retirement of Howe to New York, 177; battle of Trenton, 180, 181;
campaign of Princeton, 181-183;
its brilliancy, 183;
Philadelphia campaign, 194-202;
British march across New Jersey prevented by Washington, 194; sea voyage to Delaware, 195;
battle of the Brandywine, 196-198; causes for defeat, 198;
defeat of Wayne, 198;
Philadelphia taken by Howe, 199;
battle of Germantown, 199;
its significance, 200, 201;
Burgoyne’s invasion, 203-211;
Washington’s preparations for, 204-206; Howe’s error in neglecting to cooperate, 205; capture of Ticonderoga, 207;
battles of Bennington, Oriskany, Fort Schuyler, 210; battle of Saratoga, 211;
British repulse at Fort Mercer, 217; destruction of the forts, 217;
fruitless skirmishing before Philadelphia, 218; Valley Forge, 228-232;
evacuation of Philadelphia, 234;
battle of Monmouth, 235-239;
its effect, 239;
cruise and failure of D’Estaing at Newport, 243, 244; failure of D’Estaing at Savannah, 247, 248; storming of Stony Point, 268, 269;
Tory raids near New York, 269;
standstill in 1780, 272;
siege and capture of Charleston, 273, 274, 276; operations of French and Americans near Newport, 277, 278; battle of Camden, 281;
treason of Arnold, 281-289;
battle of Cowpens, 301;
retreat of Greene before Cornwallis, 302; battle of Guilford Court House, 302;
successful operations of Greene, 302, 303; Southern campaign planned by Washington, 304-311; feints against Clinton, 306;
operations of Cornwallis and Lafayette in Virginia, 307; naval supremacy secured by Washington, 310, 311; battle of De Grasse and Graves off Chesapeake, 312; transport of American army to Virginia, 311-313; siege and capture of Yorktown, 315-318; masterly character of campaign, 318-320; petty operations before New York, 326; treaty of peace, 342.
Rives,
on Washington’s doubts of constitutionality of Bank, ii. 110.
Robinson, Beverly,
speaker of Virginia House of Burgesses, his compliment to Washington, i. 102.
Robinson, Colonel,
loyalist, i. 282.
Rumsey, James,
the inventor, asks Washington’s consideration of his steamboat, ii. 4.
Rush, Benjamin,
describes Washington’s impressiveness, ii. 389.
Rutledge, John,
letter of Washington to, i. 281;
nomination rejected by Senate, ii. 63; nominated to Supreme Court, 73.
ST. CLAIR, Arthur,
removed after loss of Ticonderoga, i. 208; appointed to command against Indians, ii. 94; receives instructions and begins expedition, 95; defeated, 96;
his character, 99;
fair treatment by Washington, 99; popular execration of, 105.
St. Pierre, M. de,
French governor in Ohio, i. 67.
St. Simon, Count,
reinforces Lafayette, i. 312.
Sandwich, Lord,
calls all Yankees cowards, i. 155.
Saratoga,
anecdote concerning, i. 202.
Savage, Edward,
characteristics of his portrait of Washington, i. 13.
Savannah,
siege of, i. 247.
Scammel, Colonel,
amuses Washington, ii. 374.
Schuyler, Philip,
accompanies Washington to Boston, i. 136; appointed military head in New York, 136; directed by Washington how to meet Burgoyne, 204; fails to carry out directions, 207;
removed, 208;
value of his preparations, 209.
Scott, Charles, commands expedition against Indians, ii. 95.
Sea-power,
its necessity seen by Washington, i. 283, 303, 304, 306, 310, 318, 319.
Sectional feeling,
deplored by Washington, ii. 222.
Sharpe, Governor,
offers Washington a company, i. 80; Washington’s reply to, 81.
Shays’s Rebellion,
comments of Washington and Jefferson upon, ii. 26, 27.
Sherman, Roger,
makes sarcastic remark about Wilkinson, i. 220.
Shirley, Governor William,
adjusts matter of Washington’s rank, i. 91, 97.
Short, William, minister to Holland, on commission regarding opening of Mississippi, ii. 166.
Six Nations,
make satisfactory treaties, ii. 88; stirred up by English, 94;
but pacified, 94, 101.
Slavery,
in Virginia, i. 20;
its evil effects, 104;
Washington’s attitude toward slaves, 105; his condemnation of the system, 106, 107; gradual emancipation favored, 107, 108.
Smith, Colonel,
letter of Washington to, ii. 340.
Spain,
instigates Indians to hostilities, ii. 89, 94, 101; blocks Mississippi, 135;
makes treaty with Pinckney opening Mississippi, 167, 168; angered at Jay treaty, 210.
Sparks, Jared,
his alterations of Washington’s letters, ii. 337, 338.
Spotswood, Alexander,
asks Washington’s opinion of Alien and Sedition Acts, ii. 297.
Stamp Act,
Washington’s opinion of, i. 119, 120.
Stark, General,
leads attack at Trenton, i. 181.
States, in the Revolutionary war,
appeals of Washington to, i. 142, 186, 204, 259, 277, 295, 306, 323, 324, 326, 344;
issue paper money, 258;
grow tired of the war, 290;
alarmed by mutinies, 294;
try to appease soldiers, 295, 296; their selfishness condemned by Washington, 333; ii. 21, 23; thwart Indian policy of Congress, 88.
Stephen, Adam,
late in attacking at Germantown, i. 199.
Steuben, Baron,
Washington’s appreciation of, i. 192, 249; drills the army at Valley Forge, 232;
annoys Washington by wishing higher command, 249; sent on mission to demand surrender of Western posts, 343; his worth recognized by Washington, ii. 334.
Stirling, Lord,
defeated and captured at Long Island, i. 165.
Stockton, Mrs.,
letter of Washington to, ii. 349.
Stone, General,
tells stories of Washington’s closeness, ii. 353, 354.
Stuart, David,
letters of Washington to, ii. 107, 221, 222, 258.
Stuart, Gilbert,
his portrait of Washington contrasted with Savage’s, i. 13.
Sullivan, John, General,
surprised at Long Island, i. 165; attacks at Trenton, 180;
surprised and crushed at Brandywine, 197, 198; unites with D’Estaing to attack Newport, 243; angry at D’Estaing’s desertion, 244;
soothed by Washington, 244;
sent against Indians, 266, 269.
