Category Archives: George Washington

Revolutionary Summer

31 Saturday Jan 2015

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Revolutionary Summer by Joseph Ellis has been sitting at my bedside for weeks now. I still cling to the illusion that a large gap of time will spring forth and present an opportunity to dig into this book. Until that fateful day, this short interview with Ellis is will do. Ellis is, in my opinion, one of the most eloquent writers of the American Revolution. He’s got an impressive backlog and for good reason. The man can tell a compelling story. You can get a sense of this as he discusses Washington and the New York campaign:

I you accuse me of posting this video in an attempt to grab an ounce of respectability after my Sons of Liberty review I won’t deny it. Enjoy!

Almost a Miracle

09 Saturday Aug 2014

Posted by in Banastre Tarleton, Cornwallis, Cowpens, George Washington, Rochambeau

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Almost a Miracle by John Ferling

Almost a Miracle by John Ferling

Compelling storytelling is a craft not easily mastered by many Historians. We’ve all struggled through books that do nothing more than lead us through a dusty timeline of historical events littered with stale flat historical figures. Worse yet is the historian with a knack for unnecessary detail and little interest in exploring the complexities of human motivation.

So it is with great pleasure then that one comes across a book that covers such a monumental topic such as the American Revolution with a flair for good storytelling. John Ferling’s Almost a Miracle is just that book. The one volume synopsis of the war would be my first suggestion for someone with a casual interest in the American Revolution.

Now time for a few observations of Ferling’s fine work:

Ferling is not a big fan of Lafayette.

Marquis de La Fayette

Marquis de La Fayette

Using words like “petulant”, “brash” and “sycophant”,  Ferling pulls no punches when describing young Marques as an opportunist who rides the coattails of Washington. Ferling notes Rochambeau’s concerns about Lafayette’s attachment to Washington and even points a finger at Lafayette for triggering the events at the battle of Monmouth that effectively ended Charles Lee’s tenure as a general in the Continental army.

Lafayette had a romanticized interpretation of the ideals that drove the Revolution, yet his motivations were complex. He also was driven by an ambition for fame and glory and this ambition was certainly a factor in his decision making.

After the war, Lafayette never wavered from this romantic notion of the Revolution and worked to bring this vision to France. Unfortunately, he was swept up in the chaos of the French Revolution and was fortunate enough to escape with his life.

Not afraid to sidestep historical doubts in order to tell a compelling story.

When dealing with history, very little can be said with absolute certainty. Debate still continues on two instances that Ferling address in Almost a Miracle.

Missed Opportunity?

Missed Opportunity?

One is Patrick Ferguson’s choice not to fire on Washington during the battle Brandywine. Many believe Ferguson spared Washington’s life that day, yet others maintain that this was not Washington at all, but one of the many European Aristocrats participating in the war (Count Casimir Pulaski).

Another is the supposed clash between William Washington and Banastre Tarleton during the battle of Cowpens. Did they briefly engage during the end of the battle? Perhaps, but there are still doubters this confrontation actually took place.

But trifling over the fog of history can bog down an otherwise compelling story, so I applaud Ferling’s choice to avoid the debates and ambiguities that all historians must wrestle with.

Ferling does not ignore the south

Nathaniel Greene

Nathaniel Greene

Ferling points out the essential and often overlooked British southern campaign. To most, Cornwallis magically appears in Yorktown. But Ferling leads us through the series of events in the south that placed him there. Kings Mountain, Cowpens and Guilford Courthouse and the cunning Nathaniel Greene are not overlooked.

Ferling is fair to Hortio Gates and Charles Lee

Disparaged by most historians and laymen alike, Lee and Gates are often exemplars of poor generalship. Ferling does not sugarcoat their shortcomings, however he also describes them as the two most experienced and talented generals under Washington. One is left to feel a twinge of regret that Lee and Gates personal shortcomings led them to infamy.

Ferling’s take on Washington was well thought out and concise.

Was Washington a brilliant General? No. About average according to Ferling. But Ferling points out the attributes that Washington did bring to the table and notes how these were unique and essential to the position. Washington’s ability to work with congress, collaborate with the French, focus on thousands of administrative details and adapt to the circumstances made him the “indispensable man”.

 

John Ferling

John Ferling

In summary, John Ferling’s Almost A Miracle accomplishes the difficult feat of consolidating a long complex period of American history in a very palatable and entertaining way. This book is certainly one to recommend for all those interested in the American Revolution. Well done!

 

What’s in a Title?

