Part 7 (2/2)
Another stalwart adton was Charles Willson Peale In 1779 the Supreme Executive Council of Philadelphia coth portrait of Washi+ngton to coton sat for the portrait over a teek period, and the result was an inspiring work of easy, graceful lines A debonair Washi+ngton stands with Nassau Hall in the background and a Hessian standard unfurled at his feet His blue jacket with gold epaulettes opens to reveal a pale blue sash curving across his paunch He holds one ar on the barrel of a cannon At the height of his power, Washi+ngton stands tall and iold-colored spurs; the left foot is elegantly drawn back, resting on its toes The portrait breathes a h-flown accomplishment All traces of provincial tentativeness and uncertainty have disappeared fronetic Washi+ngton that so enthralled his conteure enerations by Gilbert Stuart
Washi+ngton didn't pause to savor his victory at Princeton Once Cornwallis awoke and discovered the A, helter-skelter pace ”in aat being so outwitted,” laughed Henry Knox66 The British arrived an hour after the Continental Arton put his dazed, depleted h the paces of another fifteen-mile march north to Somerset Court House They arrived there after sundown and, exhausted, instantly fell asleep on any available bed of straw they could find The British arrived an hour after the Continental Arton put his dazed, depleted h the paces of another fifteen-mile march north to Somerset Court House They arrived there after sundown and, exhausted, instantly fell asleep on any available bed of straw they could find
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The Busy Scenes of a Caton's soldiers performed at Trenton and Princeton, they eary from their epic labors, and the euphoria of their victory was short-lived The heroish quite real, would prove sporadic throughout the war, so that Washi+ngton's own constancy beca the bounties they had pocketed,into the woods every day, and Washi+ngton griped that he headed an ar a reason or even apprising you of it”1 To flesh out sixteen new regiments, he had to offer twenty-dollar bounties, one hundred acres of land, and a new suit of clothes to anyone older than seventeen but younger than fifty To flesh out sixteen new regiments, he had to offer twenty-dollar bounties, one hundred acres of land, and a new suit of clothes to anyone older than seventeen but younger than fifty
Washi+ngton reressional reluctance to confer on hieneral officers So from fear of arbitrary power, but it also testified to envy festering below the hero worshi+p, a petulant undercurrent that would persist for the rest of Washi+ngton's career Speaking of Washi+ngton, John Adaues not ”to idolize an iht Washi+ngton already had too[of] our arton took his shrunken army into winter headquarters in Morristown, New Jersey, instead of retreating back into Pennsylvania This inspired decision enabled him to harass British supply lines and to expel the enemy frorave risks Washi+ngton was now perilously short of men, and as he admitted years later, the British could easily have vanquished this thinly guarded caainst us”3 A small incident shows that he didn't wish to jinx his recent run of victories through any precipitate action On January 8 he thanked the Pennsylvania Council of Safety for ”your notice of the eclipse of the sun which is to happen toht affect the minds of the soldiery” A small incident shows that he didn't wish to jinx his recent run of victories through any precipitate action On January 8 he thanked the Pennsylvania Council of Safety for ”your notice of the eclipse of the sun which is to happen toht affect the e alive to portents, Washi+ngton feared that his soldiers n of providential displeasure In an age alive to portents, Washi+ngton feared that his soldiers n of providential displeasure
Twenty-five ed by protective hills, Morristoas rich in far winter retreat For his headquarters, Washi+ngton chose a building on the village green that once served as a tavern He enjoyed a frugal life, compared to the su for his officers in Manhattan Once the hubbub of battle subsided, Washi+ngton longed for Martha's company and was starved for news of home For months he had discontinued correspondence with friends and fa it incompatible with my public business,” as he told Robert Morris ”A letter or two froularly received, which is ratherfrom home on domestic matters”5 With his emotional life still rooted in Mount Vernon and the war now threatening to drag on interminably, he contended that nobody ”suffers more by an absence from home than myself” With his emotional life still rooted in Mount Vernon and the war now threatening to drag on interminably, he contended that nobody ”suffers more by an absence from home than myself”6 Martha, unable to travel across a sobund landscape, wouldn't arrive until nearly spring Martha, unable to travel across a sobund landscape, wouldn't arrive until nearly spring
The commander in chief had no respite from the crisis atmosphere that had shadowed hi in patriot hospitals that one doctor re seen ”from four to five patients die on the saed” 7 7 When ston feared a calamity and hastily informed Hancock that he planned to inoculate all his troops He also asked Dr Williah Philadelphia en route to his arhtened action that helped stave off an epideton feared a calamity and hastily informed Hancock that he planned to inoculate all his troops He also asked Dr Williah Philadelphia en route to his arhtened action that helped stave off an epideton's tenure as coht after extended intervals of relative caliance of a population that vacillated between fealty to the Crown and patriotic indignation The fair treatment of civilians forton had a sure grasp of the principles of this republican revolution, asserting that ”the spirit and willingness of the people reat eneral could compete with him in this contest for popular opinion With one eye fixed on the civilian populace, Washi+ngton showed punctilious respect for private property and was especially perturbed when American troops sacked houses under the pretext that the owners were Tories His overriding goal was to