Supreme Court,
appointed by Washington, ii. 72.
TAFT,—-,
kindness of Washington toward, ii. 367.
Talleyrand,
eulogistic report to Napoleon on death of Washington, i. 1, note; remark on Hamilton, ii. 139;
refused reception by Washington, 253.
Tarleton, Sir Banastre,
tries to escape at Yorktown, i. 317.
Thatcher, Dr.,
on Washington’s appearance when taking command of army, i. 137.
Thomson, Charles,
complimented by Washington on retiring from secretary-ship of Continental Congress, ii. 350.
Tories,
hated by Washington, i. 156;
his reasons, 157;
active in New York, 158;
suppressed by Washington, 159;
in Philadelphia, impressed by Continental army, 196; make raids on frontier, 266;
strong in Southern States, 267;
raids under Tryon, 269.
Trent, Captain,
his incompetence in dealing with Indians and French, i. 72.
Trenton, campaign of, i. 180-183.
Trumbull, Governor,
letter of Washington to, refusing to stand for a third term, ii. 269-271;
other letters, 298.
Trumbull, John,
on New England army before Boston, i. 139.
Trumbull, Jonathan,
his message on better government praised by Washington, ii. 21; letters to, 42;
Washington’s friendship for, 363.
Tryon, Governor,
Tory leader in New York, i. 143;
his intrigues stopped by Washington, 158, 159; conspires to murder Washington, 160;
makes raids in Connecticut, 269.
VALLEY FORGE,
Continental Army at, i. 228-232.
Van Braam, Jacob,
friend of Lawrence Washington, trains George in fencing, i. 65; accompanies him on mission to French, 66.
Vergennes,
requests release of Asgill, i. 329, 330; letter of Washington to, 330;
proposes to submit disposition of a subsidy to Washington, 332.
Virginia, society in,
before the Revolution, i. 15-29;
its entire change since then, 15, 16; population, distribution, and numbers, 17, 18; absence of towns, 18;
and town life, 19;
trade and travel in, 19;
social classes, 20-24;
slaves and poor whites, 20;
clergy, 21;
planters and their estates, 22;
their life, 22;
education, 23;
habits of governing, 24;
luxury and extravagance, 25;
apparent wealth, 26;
agreeableness of life, 27;
aristocratic ideals, 28;
vigor of stock, 29;
unwilling to fight French, 71;
quarrels with Dinwiddie, 71;
thanks Washington after his French campaign, 79; terrified at Braddock’s defeat, 88;
gives Washington command, 89;
fails to support him, 89, 90, 93; bad economic conditions in, 104,105;
local government in, 117;
condemns Stamp Act, 119;
adopts non-importation, 121;
condemns Boston Port Bill, 123;
asks opinion of counties, 124;
chooses delegates to a congress, 127; prepares for war, 132;
British campaign in, 307, 315-318; ratifies Constitution, ii. 40;
evil effect of free trade upon, 116, 117; nullification resolutions, 266;
strength of its aristocracy, 315.
WADE, COLONEL,
in command at West Point after Arnold’s flight, i. 285.
Walker, Benjamin,
letter of Washington to, ii. 257.
Warren, James,
letters of Washington to, i. 262, ii. 118.
Washington,
ancestry, i. 30-40;
early genealogical researches concerning, 30-32; pedigree finally established, 32;
origin of family, 33;
various members during middle ages, 34; on royalist side in English civil war, 34, 36; character of family, 35;
emigration to Virginia, 35, 36;
career of Washingtons in Maryland, 37; in Virginia history, 38;
their estates, 39.
Washington, Augustine, father of George Washington, birth, i. 35;
death, 39;
character, 39;
his estate, 41;
ridiculous part played by in Weems’s anecdotes, 44, 47.
Washington, Augustine, half brother of George Washington, keeps him after his father’s death, i. 48.
Washington, Bushrod,
refused appointment as attorney by Washington, ii. 62; educated by him, 370.
Washington, George,
honors to his memory in France, i. 1; in England, 2;
grief in America, 3, 4;
general admission of his greatness, 4; its significance, 5, 6;
tributes from England, 6;
from other countries, 6, 7;
yet an “unknown” man, 7;
minuteness of knowledge concerning, 8; has become subject of myths, 9;
development of the Weems myth about, 10, 11; necessity of a new treatment of, 12;
significant difference of real and ideal portraits of, 13; his silence regarding himself, 14;
underlying traits, 14.
_Early Life_.
Ancestry, 30-41;
birth, 39;
origin of Weems’s anecdotes about, 41-44; their absurdity and evil results, 45-48; early schooling, 48;
plan to send him to sea, 49, 50;
studies to be a surveyor, 51;
his rules of behavior, 52;
his family connections with Fairfaxes, 54, 55; his friendship with Lord Fairfax, 56;
surveys Fairfax’s estate, 57, 58, 59; made public surveyor, 60;
his life at the time, 60, 61;
influenced by Fairfax’s cultivation, 62; goes to West Indies with his brother, 62; has the small-pox, 63;
observations on the voyage, 63, 64; returns to Virginia, 64;
becomes guardian of his brother’s daughter, 64.
_Service against the French and Indians_. Receives military training, 65;
a military appointment, 66;
goes on expedition to treat with French, 66; meets Indians, 67;
deals with French, 67;
dangers of journey, 68;
his impersonal account, 69, 70;
appointed to command force against French, 71, 72; his anger at neglect of Virginia Assembly, 73; attacks and defeats force of Jumonville, 74; called murderer by the French, 74;
surrounded by French at Great Meadows, 76; surrenders, 76;
recklessness of his expedition, 77, 78; effect of experience upon, 79;
gains a European notoriety, 79;
thanked by Virginia, 79;
protests against Dinwiddie’s organization of soldiers, 80; refuses to serve when ranked by British officers, 81; accepts position on Braddock’s staff, 82; his treatment there, 82;
advises Braddock, 84;
rebuked for warning against surprise, 85; his bravery in the battle, 86;
conducts retreat, 86, 87;
effect of experience on him, 87;
declines to solicit command of Virginia troops, 88; accepts it when offered, 88;
his difficulties with Assembly, 89; and with troops, 90;
settles question of rank, 91;
writes freely in criticism of government, 91, 92; retires for rest to Mt. Vernon, 93;
offers services to General Forbes, 93; irritated at slowness of English, 93, 94; his love affairs, 95, 96;
journey to Boston, 97-101;
at festivities in New York and Philadelphia, 99; meets Martha Custis, 101;
his wedding, 101, 102;
elected to House of Burgesses, 102; confused at being thanked by Assembly, 102; his local position, 103;
tries to farm his estate, 104;
his management of slaves, 105, 106, 108, 109; cares for interests of old soldiers, 109; rebukes a coward, 110;
cares for education of stepson, 111; his furnishing of house, 112;
hunting habits, 113-115;
punishes a poacher, 116;
participates in colonial and local government, 117; enters into society, 117, 118.