13 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by in George Washington, Revolutionary War

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Dec 23, 1783, Washington Resigns

Dec 23, 1783, Washington Resigns

NPR in Atlanta recently ran a segment that discussed the legislative turmoil surrounding the question of what to call the first leader of the United States. The Senate wanted a title with the appropriate gravitas that would command respect on the world stage. The House on the other hand shunned grand titles. Grand titles went to men’s heads and many feared it would be only a matter of time before America traded a foreign tyrant for a local one. It wasn’t as much Washington that the House feared, but his predecessor. It was unrealistic to assume that future leaders of America would deal with power as effectively as Washington and a grand title may give a weak willed leader enough wiggle room to assume powers unintended by the Founders. Title or not, this debate continues to this day, but the title of President is an issue that time has seemingly settled.

HBO's John Adams

HBO’s John Adams

HBO’s series John Adams also addresses this debate in a segment that paints the second President of the United States in a somewhat undistinguished light. As the Vice President, Adams  fumbles through lofty titles that eventually earn him the title of “His Rotundity” by detractors who accuse him of being swayed by his years in Europe. HBO somewhat unfairly paints Adams as a solitary figure obsessing over a non issue, but in fact the issue was hotly debated at the time and apparently never officially settled.  The Senate agreed to temporarily allow the lowly title of “President” until clearer heads could prevail. At an undocumented future date, they would revisit the subject and agree on a more distinguished title.

The proverbial can was kicked down the road and left for history and perception to shape. Before they knew it, a term used in Cricket leagues and other gentlemen’s clubs began to evolve into something much more substantial. Today we find hundreds of countries with Presidents across the globe, as these countries adopt this title in an attempt to capture a little of the weight it carries with it.

One is left wondering how much language shapes reality and vice versa. Sociologists and scientists are still studying this issue today. How does language shape consciousness? What are the evolutionary benefits of language?  Or even more profoundly, what if Benjamin Franklin had his way and the Turkey became the national bird of America? Would this bird would take on some of the noble qualities Franklin attributed to it? One is left wondering. Or maybe just a little hungry perhaps…

 

 

TURN: Episode 2, “Who By Fire”

18 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by in AMC, George Washington, TURN

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Many twists and turns during this episode (some admittedly hard to follow with all that whispering). I will focus on one particular storyline for this post however.

Simcoe

Simcoe

The British soldier Simcoe finds himself and American prisoner after a failed ambush tipped off by Woodhull. The American captors,  Brewster and Tallmadge, recognize that Simcoe’s low status on the British totem pole will gain them very little actionable intelligence. However Simcoe’s Imperialist taunts quickly set off the thin skinned Americans. In no time, we find ourselves witnessing an ‘enhanced interrogation’ session that almost ends in an execution if not for the timely entrance of  American higher command. Tallmadge is reprimanded for his treatment of a British prisoner and subsequently threatened with court martial.

Caleb Brewster and Ben Tallmadge

Caleb Brewster and Ben Tallmadge

Does Simcoe bring this fate upon himself? One is left unconvinced. Brewster and Tallmadge take a noticeable step down in the ranks of Patriot heroes. Lives are at stake as in any war, but there remains nothing to be gained from this scene other than perhaps a lightly veiled commentary on modern interrogation.  Perhaps there was more at stake in the encounter that the series was letting on. We may never know why sending Simcoe off to a prison camp apparently was not an option.

Gentlemanly codes of conduct frowned on torture and harsh treatment of officers during the 18th century. The real harsh treatment fell upon enlisted men and civilians who were shipped off to prison camps or prison barges to suffer starvation and disease.

 
Washington insisted on fair and honorable treatment of prisoners. Even the dreaded Hessians were treated humanely. This was a policy that served he and the American cause well. Washington’s status of a man of honor grew as people realized he would not discard the principles of the Revolution in order to win the war.

These principles seem to be the same ones that saved our villain Simcoe. One certainly suspects he will be around much longer to prove to us that killing him would of been the better option. This is a moral conundrum that has been touched upon in movies like Saving Private Ryan. These situations (scripted or not) seem to test our faith in our principles and basic human dignity during a time of war.

TURN

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by in 1777 Charleville, George Washington, Musket, Revolutionary War, Weapons of the Revolution

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turnThis will be the first in a series of observations and opinions on AMC’s spy thriller TURN. I will touch on some plot elements, but will avoid putting much effort into rehashing the plot of every episode. You will just need to watch it yourself!

AMC’s new Spy drama is based on the exploits of the Culper Ring, a spy organization built on the orders of George Washington during the Revolutionary War. The series revolves around Abraham Woodhull, an unassuming cabbage farmer who through hard luck and fate, ends up siding with the Americans to become America’s original James Bond.