contrast his own humane behavior with the predatory ways of the eneeneral could compete with him in this contest for popular opinion With one eye fixed on the civilian populace, Washi+ngton showed punctilious respect for private property and was especially perturbed when American troops sacked houses under the pretext that the owners were Tories His overriding goal was to contrast his own humane behavior with the predatory ways of the enee over the abuse of civilianshis personal guard John Herring, a ton's table and was furnished with a horse and pass When rebuffed at the home of a Tory named Prince Howland, he spied some costly objects he coveted and dispatched three others frouard-John Herrick, Moses Walton, and a fifer named Elias Brown-to procure them The three men broke into Howland's house and looted silver spoons, silver dollars, and clothing, then repeated the perfor the incident, Howland described the three vandals as having worn the round hats adorned with bearskin strips that distinguished Washi+ngton's guard Washi+ngton endorsed the death sentences handed down by a court- with one hundred lashes for Herrick ”His Excellency the Coeneral orders ”Shocked at the frequent, horrible villainies of this nature committed by the troops of late, he is determined to make examples which will deter the boldest and most harden[e]d offenders”9 While Walton and Brown escaped before execution, John Herring was duly hung, and John Herrick received his one hundred lashes While Walton and Brown escaped before execution, John Herring was duly hung, and John Herrick received his one hundred lashes
The opinions of New Jersey's citizens became of paramount importance after the Trenton and Princeton victories removed the aura of protection that had sustained Loyalist faton cherished no love for Tories, whom he portrayed as diabolical and branded ”aboated an order that those who had sworn loyalty to England should swear allegiance to the United States For those who deranted (in a lovely rhetorical ploy) ”full liberty” to defect to the other side He now proland should swear allegiance to the United States For those who deranted (in a lovely rhetorical ploy) ”full liberty” to defect to the other side11 He devised an exquisitely civilized policy: Loyalists would be conducted to British lines with their personal possessions but would have the option of leaving behind their wives and children Such Soloton the country's first chief executive a dozen years before he was officially elected to the post He devised an exquisitely civilized policy: Loyalists would be conducted to British lines with their personal possessions but would have the option of leaving behind their wives and children Such Soloton the country's first chief executive a dozen years before he was officially elected to the post
During the winter of 1776-77 the British sent out foraging parties froton directed the militia to ”harass their troops to death” in what became a conflict of ”daily skirmishes”12 This small-scale warfare whittled away British power as the athered horses, cattle, and sheep to feed the Ae in New York, wrote that not ”a stick of wood, a spear of grass or a kernel of corn could the troops in New Jersey procure without fighting for it” This small-scale warfare whittled away British power as the athered horses, cattle, and sheep to feed the Ae in New York, wrote that not ”a stick of wood, a spear of grass or a kernel of corn could the troops in New Jersey procure without fighting for it”13 Congresston defend their districts but refused to appropriate ht, had no idea of the handicaps under which he toiled ”In a word,” he seethed, ”when they are at a distance, they think it is but to say, 'Presto! Begone' and everything is done” Congresston defend their districts but refused to appropriate ht, had no idea of the handicaps under which he toiled ”In a word,” he seethed, ”when they are at a distance, they think it is but to say, 'Presto! Begone' and everything is done”14 It took treth to parry requests from politicians whose support he desperately needed It took treth to parry requests from politicians whose support he desperately needed
During the long Morristointer, Washi+ngtona spy network under his personal supervision This operation had enjoyed a top priority froe in 1775 With his natural reticence and sphinxlike personality, Washi+ngton was a natural student of espionage At first his spy operation was haphazard in nature, cohering into a true systeuarantee secrecy, he never hinted in letters at the identity of spies Instead he assigned theue locutions, such as ”the person youthe , and the diagram of the network existed in his mind alone After 1779 he frequently had spies communicate via invisible ink, developed by John James's brother James, as a doctor and an aes of books or interlined in family letters ”It is inbut a counter liquor (rubbed over the paper afterwards) can s He favored having the , and the diagram of the network existed in his mind alone After 1779 he frequently had spies communicate via invisible ink, developed by John James's brother James, as a doctor and an aes of books or interlined in family letters ”It is inbut a counter liquor (rubbed over the paper afterwards) can s16 Secret notes were typically pressed between leather bindings and pasteboard covers of transported books Secret notes were typically pressed between leather bindings and pasteboard covers of transported books