_Congressional delegate from Virginia_. His influence in Assembly, 119;
discusses Stamp Act with Mason, 119; foresees result to be independence, 119; rejoices at its repeal, but notes Declaratory Act, 120; ready to use force to defend colonial rights, 120; presents non-importation resolutions to Burgesses, 121; abstains from English products, 121;
notes ominous movements among Indians, 122; on good terms with royal governors, 122, 123; observes fast on account of Boston Port Bill, 123; has controversy with Bryan Fairfax over Parliamentary policy, 124, 125, 126;
presides at Fairfax County meeting, 126; declares himself ready for action, 126; at convention of counties, offers to march to relief of Boston, 127; elected to Continental Congress, 127;
his journey, 128;
silent in Congress, 129;
writes to a British officer that independence is not desired, but war is certain, 130, 131; returns to Virginia, 132;
aids in military preparations, 132; his opinion after Concord, 133;
at second Continental Congress, wears uniform, 134; made commander-in-chief, 134;
his modesty and courage in accepting position, 134, 135; political motives for his choice, 135; his popularity, 136;
his journey to Boston, 136, 137;
receives news of Bunker Hill, 136; is received by Massachusetts Provincial Assembly, 137.
_Commander of the Army_.
Takes command at Cambridge, 137;
his impression upon people, 137, 138, 139; begins reorganization of army, 139;
secures number of troops, 140;
enforces discipline, his difficulties, 140, 141; forced to lead Congress, 142;
to arrange rank of officers, 142; organizes privateers, 142;
discovers lack of powder, 143;
plans campaigns in Canada and elsewhere, 143, 144; his plans of attack on Boston overruled by council of war, 144; writes to Gage urging that captives be treated as prisoners of war, 145;
skill of his letter, 146;
retorts to Gage’s reply, 147;
continues dispute with Howe, 148; annoyed by insufficiency of provisions, 149; and by desertions, 149;
stops quarrel between Virginia and Marblehead soldiers, 149; suggests admiralty committees, 150;
annoyed by army contractors, 150; and criticism, 151;
letter to Joseph Reed, 151;
occupies Dorchester Heights, 152; begins to like New England men better, 152; rejoices at prospect of a fight, 153;
departure of British due to his leadership, 154; sends troops immediately to New York, 155; enters Boston, 156;
expects a hard war, 156;
urges upon Congress the necessity of preparing for a long struggle, 156;
his growing hatred of Tories, 156, 157; goes to New York, 157, 158;
difficulties of the situation, 158; suppresses Tories, 159;
urges Congress to declare independence, 159, 160; discovers and punishes a conspiracy to assassinate, 160; insists on his title in correspondence with Howe, 161; justice of his position, 162;
quiets sectional jealousies in army, 162; his military inferiority to British, 163; obliged by political considerations to attempt defense of New York, 163, 164;
assumes command on Long Island, 164; sees defeat of his troops, 165;
sees plan of British fleet to cut off retreat, 166; secures retreat of army, 167;
explains his policy of avoiding a pitched battle, 167; anger at flight of militia at Kip’s Bay, 168; again secures safe retreat, 169;
secures slight advantage in a skirmish, 170; continues to urge Congress to action, 170, 171; success of his letters in securing a permanent army, 171; surprised by advance of British fleet, 172; moves to White Plains, 173;
blocks British advance, 174;
advises abandonment of American forts, 174; blames himself for their capture, 175; leads diminishing army through New Jersey, 175; makes vain appeals for aid, 176;
resolves to take the offensive, 177; desperateness of his situation, 178;
pledges his estate and private fortune to raise men, 179; orders disregarded by officers, 180;
crosses Delaware and captures Hessians, 180, 181; has difficulty in retaining soldiers, 181; repulses Cornwallis at Assunpink, 181; outwits Cornwallis and wins battle at Princeton, 182; excellence of his strategy, 183;
effect of this campaign in saving Revolution, 183, 184; withdraws to Morristown, 185;
fluctuations in size of army, 186; his determination to keep the field, 186, 187; criticised by Congress for not fighting, 187; hampered by Congressional interference, 188; issues proclamation requiring oath of allegiance, 188; attacked in Congress for so doing, 189; annoyed by Congressional alterations of rank, 189; and by foreign military adventurers, 191; value of his services in suppressing them, 192; his American feelings, 191, 193;
warns Congress in vain that Howe means to attack Philadelphia, 193; baffles Howe’s advance across New Jersey, 195; learning of his sailing, marches to defend Philadelphia, 195; offers battle at Brandywine, 196, 197; out-generaled and beaten, 197;
rallies army and prepares to fight again, 198; prevented by storm, 199;
attacks British at Germantown, 199; defeated, 200;
exposes himself in battle, 200;
real success of his action, 201;
despised by English, 202;
foresees danger of Burgoyne’s invasion, 203; sends instructions to Schuyler, 204;
urges use of New England and New York militia, 304; dreads northern advance of Howe, 205;
determines to hold him at all hazards, 206, 207; not cast down by loss of Ticonderoga, 207; urges New England to rise, 208;
sends all possible troops, 208;
refuses to appoint a commander for Northern army, 208; his probable reasons, 209;
continues to send suggestions, 210; slighted by Gates after Burgoyne’s surrender, 211; rise of opposition in Congress, 212;
arouses ill-feeling by his frankness, 212, 213; distrusted by Samuel and John Adams, 214; by others, 214, 215;
formation of a plan to supplant him by Gates, 215; opposed by Gates, Mifflin, and Conway, 215, 216; angers Conway by preventing his increase in rank, 216; is refused troops by Gates, 217;
defends and loses Delaware forts, 217; refuses to attack Howe, 218;
propriety of his action, 219;
becomes aware of cabal, 220;
alarms them by showing extent of his knowledge, 221; attacked bitterly in Congress, 222;
insulted by Gates, 223;
refuses to resign, 224;
refuses to notice cabal publicly, 224; complains privately of slight support from Pennsylvania, 225; continues to push Gates for explanations, 226; regains complete control after collapse of cabal, 226, 227; withdraws to Valley Forge, 227;