On first impression, AMC did not cut corners with production design. The series premier had a very finished, authentic feel that looks to be on par with the standard bearer of Revolutionary War television, HBO’s John Adams. amc-turn

An early scene of downed American Dragoons being ‘mopped up’ by a Queen’s Ranger was both visually arresting and emotional. The Ranger bayoneting wounded men with his musket really gives one a sense of the deadliness of this 18th century tool of war. The deadliness was perhaps taken a bit too far when Robert Rogers hit a running Ben Tallmadge at what looked to be over a hundred yards (this nitpick from one who readily retorts naysayers that say muskets were woefully inaccurate. Perhaps Rogers was firing a rifle?)

TURN is crafted around the conflict between America and Britain, however the real tension in the series comes a layer deeper when one realizes there are really two wars going on here. One between a formal enemy and the other between one’s own countrymen. The dirty underbelly if the Revolution is where you will find the real danger, deceit and atrocity. No one is beyond suspicion at this point until the series can really be felt out.

britishIs there so delightful a villain as the British? This imperial foe is so full of arrogance and aristocracy that it must be tempting AMC’s writers to coast along with the stereotype. Yet the jury is still out on this (Patriot anyone?). The British are crafty, brutish, charming, and polite. Most of all, you get a sense of their power and influence. But If you are looking for a traditional ogre, Samuel Roukin’s ‘Simcoe’ is an especially well cast antagonist that looks to be fun to hate.

Jamie Bell as Abraham Woddhull

Jamie Bell as Abraham Woddhull

As with most spy dramas, it was difficult at times to interpret the hushed voices and follow a string of unfamiliar names. I worry that the storyline may be TOO subtle and difficult to pick up mid stream (as may be required for a cable series to build viewing momentum). Also, our antagonist Woodhull comes across as a bit flaky and mousy on first impression, but one assumes events will force him out of this phase.

Finally, I am curious as to how much the writers can pull in historically specific elements that really give us a sense of the drama behind the American Revolution. One thing to ask ourselves as the series progresses is will this be just another spy thriller fitted into the shell America’s war for independence, or will this be something unique that helps us shape our understanding of this critical period of American history?

http://www.amctv.com/shows/turn

Sundays at 9pm

Top Ten Tips for Holding A Empire Together

03 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by in Banastre Tarleton, Founding Fathers, George Washington, King George III, Revolutionary War

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King George III

King George III

Ok may be a few years overdue, but here are Twistification’s tips for His Royal Majesty King George the Third:

  1. If people from your country risk life and limb to travel over a thousand treacherous miles to practice their religion without persecution, expect some skepticism regarding your policies from their offspring.
  2. Taxes can work, but you may want to consider administrating them locally and gathering feedback.
  3.  The Continental Congress wants to negotiate. Don’t force their hand and give them no other choice but to declare war.
  4. Mr. Washington, Mr. Franklin and Mr. Jefferson deserve some military and administrative recognition. They have more influence and talents than you realize (Mr. Adams and his cousin are a lost cause however). That didn’t work? Ok now that the war has begun:
  5. Push your Generals to take advantage of early victories. The rebellion can be crushed early, but if you give the Americans time to recover, things will escalate out of control. And whatever you do, don’t let them gain any moral victories. 
  6. Banastre Tarleton

    Banastre Tarleton

    Make sure your Generals coordinate strategically. Divas will not help your cause in the new world.

  7. Don’t lose a big battle. I repeat DON’T LOSE A BIG BATTLE. Your neighbors across the channel are looking for an excuse to join the fight and turn this regional uprising into a worldwide conflict.
  8. Patrick Ferguson and his modified rifle might be a good investment considering the amount of American rifles mustered against your army.
  9. The South isn’t as Loyalist leaning as you think, and your cavalryman Tarleton is not going to help matters.
  10. As just as their cause may be, inciting slaves and indians against your subjects will backfire.

July 4th, 1776

05 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by in 4th of July, Founding Fathers, George Washington, Uncategorized

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Franklin and Adams look over first draft. Have suggestions.

Franklin and Adams look over first draft. Have suggestions. Maybe blaming King George for slavery isn’t appropriate at this juncture…

On July 4th, 1776 the Second Continental Congress voted to approve the Declaration of Independence. On this historic day, the Founders officially signed off on a document that would either signify the beginning of a new nation or become a convenient roll call for the hangman’s noose.

While this date is synonymous with American Independence, Twistification would like to offer five dates that rival the significance of July 4th, 1776. Without these events, July 4th would only stand out in history as a controversial day in which a pesky British colony launched a failed revolt against the mighty British Empire.

