Geo. Washington and the Continental Army

[Venkman]

Nice little piece for your Independence Day.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q...E1YjYwZDdjZjc=

Of course, when the war ended, he resigned his command and returned to Mount Vernon. Upon hearing the news, an astonished King George III said, “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.” Before he did, Washington had a last instance of drama with his Army. Camped in Newburgh, N.Y., at the end of the war in 1783, the Army grew restive because Congress was tardy in paying it. Insurrection was in the air.

In a tense meeting with his officers, Washington told them that in rejecting rebellion, “You will give one more distinguished proof of unexampled patriotism and patient virtue, rising superior to the pressure of the most complicated sufferings; And you will, by the dignity of your Conduct, afford occasion of Posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to Mankind, ‘had this day been wanting, the World had never seen the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of attaining.’

Thank God for that man.

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by Venkman

Nice little piece for your Independence Day.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q...E1YjYwZDdjZjc=



Thank God for that man.

In general, when reading biographies of great leaders, you inevitably come across something that makes you respect that leader a little bit less than what the traditions and legends would have you think of that leader.

That is not the case with George Washington. One of the greatest men to have ever walked this earth.

[ERCougar]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

In general, when reading biographies of great leaders, you inevitably come across something that makes you respect that leader a little bit less than what the traditions and legends would have you think of that leader.

That is not the case with George Washington. One of the greatest men to have ever walked this earth.

I completely agree. Our first two presidents, truly lived lives beyond reproach.

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by ERCougar

I completely agree. Our first two presidents, truly lived lives beyond reproach.

They both had flaws, Adams far more than Washington. Adams had a very large ego that got in the way of his goals, from time to time. I think his ego is, in part, why he isn't appreciated as much as he deserves. He navigated the nation through some exceptionally challenging times (straddling war with both France and England and the Barbary Pirates concurrently). He had an insatiable appetite for knowledge and was among the most brilliant leaders this nation has ever produced (or which ever produced this nation).

Washington still stood head and shoulders above Adams (figuratively and literally). I don't know if Adams would have voluntarily stepped down from the presidency after 2 terms as Washington did, which really began one of the greatest traditions our nation has developed (the peaceful transition of power). Washington had some quasi-shady real estate dealings, and certainly lost quite a few battles as a military leader in the French and Indian War and even in the Revolutionary War, but he clearly learned from his mistakes and went on to engineer some of the greatest moments in American military history.

This nation would be far different (and worse) but for George Washington. He deserves all the praise that can be lavished on him.

[MikeWaters]

Is any of this true?

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache...ient=firefox-a

Subject: Re: Presidential History
Answered By: tutuzdad-ga on 04 Aug 2004 20:30 PDT
Rated:5 out of 5 stars

Dear zanderthecat-ga;

Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question. It is likely that we will never know for certain as such
mischief was not properly recorded in Washington’s time and it was not
proper in that era to even suspect or discuss it. What we do know is
that one family at least lays unproven claim to Washington’s lineage
through their ancestor, who was John Augustine Washington’s (the
President’s brother’s) Negro slave, Venus Ford. West Ford was born in
Fairfax County, Virginia to Venus Ford in the mid 1780’s.

“Ford oral history states that Venus was a young girl when she was
first asked to "comfort" George Washington. She also met George
Washington on his visits to Bushfield before and after the
Revolutionary War. Ford oral history further states that after Venus
became pregnant with West, Washington no longer had sexual relations
with her. When asked by Hannah Washington [George’s sister-in-law] who
the father of her child was, Venus replied, "The Ole General be the
father, mistress."
WEST FORD LEGACY
http://www.westfordlegacy.com/mvmtg/qa.html

In an unusual act of kindness, J A Washington made some provisions for
his slaves in his will. In an uncharacteristic move he mentions by
name, “Billey” (West Ford’s grandfather) “Jenny” (West Ford’s
grandmother) and “Venus” (West Ford’s mother) in his will suggesting
that there was some connection other than slave/owner, but irocnically
he did not mention West in his will. This may be because George’s
brother thought of West more as an illegitimate relative than a slave
or that West Ford may have been moved to Mount Vernon to be closer to
his “father” by the time J A Washington died.

One Ford family member claims to have traced his heritage back to West
Ford who he says was Washington’s personal attendant at Mount Vernon.
If this is true then certainly it would be seem more than a
coincidence that West Ford did in fact move to Mount Vernon as the
absence of his name in the will suggests.

Further evidence that Washington had Venus Ford as a mistress and that
West Ford was their child is the fact that Ford was given an
unprecedented honor upon Washington’s death. This entitlement was not
routine for a slave but more befitting for an endeared relative:

“West Ford became the first tomb guard for George Washington's
gravesite. Three generations of Fords would also hold the title of
tomb guard at the Mount Vernon plantation. (1937 Illinois Register
article title, "From Mt. Vernon to Springfield – George W. Ford,
Veteranof Indian Wars, Traces Ancestry Back to Revolutionary Days When
Grandfather was Valued Servant at Mount Vernon" & George Ford's 1939
obituary).”


There are of course other rumors involving other women over the years:

“There are several known sex scandals associated with George
Washington. John C. Fizpatrick's, "The George Washington Scandals",
Manuscript Division of Library of Congress" page 389 discussed these
scandals in a 1927 article. These scandals have not been proven as
fact, but have been bandied about for years. The scandals consist of
"Sweet Kate" the mulatto, washer-woman's daughter who may have slept
with Washington. George Washington's use of ciphers next to various
female slaves listed in several of his diaries have also been
circumspect; and that his fatal illness of December 13, 1799, was the
result of an assignation with an overseer's wife.