desperation of his situation, 228; criticised by Pennsylvania legislature for going into winter quarters, 229;
his bitter reply, 229;
his unbending resolution, 230;
continues to urge improvements in army organization, 231; manages to hold army together, 232;
sends Lafayette to watch Philadelphia, 233; determines to fight, 234;
checked by Lee, 234;
pursues Clinton, 235;
orders Lee to attack British rearguard, 235; discovers his force retreating, 236;
rebukes Lee and punishes him, 236, 237; takes command and stops retreat, 237;
repulses British and assumes offensive, 238; success due to his work at Valley Forge, 239; celebrates French alliance, 241;
has to confront difficulty of managing allies, 241, 242; welcomes D’Estaing, 243;
obliged to quiet recrimination after Newport failure, 244; his letter to Sullivan, 244;
to Lafayette, 245;
to D’Estaing, 246;
tact and good effect of his letters, 246; offers to cooperate in an attack on New York, 247; furnishes admirable suggestions to D’Estaing, 247; not dazzled by French, 248;
objects to giving rank to foreign officers, 248, 249; opposes transfer of Steuben from inspectorship to the line, 249; his thoroughly American position, 250; absence of provinciality, 251, 252;
a national leader, 252;
opposes invasion of Canada, 253;
foresees danger of its recapture by France, 254, 255; his clear understanding of French motives, 255, 256; rejoices in condition of patriot cause, 257; foresees ruin to army in financial troubles, 258; has to appease mutinies among unpaid troops, 258; appeals to Congress, 259;
urges election of better delegates to Congress, 259; angry with speculators, 260, 261;
futility of his efforts, 261, 262; his increasing alarm at social demoralization, 263; effect of his exertions, 264;
conceals his doubts of the French, 264; watches New York, 264;
keeps dreading an English campaign, 265; labors with Congress to form a navy, 266; plans expedition to chastise Indians, 266; realizes that things are at a standstill in the North, 267; sees danger to lie in the South, but determines to remain himself near New York, 267;
not consulted by Congress in naming general for Southern army, 268; plans attack on Stony Point, 268;
hatred of ravaging methods of British warfare, 270; again has great difficulties in winter quarters, 270; unable to act on offensive in the spring, 270, 272; unable to help South, 272;
advises abandonment of Charleston, 273; learns of arrival of French army, 274; plans a number of enterprises with it, 275, 276; refuses, even after loss of Charleston, to abandon Hudson, 276; welcomes Rochambeau, 277;
writes to Congress against too optimistic feelings, 278, 279; has extreme difficulty in holding army together, 280; urges French to attack New York, 280;
sends Maryland troops South after Camden, 281; arranges meeting with Rochambeau at Hartford, 282; popular enthusiasm over him, 283;
goes to West Point, 284;
surprised at Arnold’s absence, 284; learns of his treachery, 284, 285;
his cool behavior, 285;
his real feelings, 286;
his conduct toward Andre, 287;
its justice, 287, 288;
his opinion of Arnold, 288, 289;
his responsibility in the general breakdown of the Congress and army, 290;
obliged to quell food mutinies in army, 291, 292; difficulty of situation, 292;
his influence the salvation of army, 293; his greatness best shown in this way, 293; rebukes Congress, 294;
appoints Greene to command Southern army, 295; sends Knox to confer with state governors, 296; secures temporary relief for army, 296; sees the real defect is in weak government, 296; urges adoption of Articles of Confederation, 297; works for improvements in executive, 298,299; still keeps a Southern movement in mind, 301; unable to do anything through lack of naval power, 303; rebukes Lund Washington for entertaining British at Mt. Vernon, 303; still unable to fight, 304;
tries to frighten Clinton into remaining in New York, 305; succeeds with aid of Rochambeau, 306;
explains his plan to French and to Congress, 306; learns of De Grasse’s approach, prepares to move South, 306; writes to De Grasse to meet him in Chesapeake, 308; fears a premature peace, 308;
pecuniary difficulties, 309;
absolute need of command of sea, 310; persuades De Barras to join De Grasse, 311; starts on march for Chesapeake, 311;
hampered by lack of supplies, 312; and by threat of Congress to reduce army, 313; passes through Mt. Vernon, 314;
succeeds in persuading De Grasse not to abandon him, 315; besieges Cornwallis, 315;
sees capture of redoubts, 316;
receives surrender of Cornwallis, 317; admirable strategy and management of campaign, 318; his personal influence the cause of success, 318; especially his use of the fleet, 319;
his management of Cornwallis through Lafayette, 319; his boldness in transferring army away from New York, 320; does not lose his head over victory, 321; urges De Grasse to repeat success against Charleston, 322; returns north, 322;
saddened by death of Custis, 322; continues to urge Congress to action, 323; writes letters to the States, 323;
does not expect English surrender, 324; urges renewed vigor, 324;
points out that war actually continues, 325; urges not to give up army until peace is actually secured, 325; failure of his appeals, 326;
reduced to inactivity, 326;
angered at murder of Huddy, 327;
threatens Carleton with retaliation, 328; releases Asgill at request of Vergennes and order of Congress, 329, 330;
disclaims credit, 330;
justification of his behavior, 330; his tenderness toward the soldiers, 331; jealousy of Congress toward him, 332;
warns Congress of danger of further neglect of army, 333, 334; takes control of mutinous movement, 335; his address to the soldiers, 336;
its effect, 336;
movement among soldiers to make him dictator, 337; replies to revolutionary proposals, 337; reality of the danger, 339;
causes for his behaviour, 340, 341; a friend of strong government, but devoid of personal ambition, 342; chafes under delay to disband army, 343; tries to secure Western posts, 343;
makes a journey through New York, 343; gives Congress excellent but futile advice, 344; issues circular letter to governors, 344; and farewell address to army, 345;
enters New York after departure of British, 345; his farewell to his officers, 345;
adjusts his accounts, 346;
appears before Congress, 347;
French account of his action, 347; makes speech resigning commission, 348, 349.