June 17th, 1775. The Battle of Bunker Hill

Bunker Hill (more accurately Breed's Hill)

Bunker Hill (more accurately Breed’s Hill)

This battle was significant in two ways. First, the battle proved that Americans were capable of fighting British regulars and inflicting heavy casualties. Secondly, the impact of this battle dealt a powerful blow to British military psyche. General Clinton remarked in his diary that “A few more such victories would have shortly put an end to British dominion in America.” The battle planted a seed of doubt that influenced decision making. No British general wanted to suffer casualties like Bunker Hill again. Caution prevailed, and this caution allowed Washington to survive and regroup from a string of disastrous defeats early in the war.

October 7th, 1777, Burgoyne Defeated at Saratoga

The Battle of Saratoga

British Surrender at Saratoga

This critical American victory (thanks in large part to the traitor Benedict Arnold) brought France officially into the war on the side of the Americans. This critical alliance expanded the war from a regional conflict to a global one and diluted essential British naval power. French supplies stabilized the American war effort and French naval power eventually allowed Washington to trap Cornwallis at Yorktown.

No French alliance, no American Independence. Probably helpful to remember when someone smugly reminds a Frenchman of American assistance during WWI and WWII.

October 19th 1781, The Siege of Yorktown

British surrender at Yorktown. French play 'yankee doodle dandy' to rub it in.

British surrender at Yorktown. French play ‘yankee doodle dandy’ to rub it in.

After eight long years of war, the fate of the American colonies was still in question. The arrival of Rochambeau’s French fleet and the positioning of Cornwallis at Yorktown provided a brief opportunity for Washington to break the stalemate.

On October 19th, 1781 a joint expeditionary force of Continental and French soldiers converged at Yorktown to begin the siege. This was made possible by a critical French victory at sea that blocked British naval reinforcement. Adding to misfortune for Cornwallis,  General Clinton sat on his hands and failed to reinforce him in time. These two events essentially sealed Cornwallis’s fate. This victory officially broke British political will and ended the war.

March 15th 1783, Washington Estinguishes a Military Coup d’état

Veterans of the Revolution were not receiving pay and justifiably felt abandoned by an ungrateful nation. Agitated to the point of military uprising, Continental officers called a meeting to discuss steps to take action against Congress.

As Horatio Gates called the meeting to order, an unexpected guest entered the room. To the surprise of all, General Washington asks to speak to the men. A hushed silence falls across the assembly as Washington takes the podium and delivers a passionate call for restraint now known as the Newburgh Address. At the conclusion of his speech, the retired General pauses to read a message from Congress. As he begins, Washington clumsily pulls out his reading glasses. “Gentlemen,” the legendary General declared “you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country.”

Washington’s speech quelled the potential uprising and saved a fledgling Nation from a military coup.

September 17, 1787, The Constitution is Adopted

Signing of the Constitution

Signing of the Constitution

Endless commentary has been written about the Constitution, but it is just as important to understand the significance of the adoption of the Constitution during the early uncertain days of the Republic. The Constitution became the glue that bonded the States together and created a functional government that the Articles of Confederation had failed to do.

And it barely came into being.

The nation was close to falling into a loose assemblage of independent states when men like Madison and Hamilton essentially drug the Constitution to fruition by taking advantage of hastily gathered state conventions. The Constitution was made a realty by a series of essential compromises (including slavery) as well as support from respected Founding Fathers like Washington and Franklin. With the Constitution passed, America narrowly escaped a deadly biproduct of revolution–degeneration by infighting internal strife.

Other Dates of Importance

Christmas night 1776 Washington crosses the Delaware

Washington resigns his commission at Annapolis, MD on December 23, 1783

Revolutionary Revelations

02 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by in 1777 Charleville, Alexander Hamilton, Cowpens, Founding Fathers, George Washington, Revolutionary War, The battle of Cowpens, Uncategorized, Weapons of the Revolution

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A collection of fun historical tidbits I’ve come across in the last few years…

Marquis de La Fayette

Marquis de La Fayette

Fact 1: Live in a town, city or county named Fayetteville or Lafayette? Chances are your town was named after the French Aristocrat and Revolutionary war hero Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette.  General Lafayette was a close friend of Washington and a Revolutionary War hero that in many ways embodied the ideals of The Revolution.

Fact 2: James Monroe’s wife, Elizabeth Monroe rescued Madame Lafayette from imprisonment during the French Revolution.

