earl of Loudoun, the new coer a ton touted himself as a war veteran and seasoned his welcome with self-promotion: ”We humbly represent to your Lordshi+p that ere the first troops in action on the continent on [the] occasion of the present broils and that by several engagements and continual skire of theer to please his new coled tobeen troubled by an inability to clothe them, but in March he procured for each ” and some waistcoats of ”sorry flannel”33 No sooner had he acco he had obtained Indignant, he threatened them with five hundred lashes Where his men had once deserted two or three at a tiust, and the shortage of usta County militia was summoned to duty that October, fewer than a tenth even bothered to show up Froton caorously trained, professional armies rather than hastily summoned, short-term militia No sooner had he acco he had obtained Indignant, he threatened them with five hundred lashes Where his men had once deserted two or three at a tiust, and the shortage of usta County militia was summoned to duty that October, fewer than a tenth even bothered to show up Froton caorously trained, professional armies rather than hastily summoned, short-terton was exasperated by ements on the western frontier He objected in strenuous terms to Lord Loudoun's decision in early Deceinia troops at Fort cumberland in Maryland, when it inia Washi+ngton's tenacity on this issue led to a clash with Dinwiddie, who sided with Loudoun Until this point Washi+ngton had prudently tended his relationshi+p with the royal governor and was exe to civilian control Now, in a terribly iesses speaker John Robinson, violating a cardinal rule of Virginia politics that the governor had final authority in such matters The decision also smacked of disloyalty to soton's career The younghis advice to Dinwiddie had been ”disregarded as idle and frivolousMy orders [from Dinwiddie] are dark, doubtful and uncertain: today approved, tomorrow condemned today approved, toravatedDinwiddie that Loudoun had ”imbibed prejudices so unfavourable to hly informed”35 Since Dinwiddie had been Loudoun's primary source of information, he would have interpreted this as a direct attack on his own conduct Since Dinwiddie had been Loudoun's primary source of information, he would have interpreted this as a direct attack on his own conduct

On January 10, 1757, throwing caution to the wind, Washi+ngton sent Lord Loudoun a letter so lengthy that it runs to a dozen printed pages in his collected papers It provides a graphic picture of the twenty-four-year-old Washi+ngton's ambivalence about the British class system On the one hand, he flattered Loudoun unctuously even as he denied doing so ”Although I have not the honour to be known to Your Lordshi+p, yet Your Lordshi+p's name was familiar to my ear on account of the important services performed to His Majesty in other parts of the world Don't think My Lord I a to flatter I have exalted sentiments of Your Lordshi+p's character and revere your rankton then brashly declared his i and cited his failure to win a well-ard toleave to say [that,] had His Excellency General Braddock survived his unfortunate defeat, I should have met with preferment equal to ard toleave to say [that,] had His Excellency General Braddock survived his unfortunate defeat, I should have met with preferment equal to ton also mentioned that, after their brave stand at Fort Necessity, his ular British Arton knew that he had overstepped political boundaries and confessed in closing, ”When I look over the preceding pages and find how far I have exceeded my first intention, I blush with shaton also mentioned that, after their brave stand at Fort Necessity, his ular British Arton knew that he had overstepped political boundaries and confessed in closing, ”When I look over the preceding pages and find how far I have exceeded my first intention, I blush with shame to think of auche Washi+ngton resolved to advise Loudoun in person and prevailed upon Dinwiddie to allow hiovernors of five colonies flocked there to see hihty Scot with a reputation as aWashi+ngton to cool his heels for six weeks Froeneral had ad letter, but when he met with him, the coinia had been assigned a secondary iy and that any assault on Fort Duquesne had been postponed The only victory that Washi+ngton could claim was Loudoun's decision that Maryland would take responsibility for Fort cuinia forts

Before leaving Philadelphia, Washi+ngton wrote to Dinwiddie and vented his bitter outrage at the inferior status foisted upon the Virginia Regi Americans should deprive us of the benefits of British subjects, nor lessen our claiular troops ever before served 3 bloody cau your own properties'-I look upon [the's Doe intellectual leap: Washi+ngton was suddenly asserting that the i, not his overseas subjects The equality of an English was purely illusory In titon's disenchantment with the fairness of the British e intellectual leap: Washi+ngton was suddenly asserting that the i, not his overseas subjects The equality of an English was purely illusory In titon's disenchantment with the fairness of the Britishcolonel returned to Winchester-the ”cold and barren frontiers,” as he called them-he applauded one development: several hundred Catawba and Cherokee Indians had enlisted on the British side for the first time since the Fort Necessity debacle, an alliance that prohoulish coreed to pay the Indians ten pounds for every eneht into ca four scalps and two prisoners, Washi+ngton hadn't yet received the necessary gifts to reward them ”They are much dissatisfied that the presents are not here,” he told Dinwiddie, labeling these new Indian allies ”the most insolent, most avaricious, and most dissatisfied wretches I have ever had to deal with” The Virginia assereed to pay the Indians ten pounds for every eneht into ca four scalps and two prisoners, Washi+ngton hadn't yet received the necessary gifts to reward them ”They are much dissatisfied that the presents are not here,” he told Dinwiddie, labeling these new Indian allies ”the most insolent, most avaricious, and most dissatisfied wretches I have ever had to deal with”42 The Indians were about to terifts belatedly arrived The Indians were about to terifts belatedly arrived

During this huton often felt helpless in dealing with histhreatened with punishment, ton's personal grievances fueled his rage at them When a thousand lashes didn't stop the desertions, he upped the penalty to a draconian fifteen hundred lashes The historian Fred Anderson has estie of six hundred lashes in each flogging, putting him on a par with his most severe British counterparts43 With icy deterh to instill terror in anybody conteh erected (which has terrified the With icy deterh to instill terror in anybody conteh erected (which has terrified the rest rest exceedingly) and I a two or three on it as an exaly) and I a two or three on it as an example to others,” he infor fourteenhts Knowing his own nature, he let his temper cool In the end, he pardoned twelve of the men-they had been kept ”in a dark room, closely ironed”-and executed only two repeat offenders ”Your honor will, I hope, excuse ton told Dinwiddie ”It conveyed much terror to others and it was for example['s] sake we did it”45 It should be noted that, while Washi+ngton didn't balk at naked terror, he had already warned that recidivists would be hanged It should be noted that, while Washi+ngton didn't balk at naked terror, he had already warned that recidivists would be hanged

Throughout the surew quarrelso that his forular commission he pursued Indeed, Dinwiddie's letters were often carping and de officer felt at the overnor, who for his part felt powerless in dealing with Lord Loudoun and arbitrary instructions froht into the problenorant of local conditions