_In Retirement_.
Returns to Mt. Vernon, ii. I;
tries to resume old life, 2;
gives up hunting, 2;
pursued by lion-hunters and artists, 3; overwhelmed with correspondence, 3;
receives letters from Europe, 4;
from cranks, 4;
from officers, 4;
his share in Society of Cincinnati, 4; manages his estate, 5;
visits Western lands, 5;
family cares, 5, 6;
continues to have interest in public affairs, 6; advises Congress regarding peace establishment, 6; urges acquisition of Western posts, 7; his broad national views, 7;
alone in realizing future greatness of country, 7, 8; appreciates importance of the West, 8; urges development of inland navigation, 9; asks Jefferson’s aid, 9, 10;
lays canal scheme before Virginia legislature, 10; his arguments, 10;
troubled by offer of stock, 11;
uses it to endow two schools, 12; significance of his scheme, 12, 13;
his political purposes in binding West to East, 13; willing to leave Mississippi closed for this purpose, 14, 15, 16; feels need of firmer union during Revolution, 17; his arguments, 18, 19;
his influence starts movement for reform, 20; continues to urge it during retirement, 21; foresees disasters of confederation, 21; urges impost scheme, 22;
condemns action of States, 22, 23, 25; favours commercial agreement between Maryland and Virginia, 23; stung by contempt of foreign powers, 24; his arguments for a national government, 24; points out designs of England, 25;
works against paper money craze in States, 26; his opinion of Shays’s rebellion, 26;
his position contrasted with Jefferson’s, 27; influence of his letters, 28, 29;
shrinks from participating in Federal convention, 29; elected unanimously, 30;
refuses to go to a feeble convention, 30, 31; finally makes up his mind, 31.
_In the Federal Convention_.
Speech attributed to Washington by Morris on duties of delegates, 31, 32;
chosen to preside, 33;
takes no part in debate, 34;
his influence in convention, 34, 35; despairs of success, 35;
signs the Constitution, 36;
words attributed to him, 36;
silent as to his thoughts, 36, 37; sees clearly danger of failure to ratify, 37; tries at first to act indifferently, 38; begins to work for ratification, 38;
writes letters to various people, 38, 39; circulates copies of “Federalist,” 40; saves ratification in Virginia, 40;
urges election of Federalists to Congress, 41; receives general request to accept presidency, 41; his objections, 41, 42;
dreads failure and responsibility, 42; elected, 42;
his journey to New York, 42-46;
speech at Alexandria, 43;
popular reception at all points, 44, 45; his feelings, 46;
his inauguration, 46.
_President_.
His speech to Congress, 48;
urges no specific policy, 48, 49; his solemn feelings, 49;
his sober view of necessities of situation, 50; question of his title, 52;
arranges to communicate with Senate by writing, 52, 53; discusses social etiquette, 53;
takes middle ground, 54;
wisdom of his action, 55;
criticisms by Democrats, 55, 56;
accused of monarchical leanings, 56, 57; familiarizes himself with work already accomplished under Confederation, 58;
his business habits, 58;
refuses special privileges to French minister, 59, 60; skill of his reply, 60, 61;
solicited for office, 61;
his views on appointment, 62;
favors friends of Constitution and old soldiers, 62; success of his appointments, 63;
selects a cabinet, 64;
his regard for Knox 65;
for Morris, 66;
his skill in choosing, 66;
his appreciation of Hamilton, 67; his grounds for choosing Jefferson, 68; his contrast with Jefferson, 69;
his choice a mistake in policy, 70; his partisan characteristics, 70, 71;
excludes anti-Federalists, 71;
nominates justices of Supreme Court, 72; their party character, 73;
illness, 73;
visits the Eastern States, 73;
his reasons, 74;
stirs popular enthusiasm, 74;
snubbed by Hancock in Massachusetts, 75; accepts Hancock’s apology, 75;
importance of his action, 76;
success of journey, 76;
opens Congress, 78, 79;
his speech and its recommendations, 81; how far carried out, 81-83;
national character of the speech, 83; his fitness to deal with Indians, 87;
his policy, 88;
appoints commission to treat with Creeks, 90; ascribes its failure to Spanish intrigue, 90; succeeds by a personal interview in making treaty, 91; wisdom of his policy, 92;
orders an expedition against Western Indians, 93; angered at its failure, 94;
and at conduct of frontiersmen, 94; prepares St. Clair’s expedition, 95;
warns against ambush, 95;
hopes for decisive results, 97;
learns of St. Clair’s defeat, 97; his self-control, 97;
his outburst of anger against St. Clair, 97, 98; masters his feelings, 98;
treats St. Clair kindly, 99;
determines on a second campaign, 100; selects Wayne and other officers, 100; tries to secure peace with tribes, 101; efforts prevented by English influence, 101, 102; and in South by conduct of Georgia, 103; general results of his Indian policy, 104; popular misunderstandings and criticism, 104, 105; favors assumption of state debts by the government, 107, 108; satisfied with bargain between Hamilton and Jefferson, 108; his respectful attitude toward Constitution, 109; asks opinions of cabinet on constitutionality of bank, 110; signs bill creating it, 110;
reasons for his decision, 111;
supports Hamilton’s financial policy, 112; supports Hamilton’s views on protection, 115, 116; appreciates evil economic condition of Virginia, 116, 117; sees necessity for self-sufficient industries in war time, 117; urges protection, 118, 119, 120;
his purpose to build up national feeling, 121; approves national excise tax, 122, 123; does not realize unpopularity of method, 123; ready to modify but insists on obedience, 124, 125; issues proclamation against rioters, 125; since Pennsylvania frontier continues rebellious, issues second proclamation threatening to use force, 127; calls out the militia, 127;
his advice to leaders and troops, 128; importance of Washington’s firmness, 129; his good judgment and patience, 130;
decides success of the central authority, 130; early advocacy of separation of United States from European politics, 133;
studies situation, 134, 135;
sees importance of binding West with Eastern States, 135; sees necessity of good relations with England, 137; authorizes Morris to sound England as to exchange of ministers and a commercial treaty, 137;
not disturbed by British bad manners, 138; succeeds in establishing diplomatic relations, 138; early foresees danger of excess in French Revolution, 139, 140; states a policy of strict neutrality, 140, 142, 143; difficulties of his situation, 142;
objects to action of National Assembly on tobacco and oil, 144; denies reported request by United States that England mediate with Indians, 145;
announces neutrality in case of a European war, 146; instructs cabinet to prepare a neutrality proclamation, 147; importance of this step not understood at time, 148, 149; foresees coming difficulties, 149, 150; acts cautiously toward _emigres_, 151; contrast with Genet, 152;
greets him coldly, 152;
