Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-12-17
of Washington as COmman-
der-iu-Chief


The following account Of the appointment
OF Washington TO the supreme command OF
the American Army on the 18th June, l775
is from the Memoirs of Johu Adams, the ell
der, now in course OF publication.
The army was assembled at Cambridge.
Mass. under Gen. Ward and Congress was
sitting at Philadelphia. Every day, new ap-
phcatoUs in behalf Of The army arrived. The
country was urgent that Congress should le-
galize the raising OF the army. as they were
what must be considered only mob, band
of rebels. The country was placed in cir
eums,ances Of peculiar difficulty and dan
ger. The struggle had begun, and yet eve
rything was without order. The great tiial
now seemed TO be this question: Who shall
be Commander in Chief! 1t was exceeding
ly important, and was felt TO be the huge on
which the contest might turn for or against
US. The southern aud middle States. warm
and rapid in their zeal for the most part.
were jealous of New England, becau they
felt the real physical force was here-what
then was TO be done! All New England a
dored Geo. Ward; he had been in the French
war, and went out ladeu with laurels. He
was scholar and a statesman.
Every qualification seemed to cluster ia
him, and II was confidently believed that The
army would not receive any appointment o.
yer him. What was then TO be done! Diff
cultles thckened nj every step. The strug-
gle was so long and bloody. Without union.
all was lost. The country must come in
One pulsation must beat through all hearts.
The members had talked, debated, consider
ed. aud guessed, and yet the decisive step
had not been taken. At length Mr.. Adams
came TO his conclusion. The means OF re
solving II were somewhat singular, aud near
ly as follows:-he was walking one mornIng
before Congress Hall, apparently in deep
thought, when his cousin, Samuel Adams,
came up to him and said:
'What'is the topic with you this morn
ingr .
oh! the army, the army he replied, Pm
determined TO 60 into the hs u this morning,
and enter 90 full detail of the state of the
colonies, il order to show the absolute need
oftaking some decisive steps. My whole
aim will be 10 induce Congress TO appoint
the day for adopting the army as the legal
army of these united colonies OF North A
merIca, and then to hint at my election Of
COmmander-inC Chief
Well said Samuel Adams, Il ike that
cousin John; bat on whom have you fixed
as tha, commander
a Il will tell yOu-George Washington, Of
Virginia. member Of this house.
All replied Samuel Adams quickly, that
will never do
'It must do, il shall do, said John, 'and for
those reasons the Southern aDd Middle
States, are both heartily in the cause; and
their arguments are potent! ihey say that
New England holds the physical power in
her hands, aud they fear the result. A New
England arry. New England commander.
with New England perseverance, all united
appsl them. For this cause they hang back.
Now the only course is TO allsy their fears,
and give them nothing TO complain OF, and
this can be done 10 no other way but by ap
pointing Southern chief over his force,
aud then all will rush TO the standard. This
policy will blend us in one mass, and that
mass will be resisiless
AT this Samuel Adams was greatly moved.
They talked over the preliminary circum-
stauc IS, and John asked his cousin 10 second
the motion. Mr.. Adams went in, took the
floor, and put all his strength in the decliua-
Iion he had prepared, all aiming at the adop-
Of the army. He was ready TO own .he az
my, appoint commander. vote supplies, and
proceed 10 business. After his speech had
been finished. some doubted, some feared
His warmth .incressei with the occasion,
and to all these doubts and hesItations he re-
Piled:
Gentlemen, II this Congress will not a.
dopt this army, before ten months have set
New England will adopt II, and she will adopt
II, and she will undertake the struggle alone
Yes, with a strong arm. and clean con
science, she will front the foe siugle-han-
ded.'