Washington Crossing the Delaware

Washington Crossing the Delaware

Fact 3: Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware and the following battle of Trenton included historical figures Captain William Washington (of Cowpens fame), James Monroe (who was wounded during the surprise attack), John Marshall (the subject of Jefferson’s “Twistification” quote that inspired the name of this blog) and finally Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton.

Horses (or men for that matter) don't respond well to having sharp things pointed at them.

Horses (or men for that matter) don’t respond well to having sharp things pointed at them.

Fact 4: The bayonet was the single most frightening and devastating weapon used against the Americans during The Revolution. American rifles and muskets were not equipped with this military accessory. The infusion of smuggled French arms (like the Charleville musket) eventually helped tilt the balance back to American troops.

Napoleon vs Washington: Leadership

24 Monday Jun 2013

Posted by in Founding Fathers, George Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte, Revolutionary War

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napoleon-washington

“There is an inborn subtlety to leadership that those who do not possess it never understand”
-John Buchanan The Road to Guilford Courthouse

“A leader is a dealer in hope”
-Napoleon Bonaparte

Leadership is “a quality of personality that inspires, motivates or influences others to accomplish a goal”. For the sake of comparison I will also consider another aspect of leadership that every great leader must come to grips with–that intoxicating demon known as power.

Napoleon rallies the army sent to destroy him during the 100 Days

Napoleon rallies a French army sent to destroy him during the 100 Days

Without a doubt, Napoleon and Washington possessed the “inborn subtlety'” that Buchanan so eloquently describes. The popular myth portraying Napoleon as a shallow, thin skinned, egotistical megalomaniac was born of the old truism “to the victor goes the spoils”. In this case, the spoils involve the ability to publically control the narrative surrounding defeated Emperor’s life. Certainly, a man lampooned as nothing more than a short insecure bully would never be able to pull off one of the most astonishing acts of leadership in the history of western civilization by walking on the shores of France with a handful of men and days later find himself seated once again in power. Napoleon was the kind of charismatic leader that history has rarely seen.

 
The ability to “inspire, motivate and influence others” were abilities both men possessed in full. According to the Duke of Wellington, Napoleon’s presence on the battlefield “made the difference of forty thousand men”. At the beginning of his career, Napoleon showed flashes of what was to come by confidently taking charge of a room filled with more experienced Generals who were hesitant to defer power to this young upstart. He had a magnanimous presence that controlled a room and charmed both men and women alike. These traits were disarming to those expecting behavior similar to the portrait painted of him in newspapers and flyers. Even his enemies found him personally likable.

Washington rallying troops at the Battle of Monongahela

Washington rallying troops at the Battle of Monongahela

Washington’s presence on the battlefield was perhaps not as numerically impactful, but certainly as courageous and inspiring. Washington truly embodied the look of a leader. Towering over most men of this age, Washington stood at over six feet tall and accented his presence by an upright posture and prominent features.  A master horseman and an aspiring stoic, Washington was the embodiment of the commanding presence. He was also known to be aloof and distant. This was in part because of his advocacy of roman stoicism, but also because he found himself uncomfortable in the presence of men much more educated than he.

Dec 23, 1783, Washington Resigns

Dec 23, 1783, Washington Resigns

Both men were unquestionably prime examples of histories’ finest leaders. Yet there is one aspect of leadership that nudges Washington ahead of Napoleon–his ability to resist the temptation of absolute power. At the peak of his fame and influence, Washington handed over his sword and retired from military life after The Revolution. This act prompted King George comment incredulously “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.” Reluctantly, Washington was drawn back into the political sphere, but this singular moment in history set the tone for a new model of leadership.

But to be fair, Washington handed over power to a government and people well equipped to handle self rule. Napoleon’s power on the other hand was born of a Reign of Terror that practically disintegrated a society. Stepping down from power would prove a risky affair for an Emperor facing enemies relentlessly waging war against him. It would be a much tougher road for Napoleon to hand over power.

Code Napoleon

Code Napoleon

Yet as we come to understand Napoleon’s unique circumstances, it must also be noted that he attempted to hold on and expand his power by using the age old practice of nepotism. A man who had the foresight to install the revolutionary Code Napoleon across Europe still struggled to find new ways of rethinking traditional European power structures. He attempted to hold onto power by by playing by the old rules of Empire, not breaking free of them.

Circumstances aside, history will forever see Washington as a man capable of putting aside the temptation of absolute power for the greater good. Napoleon failed to recognize this essential tenet of leadership until it was too late. Fairly or unfairly, one man became an example of successful leadership and the other a historical cautionary tale.

napoleon_washingtonLeadership