orders steps taken to prevent violations of neutrality, 153, 154; retires to Mt. Vernon for rest, 154;
on returning finds Jefferson has allowed Little Sarah to escape, 156; writes a sharp note to Jefferson, 156; anger at escape, 157;
takes matters out of Jefferson’s hands, 157; determines on asking recall of Genet, 158; revokes exequatur of Duplaine, French consul, 159; insulted by Genet, 159, 160;
refuses to deny Jay’s card, 160;
upheld by popular feeling, 160;
his annoyance at the episode, 160; obliged to teach American people self-respect, 162, 163; deals with troubles incited by Genet in the West, 162, 163; sympathizes with frontiersmen, 163;
comprehends value of Mississippi, 164, 165; sends a commission to Madrid to negotiate about free navigation, 166; later sends Thomas Pinckney, 166;
despairs of success, 166;
apparent conflict between French treaties and neutrality, 169, 170; value of Washington’s policy to England, 171; in spite of England’s attitude, intends to keep peace, 177; wishes to send Hamilton as envoy, 177; after his refusal appoints Jay, 177;
fears that England intends war, 178; determines to be prepared, 178;
urges upon Jay the absolute necessity of England’s giving up Western posts, 179;
dissatisfied with Jay treaty but willing to sign it, 184; in doubt as to meaning of conditional ratification, 184; protests against English “provision order” and refuses signature, 185; meets uproar against treaty alone, 188; determines to sign, 189;
answers resolutions of Boston town meeting, 190; refuses to abandon his judgment to popular outcry, 190; distinguishes temporary from permanent feeling, 191; fears effect of excitement upon French government, 192; his view of dangers of situation, 193, 194; recalled to Philadelphia by cabinet, 195; receives intercepted correspondence of Fauchet, 195, 196; his course of action already determined, 197, 198; not influenced by the Fauchet letter, 198; evidence of this, 199, 200;
reasons for ratifying before showing letter to Randolph, 199, 200; signs treaty, 201;
evidence that he did not sacrifice Randolph, 201, 202; fairness of his action, 203;
refuses to reply to Randolph’s attack, 204; reasons for signing treaty, 205;
justified in course of time, 206; refuses on constitutional grounds the call of representatives for documents, 208;
insists on independence of treaty-making by executive and Senate, 209; overcomes hostile majority in House, 210; wishes Madison to succeed Morris at Paris, 211; appoints Monroe, 216;
his mistake in not appointing a political supporter, 212; disgusted at Monroe’s behavior, 213, 214; recalls Monroe and appoints C.C. Pinckney, 214; angered at French policy, 214;
his contempt for Monroe’s self-justification, 215, 216; review of foreign policy, 216-219;
his guiding principle national independence, 216; and abstention from European politics, 217; desires peace and time for growth, 217, 218; wishes development of the West, 218, 219; wisdom of his policy, 219;
considers parties dangerous, 220; but chooses cabinet from Federalists, 220; prepared to undergo criticism, 221;
willingness to bear it, 221;
desires to learn public feeling, by travels, 221, 222; feels that body of people will support national government, 222; sees and deplores sectional feelings in the South, 222, 223; objects to utterances of newspapers, 223; attacked by “National Gazette,” 227;
receives attacks on Hamilton from Jefferson and his friends, 228, 229; sends charges to Hamilton, 229;
made anxious by signs of party division, 229; urges both Hamilton and Jefferson to cease quarrel, 230, 231; dreads an open division in cabinet, 232; desirous to rule without party, 233;
accomplishes feat of keeping both secretaries in cabinet, 233; keeps confidence in Hamilton, 234;
urged by all parties to accept presidency again, 235; willing to be reelected, 235;
pleased at unanimous vote, 235;
his early immunity from attacks, 237; later attacked by Freneau and Bache, 238; regards opposition as dangerous to country, 239; asserts his intention to disregard them, 240; his success in Genet affair, 241;
disgusted at “democratic” societies, 242; thinks they fomented Whiskey Rebellion, 242; denounces them to Congress, 243;
effect of his remarks, 244;
accused of tyranny after Jay treaty, 244; of embezzlement, 245;
of aristocracy, 245;
realizes that he must compose cabinet of sympathizers, 246; reconstructs it, 246;
states determination to govern by party, 247; slighted by House, 247;
refuses a third term, 248;
publishes Farewell Address, 248;
his justification for so doing, 248; his wise advice, 249;
address Attacked by Democrats, 250, 251; assailed in Congress by Giles, 251;
resents charge of being a British sympathizer, 252; his scrupulously fair conduct toward France, 253; his resentment at English policy, 254; his retirement celebrated by the opposition, 255; remarks of the “Aurora,” 256;
forged letters of British circulated, 257; he repudiates them, 257;
his view of opposition, 259.
_In Retirement_.
Regards Adams’s administration as continuation of his own, 259; understands Jefferson’s attitude, 259; wishes generals of provisional army to be Federalist, 260; doubts fidelity of opposition as soldiers, 260; dreads their poisoning mind of army, 261; his condemnation of Democrats, 261, 262; snubs Dr. Logan for assuming an unofficial mission to France, 263-265; alarmed at Virginia and Kentucky resolutions, 266; urges Henry to oppose Virginia resolutions, 267; condemns the French party as unpatriotic, 267; refuses request to stand again for presidency, 269; comments on partisanship of Democrats, 269; believes that he would be no better candidate than any other Federalist, 270, 271;
error of statement that Washington was not a party man, 271, 272; slow to relinquish non-partisan position, 272; not the man to shrink from declaring his position, 273; becomes a member of Federalist party, 273, 274; eager for end of term of office, 275;
his farewell dinner, 275;
at Adams’s inauguration, 276;
popular enthusiasm at Philadelphia, 276; at Baltimore, 277;
returns to Mt. Vernon, 279;
describes his farm life, 278, 279; burdened by necessities of hospitality, 280; account of his meeting with Bernard, 281-283; continued interest in politics, 284;
accepts command of provisional army, 285; selects Hamilton, Pinckney, and Knox as major-generals, 286; surprised at Adams’s objection to Hamilton, 286; rebukes Adams for altering order of rank of generals, 286, 287; not influenced by intrigue, 287;
annoyed by Adams’s conduct, 288;
tries to soothe Knox’s irritation, 289; fails to pacify him, 289;
carries out organization of army, 290; does not expect actual war, 291;
disapproves of Gerry’s conduct, 292; disapproves of Adams’s nomination of Vans Murray, 292; his dread of French Revolution, 295;
distrusts Adams’s attempts at peace, 296; approves Alien and Sedition laws, 296; his defense of them, 297;
distressed by dissensions among Federalists, 298; predicts their defeat, 298;
his sudden illness, 299-302;
death, 303.
