A President’s Day Tribute to George Washington and the Men Who Stood With Him Through The Darkest Hours

In only the first year of our nation’s independence, 1776, George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, faced insurmountable odds against a superior foe (the British fleet). The British were professionals, utilizing Hessian support (fierce professional German mercenaries), who had overwhelming numbers. Conversely, the Continental Army included the young, old, untrained, improperly clothed, unfed, tired, and demoralized after experiencing defeat after defeat. Washington’s leadership was now in question and one of his most trusted advisors had temporarily lost confidence in him. With the Army now considered by many as finished, Washington was desperate but held an unshakable determination to succeed. While he may not have had experience commanding a full army or the advantage of leading professionally trained soldiers, he did have unrelenting perseverance and thankfully some trusted, albeit ”unlikely American heroes” (Nathanael Greene, a Quaker by upbringing and Henry Knox, a New England book seller) by his side. 

On December 26, 1776, Washington, sensing a victory had to be achieved to prevent the collapse of his army, against incredible odds and extreme weather conditions crossed the Delaware River and caught an encampment of Hessian soldiers by surprise in Trenton. He delivered a decisive blow and then moved to Princeton where he inflicted another successful attack. While much of the British and his own nation in this fragile, first year of independence had counted him out, Washington let the world know this fight was not over yet.

While we may never have to individually bear the full weight of a new nation on our shoulders, we all carry responsibilities that feel too much to bear at times. Here in those moments, the wisdom contained in Proverbs rings true, “a friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” While history may properly conclude that Washington was the “indispensable man” and the “glue that held this nation together”, we can’t forget that even the father of our nation could not have shouldered this burden alone.  “During the War for Independence both Knox and Greene would share with Washington the privations of war and the shame associated with stinging defeats, ……together they served for the eight-year duration of the war, being among the few who rose through the ranks to stand with their commander-in-chief.” My prayer for each of us is that not one member of our detachment suffers alone, and that when we hear the drumbeats of war looming in our future (whatever that may look like) we have men and women by our side, willing to stand beside us, until the dark hours once again reveal new light.

Sources:

The Bible – Proverbs 17:17

“1776” by David McCullough 

Human Heroes: Henry Knox and Nathanael Greene – American Battlefield Trust