Many historians will now concede George Washington's love for Sally
Fairfax, his best friend's wife. In Thomas Flexner's book, "George
Washington – The Forge of Experience" page 198, depicts a letter
George Washington wrote to Sally Fairfax in which he states his
unrequited love for her.

Dr. Judith Burton's 1986 Doctoral Dissertation states on page 19 that:
"Florence Holland and Robert King, both residents of Gum Springs and
employees at Mount Vernon during the 1940s, have alleged that on
several occasions they read a diary that listed the children sired by
George Washington; although it is not known whether West Ford's name
was listed in the diary. They further claimed that when they were
discovered reading the book by their supervisors at Mount Vernon, the
book was confiscated and they never saw it again." (Holland, 1972;
King, 1956).”
WEST FORD LEGACY
http://www.westfordlegacy.com/mvmtg/qa.html


We have at least one piece of evidence that clearly indicates (then)
General Washington had an affair with his next-door-neighbor’s wife
well after his engagement to his future wife Martha Custis. One of his
love notes to Sally Fairfax, on Sept. 12, 1758, has been preserved:

“Tis true I profess myself a votary to Love. I acknowledge that a Lady
is in the case; and, further, I confess that this lady is known to
you. Yes, Madam, as well as she is to one who is too sensible of her
Charms to deny the Power whose influence he feels and must ever submit
to....You have drawn me, my dear Madam, or rather I have drawn myself,
into an honest confession of a Simple Fact. Misconstrue not my
meaning, 'tis obvious; doubt it not or expose it. The world has no
business to know the object of my love, declared in this manner to -
you, when I want to conceal it. One thing above all things, in this
World I wish to know, and only one person of your acquaintance can
solve me that or guess my meaning - but adieu to this till happier
times, if ever I shall see them.”

PBS.ORG
The Fairfaxes and George Washington
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl...ashington.html

ABCNEWS.COM
The Press Once Winked at White House Sex Tales
Many Presidents Had Affairs
http://more.abcnews.go.com/sections/...alscandal0125/



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[ERCougar]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Is any of this true?

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache...ient=firefox-a

That was "George Washingon", a lesser-known horny contemporary often confused with our president. He did have several "illigitimate" children.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by Venkman

Nice little piece for your Independence Day.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q...E1YjYwZDdjZjc=



Thank God for that man.

I am going to do a separate thread on this when I finish the book I am reading on this topic, but perhaps the greatest achievement of the most moral man of his era is one that we never talk about. By the end of his life Washington realized that slavery was not compatible with the ideals of the republic he had established and at his death he went to extraordinary lengths to free all of this slaves. None of the other founders did this. Not one.

The excuse is often heard that we cannot hold people of different times to the morals and standards of our day. We must judge them by what they understood, how they were socialized and what others believed at that time. George Washington single handedly puts the lie to the assertion that this excuse can be made for the other founders and patriots of Washington's time. Whatever else they were (and they were many great things), they we partakers in something awful and created a profound paradox that was not resolved until the civil war and in some ways, arguably, remains unresolved. Washington could not reconcile himself to this paradox. He refused to.

No man is perfect, but Washington among great Americans is without peer.

[Venkman]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Is any of this true?

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache...ient=firefox-a

1. I doubt it.
2. Start your own thread

[Venkman]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

They both had flaws, Adams far more than Washington. Adams had a very large ego that got in the way of his goals, from time to time. I think his ego is, in part, why he isn't appreciated as much as he deserves. He navigated the nation through some exceptionally challenging times (straddling war with both France and England and the Barbary Pirates concurrently). He had an insatiable appetite for knowledge and was among the most brilliant leaders this nation has ever produced (or which ever produced this nation).

Washington still stood head and shoulders above Adams (figuratively and literally). I don't know if Adams would have voluntarily stepped down from the presidency after 2 terms as Washington did, which really began one of the greatest traditions our nation has developed (the peaceful transition of power). Washington had some quasi-shady real estate dealings, and certainly lost quite a few battles as a military leader in the French and Indian War and even in the Revolutionary War, but he clearly learned from his mistakes and went on to engineer some of the greatest moments in American military history.

This nation would be far different (and worse) but for George Washington. He deserves all the praise that can be lavished on him.

Great post. I seriously doubt we would have won the war without him.

[creekster]

Washington was a true titan. Adams, IMO, not as much. I truly respect them both, but I have alwasy had a problem with Adams' approval of the alien and sedition acts (of course, Lincoln suspended habeas corpus, but I digress). Adams was very bright and very hard working, but he was sometimes mean-spirited and his commitment to what we might call American ideals sometimes was overwhelmed by his sense of personal insult. His image has been rehabilitated by the recent McCullough biography and cable miniseries to a degree that may not be fully justified, again IMO. To me, the best thing about Adams was his wife. If you read their correspondence, she is a much more sensible thinker and a much more eloquent writer.

Washington, OTOH, who has many times been protrayed unfairly as a stoic and non-thinking and even intellectually overmatched presdient was perhaps one of the few founding fathers who truly saw the big picture. He saw the vision of this nation and where it could go and what it would become. The so-called shady real estate deals are inconsequential compared to the gift he gave the world. WHen he walked away from the presidency in the face of invitations ot become king he created a template for a transition of power that was wholly foreign to prior generations and defied all expectations, even of honorable men. UD, I am also nto sure that his act of freeing his slaves is overlooked, but it is perhaps not dwelled upon.

I love Jefferson's mind (but he was a weak man in so many ways), I respect Adams, and many of the founding fathers were great men, but Washington deserves to sit at the head of that table.