_Character_,
misunderstood, 304;
extravagantly praised, 304;
disliked on account of being called faultless, 305; bitterly attacked in lifetime, 306;
sneered at by Jefferson, 306;
by Pickering, 307;
called an Englishman, not an American, 307, 308; difference of his type from that of Lincoln, 310; none the less American, 311, 312;
compared with Hampden, 312;
his manners those of the times elsewhere in America, 314; aristocratic, but of a non-English type, 314-316; less affected by Southern limitations than his neighbors, 316; early dislike of New England changed to respect, 316, 317; friendly with people of humble origin, 317, 318; never an enemy of democracy, 318;
but opposes French excesses, 318; his self-directed and American training, 319, 320; early conception of a nation, 321;
works toward national government during Revolution, 321; his interest in Western expansion, 321, 322; national character of his Indian policy, 322; of his desire to secure free Mississippi navigation, 322; of his opposition to war as a danger to Union, 323; his anger at accusation of foreign subservience, 323; continually asserts necessity for independent American policy, 324, 325;
opposes foreign educational influences, 325, 326; favors foundation of a national university, 326; breadth and strength of his national feeling, 327; absence of boastfulness about country, 328; faith in it, 328;
charge that he was merely a figure-head, 329; its injustice, 330;
charged with commonplaceness of intellect, 330; incident of the deathbed explained, 330, 331; falsity of the charge, 331;
inability of mere moral qualities to achieve what he did, 331; charged with dullness and coldness, 332; his seriousness, 333;
responsibility from early youth, 333; his habits of keen observation, 333;
power of judging men, 334;
ability to use them for what they were worth, 335; anecdote of advice to Hamilton and Meade, 335; deceived only by Arnold, 336;
imperfect education, 337;
continual efforts to improve it, 337, 338; modest regarding his literary ability, 339, 340; interested in education, 339;
character of his writing, 340;
tastes in reading, 341;
modest but effective in conversation, 342; his manner and interest described by Bernard, 343-347; attractiveness of the picture, 347, 348; his pleasure in society, 348;
power of paying compliments, letter to Mrs. Stockton, 349; to Charles Thompson, 350;
to De Chastellux, 351;
his warmth of heart, 352;
extreme exactness in pecuniary matters, 352; illustrative anecdotes, 353,354;
favorable opinion of teller of anecdotes, 356; stern towards dishonesty or cowardice, 357; treatment of Andre and Asgill, 357, 358; sensitive to human suffering, 357, 358; kind and courteous to poor, 359;
conversation with Cleaveland, 359; sense of dignity in public office, 360; hospitality at Mt. Vernon, 360, 361;
his intimate friendships, 361,362; relations with Hamilton, Knox, Mason, Henry Lee, Craik, 362, 363; the officers of the army, 363;
Trumbull, Robert and Gouverneur Morris, 363; regard for and courtesy toward Franklin, 364; love for Lafayette, 365;
care for his family, 366;
lasting regard for Fairfaxes, 366, 367; kindness to Taft family, 367, 368;
destroys correspondence with his wife, 368; their devoted relationship, 368;
care for his step-children and relatives, 369, 370; charged with lack of humor, 371;
but never made himself ridiculous, 372; not joyous in temperament, 372;
but had keen pleasure in sport, 373; enjoyed a joke, even during Revolution, 374; appreciates wit, 375;
writes a humorous letter, 376-378; not devoid of worldly wisdom, 378, 379; enjoys cards, dancing, the theatre, 380; loves horses, 380;
thorough in small affairs as well as great, 381; controversy over site of church, 381;
his careful domestic economy, 382; love of method, 383;
of excellence in dress and furniture, 383, 384; gives dignity to American cause, 385;
his personal appearance, 385;
statements of Houdon, 386;
of Ackerson, 386, 387;
his tremendous muscular strength, 388; great personal impressiveness, 389, 390; lacking in imagination, 391;
strong passions, 391;
fierce temper, 392;
anecdotes of outbreaks, 392;
his absence of self-love, 393;
confident in judgment of posterity, 393; religious faith, 394;
summary and conclusion, 394, 395.
_Characteristics of_.
General view, ii. 304-395;
general admiration for, i. 1-7;
myths about, i. 9-12, ii. 307 ff.; comparisons with Jefferson, ii. 69;
with Lincoln, ii. 310-312;
with Hampden, ii. 312, 313;
absence of self-seeking, i. 341;
affectionateness, i. 111, 285,331,345, ii. 332, 362-371; agreeableness, ii. 344-347, 377;
Americanism, ii. 307-328;
aristocratic habits, ii. 314, 316; business ability, i. 105, 109, ii. 5, 352, 382; coldness on occasion, i. 223, 224, 263, ii. 318; courage, i. 77, 78, 86, 127, 168, 292; dignity, i. 81,161, ii. 52-57, 76;
hospitality, ii. 360;
impressiveness, i. 56, 83, 130, 138, 319, ii. 385; indomitableness, i. 177, 181, 227;
judgments of men, i. 295, ii. 64, 86, 334, 335; justice and sternness, i. 287, 330, ii. 203, 352-358, 389; kindliness, ii. 349-356, 359;
lack of education, i. 62, ii. 337; love of reading, i. 62, ii. 341, 342;
love of sport, i. 56, 98, 113-116, 118, ii. 380; manners, ii. 282-283, 314;
military ability, i. 154, 166, 174, 183, 197, 204, 207, 239, 247, 265, 267, 305-320, ii. 331;
modesty, i. 102, 134;
not a figure-head, ii. 329, 330;
not a prig, i. 10-12, 41-47;
not cold and inhuman, ii. 332, 342; not dull or commonplace, ii. 330, 332; not superhuman and distant, i. 9, 10, 12, ii. 304, 305; open-mindedness, ii. 317;
passionateness, i. 58, 73, 90;
personal appearance, i. 57, 136, 137, ii. 282, 343, 385-389; religious views, i. 321, ii. 393;
romantic traits, i. 95-97;
sense of humor, ii. 371-377;
silence regarding self, i. 14, 69, 70, 116, 129, 285; ii. 37, 336; simplicity, i. 59, 69, 348; ii. 50, 340; sobriety, i. 49, 52, 134; ii. 43, 45, 333, 373; tact, i. 162, 243, 244-246;
temper, i. 73, 92, 110, 168, 236, 237, 260; ii. 98, 392; thoroughness, i. 112, 323, 341, ii. 381.