To spy on New York-”the fountain of all intelligence,” Washi+ngton anointed it-was his principal objective, and he soon had the town covered with inforence in the course of their everyday affairs, and his mind proved inventive in its choices17 With so, telling one to ”mix with and put on the airs of a Tory to cover his real character and avoid suspicion” With so, telling one to ”mix with and put on the airs of a Tory to cover his real character and avoid suspicion”18 With an insatiable appetite for intelligence, he entreated Presbyterian minister Alexander McWhorter, the chaplain of an artillery brigade, to press convicted spies for inforical co With an insatiable appetite for intelligence, he entreated Presbyterian minister Alexander McWhorter, the chaplain of an artillery brigade, to press convicted spies for inforical coht before the Princeton battle, Washi+ngton inforreatest occasion at present for hard money to pay a certain set of people who are of particular use to usSilver would be ton considered Morris, a huge enial personality, the financier with the best e and connections in North America He often tapped Morris for ress, which couldn't be trusted to keep secrets When Morris first approached a rich Quaker in Philadelphia for funds, theof any sort” Washi+ngton considered Morris, a huge enial personality, the financier with the best e and connections in North America He often tapped Morris for ress, which couldn't be trusted to keep secrets When Morris first approached a rich Quaker in Philadelphia for funds, theof any sort”20 Morris overcaton two canvas bags bulging with glittering coins, including Spanish silver dollars, French half crowns, and English crowns, an incident Washi+ngton always reet, without accounting to Congress, bespeaks the extraordinary trust placed in the coold for spies and kept theHe practiced the entire range of espionage tactics, including double agents and disinfor a litany of false information to Elisha Boudinot, as supposed to relay it to a spy ”to deceive the eneious scruples and sent Washi+ngton two canvas bags bulging with glittering coins, including Spanish silver dollars, French half crowns, and English crowns, an incident Washi+ngton always reet, without accounting to Congress, bespeaks the extraordinary trust placed in the coold for spies and kept theHe practiced the entire range of espionage tactics, including double agents and disinfor a litany of false information to Elisha Boudinot, as supposed to relay it to a spy ”to deceive the eneton showed real artistry as a spyed in bluffs to fool the enemy In April 1777 he alerted Joseph Reed that an unnamed man, recently arrested, had served as an Aton passed along orders that his allegiance should be reinforced by a ”handsome present in money” and that he should then be released in such a way as ”to give it the appearance of an accidental escape froton's instructions sounded knowing: ”Great care must be taken so to conduct the scheme as to make the escape appear natural and real There must be neither tootoo little, or overacting the part, would alike beget a suspicion” 23 In using spies as double agents to spread disinforain see as little of our true circumstances as possible and, in order that they may really deceive the enemy in their reports, to endeavour in the first place to deceive the: ”Great care must be taken so to conduct the scheme as to make the escape appear natural and real There must be neither tootoo little, or overacting the part, would alike beget a suspicion” 23 In using spies as double agents to spread disinforain see as little of our true circumstances as possible and, in order that they may really deceive the enemy in their reports, to endeavour in the first place to deceive them”24 On one occasion that winter, when an officer requested perested that he woo the spy with a dinner invitation, then leave nearby, as if by sheer negligence, a sheet pegging the Continental Arerated nuton misled the enemy to conceal his oeakness On one occasion that winter, when an officer requested perested that he woo the spy with a dinner invitation, then leave nearby, as if by sheer negligence, a sheet pegging the Continental Arerated nuton misled the eneton devoted farletters than to leading overnress that he and his aides ”are confined fro the applications and letters of one and another,” leaving hie stacks of correspondence and felt besieged by supplicants for various favors At times the enor than British arms When brother Samuel asked for a portrait of him, he pleaded a lack of tiet a picture of mine, taken from the life, it must be when I aroaned at the huge stacks of correspondence and felt besieged by supplicants for various favors At times the enor than British arms When brother Samuel asked for a portrait of him, he pleaded a lack of tiet a picture of mine, taken from the life, it must be when I am remov[e]d from the busy scenes of a camp”26 At times, he appeared overwhelmed by bureaucratic demands, with the ”business of sowith ress for their infored to keep up with the adjacent states” At times, he appeared overwhelmed by bureaucratic demands, with the ”business of sowith ress for their infored to keep up with the adjacent states” 27 27 Washi+ngton had trained himself to write pithy, meaty letters, with little frivolity or sant, often forceful Even Jefferson, a fluent words that ”he wrote readily, rather diffusely, in an easy and correct style”28 Because aides drafted ton's superlative wartime letters, soton oversaw their work, first giving the drafts until theystandards His aides became fine mimics of their boss, and their letters echo one another's because they ell schooled in Washi+ngton's style He wanted letters so immaculate that he had them rewritten several times if they contained even ston's superlative wartime letters, soton oversaw their work, first giving the drafts until theystandards His aides became fine mimics of their boss, and their letters echo one another's because they ell schooled in Washi+ngton's style He wanted letters so immaculate that he had them rewritten several times if they contained even ston worked in close proximity with aides, who typically slept under the sale room, bent over small wooden tables, while the commander kept a ston adhered to an unvarying daily routine Arriving fully dressed, he breakfasted with his aides and parceled out letters to be answered, along with his preferred responses He then reviewed his troops on horseback and expected to find the letters in finished form by the time of his noonday return
The best caton enjoyed ca midafternoon dinners Up to thirty people attended these affairs,on walnut caton converted these repasts into little oases of elegant society, a reminder of civilized