Despite the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July of 1776 was not a happy time for Americans fighting for that independence declared in the now famous document. The rebel army had been pushed out of New York by one humiliating defeat after another and had barely survived.
What was worse, the American commander General George Washington had appeared amateurish and indecisive in the defeats. He had relied on subordinates to make decisions for him and had failed to realize the British strategy, costing him a large chunk of his already dwindling army.
Joseph Reed and Charles Lee
Washington’s indecision was not lost on those in his army. Washington’s top aide, Joseph Reed, and second in command, General Charles Lee, began writing letters discussing Washington’s failings. Reed urged Lee to go to Congress and seek to replace Washington. Lee, who was a vain man, needed little prodding .
Washington had split his army to avoid complete annihilation by the British. He sent Lee north with half the troops, while he crossed into New Jersey. One day when Reed was away on a recruiting trip, a letter arrived from Lee. Assuming it was an official letter regarding the position of his forces, Washington opened it.
Written on the pages was Reed and Lee’s treachery. Lee had enclosed a copy of Reed’s letter which bemoaned Washington’s indecision. Also in the packet was Lee’s response which agreed with Reed and blasted Washington. It also stated that Lee, who Washington had asked to march his troops to rejoin with the main army, had no intention of following orders.
Washington realizing the letter was a personal correspondence between Reed and Lee resealed the envelope and attached a note apologizing for reading the contents inside. He then sent the letter on to Reed.
Washington Reaction
Whether it was because he was stunned at that his closest aide and second in command had lost faith in him or whether he knew that the accusations in the letter were true, Washington did not get angry or rebuke either of the authors.
Rather than sulk and bemoan his problems, the colonial army was in bad shape due to circumstances not Washington’s fault, he appears to have determined to show a new resolve.
Washington pushed Congress and got a resolution giving him the powers to act as he saw best. Prior to this, he consulted with Congress before making major movements and about issues of planning. And although he sought out the advice from individual officers, he no longer called councils of war where his ideas and plans could be vetoed by the group.
In short, from that moment, Washington decided to put the Continental Army on his back and lead the way.
Striking the British
Following the defeat at New York, Washington on the advice of General Nathaniel Greene and others on his staff, decided to pursue what is called a war of posts. Fighting minor skirmishes with the enemy while avoiding a full scale battle unless the odds were squarely on the side of the colonials.
To this extent, Washington led the British through New Jersey and avoided capture for several months before slipping across the Delaware River to safety on the other side.
With his army out of harm’s way and at full strength due to the arrival of the remaining troops under the command of General John Sullivan, Washington began to put his more decisive attitude into practice.
Through his intelligence network, he learned that a small group of Hessian soldiers were occupying the town of Trenton, New Jersey, and that the main body of British troops had returned to New York to spend the winter there.
On Christmas Eve, Washington led his men across the Delaware and attacked the Hessians as day broke the following day. In a snow storm, the colonial troops overwhelmed the Hessians and won the battle in a matter of minutes.
News of Washington’s victory swept the countryside and renewed confidence in commander emerged. That confidence was repaid in early 1777 when Washington again crossed the Delaware and attacked the rear guard of General Charles Cornwallis’ army which had been sent to retake Trenton.
In another spectacular victory Washington showed signs of the general he was and the leader he grew to become.
Sources:
David McCullough, 1776 (Simon & Schuster, 2006)
John Ferling, The Ascent of George Washington (Bloomsbury Press, 2009)
Bryan Rose - I have always had a passion for sports and history. Basically they were the two things that got me through high school and ...
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