_Political Opinions_.
On Alien and Sedition Acts, ii. 196; American nationality, i. 191, 250, 251, 255, 262, 279, ii. 7, 61, 133, 145, 324, 325, 327, 328;
Articles of Confederation, i. 297, ii. 17, 24; bank, ii. 110, 111;
colonial rights, i. 120, 124-126, 130; Constitution, i. 38-41;
democracy, ii. 317-319;
Democratic party, ii. 214, 239, 240, 258, 261, 267, 268; disunion, ii. 22;
duties of the executive, ii. 190; education, ii. 81, 326, 330;
Federalist party, ii. 71, 246, 247, 259, 260, 261, 269-274, 298; finance, ii. 107, 108, 112, 122;
foreign relations, ii. 25, 134, 142, 145, 147, 179, 217-219, 323; French Revolution, ii. 139, 140, 295, 318; independence of colonies, i. 131, 159, 160; Indian policy, ii. 82, 87, 88, 91, 92, 104, 105; Jay treaty, ii. 184-205;
judiciary, i. 150;
nominations to office, ii. 62;
party, ii. 70, 222, 233, 249;
protection, ii. 116-122;
slavery, i. 106-108;
Stamp Act, i. 119;
strong government, i. 298, ii. 18, 24, 129, 130; treaty power, ii. 190, 207-210;
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, ii. 266, 267; Western expansion, ii. 6, 8-16, 135, 163-165, 218, 322.
Washington, George Steptoe,
his sons educated by Washington, ii. 370.
Washington, John, brother of George, letter of Washington, to, i. 132.
Washington, Lawrence, brother of George Washington, educated in England, i. 54;
has military career, 54;
returns to Virginia and builds Mt. Vernon, 54; marries into Fairfax family, 54, 55;
goes to West Indies for his health, 62; dies, leaving George guardian of his daughter, 64; chief manager of Ohio Company, 65;
gives George military education, 65.
Washington, Lund,
letter of Washington to, i. 152;
rebuked by Washington for entertaining British, ii. 303.
Washington, Martha, widow of Daniel P. Custis, meets Washington, i. 101;
courtship of, and marriage, 101, 102; hunts with her husband, 114;
joins him at Boston, 151;
holds levees as wife of President, ii. 54; during his last illness, 300;
her correspondence destroyed, 368; her relations with her husband, 368, 369.
Washington, Mary,
married to Augustine Washington, i. 39; mother of George Washington, 39;
limited education but strong character, 40, 41; wishes George to earn a living, 49;
opposes his going to sea, 49;
letters to, 88;
visited by her son, ii. 5.
Waters, Henry E.,
establishes Washington pedigree, i. 32.
Wayne, Anthony,
defeated after Brandywine, i. 198; his opinion of Germantown, 199;
at Monmouth urges Washington to come, 235; ready to attack Stony Point, 268;
his successful exploit, 269;
joins Lafayette in Virginia, 307; appointed to command against Indians, ii. 100; his character, 100;
organizes his force, 101;
his march, 102;
defeats the Indians, 103.
Weems, Mason L.,
influence of his life of Washington on popular opinion, i. 10; originates idea of his priggishness, 11; his character, 41, 43;
character of his book, 42;
his mythical “rectorate” of Mt. Vernon, 43, 44; invents anecdotes of Washington’s childhood, 44; folly of cherry-tree and other stories, 46; their evil influence, 47.
West, the,
its importance realized by Washington, ii. 7-16; his influence counteracted by inertia of Congress, 8; forwards inland navigation, 9;
desires to bind East to West, 9-11, 14; formation of companies, 11-13;
on Mississippi navigation, 14-16, 164; projects of Genet in, 162;
its attitude understood by Washington, 163, 164; Washington wishes peace in order to develop it, 218, 219, 321.
“Whiskey Rebellion,”
passage of excise law, ii. 123;
outbreaks of violence in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, 124; proclamation issued warning rioters to desist, 125; renewed outbreaks in Pennsylvania, 125, 126; the militia called out, 127;
suppression of the insurrection, 128; real danger of movement, 129;
its suppression emphasizes national authority, 129, 130; supposed by Washington to have been stirred up by Democratic clubs, 242.
White Plains,
battle at, i. 173.
Wilkinson, James,
brings Gates’s message to Washington at Trenton, i. 180; brings news of Saratoga to Congress, 220; nettled at Sherman’s sarcasm, discloses Conway cabal, 220; quarrels with Gates, 223;
resigns from board of war, 223, 226; leads expedition against Indians, ii. 95.
Willett, Colonel,
commissioner to Creeks, his success, ii. 91.
William and Mary College,
Washington Chancellor of, ii. 339.
Williams,
Washington’s teacher, i. 48, 51.
Willis, Lewis,
story of Washington’s school days, i. 95.
Wilson, James,
appointed to Supreme Court, ii. 72.
Wilson, James, “of England,”
hunts with Washington, i. 115.
Wolcott, Oliver,
receives Fauchet letter, ii. 195; succeeds Hamilton as Secretary of Treasury, 246.
Wooster, Mrs.,
letter of Washington to, ii. 61.
YORKTOWN,
siege of, i. 315-318.
“Young Man’s Companion,”
used by George Washington, origin of his rules of conduct, i. 52.