The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-02-24

Like Napoleon, he dashed to the front
to cheer on and direct his men. At the
same time he did not give way to battle
frenzy, although he lost his temper over
the contemplate conduct of Lee. Lafa-
yette proved hero, boy that he was.
While the alliance with France came
in good time to cheer on the revolu-
tionlsts, it increased the difficulties of
the commander in chief. Without the
French navy there was little hope OF
success, but the French admirals had
their own views of the plan of action.
Furthermore, the revolutionists expect
ed too much of the French, and another
task was laid upon Washington s shout
ders-to keep his people to their work
Besides planning campaigns he was
forced to do the work of a national lead
er, leader bearing upon his sword the
fate Of the country. The campaigns un-
dertaken by the French were failures,
and the British gained territory on the
coast. Finally Washington asked La.
fayette to 60 to France and secure q
fleet and an army which should be un.
der his own direction. It arrived at
Newport in the summer Of 1880, and
while Washington was there comforting
with the French leaders Arnold plotted
the base treason which was to give his
commander another cruel blow. He
had trusted the brilliant soldier of
Quebec and Saratoga and given him
that opportunity to betray the citadel
Of the Hudson valley.
But the nerve of the warrior leader
was not to be shaken now that the hour
bad come for a decisive blow. The
troops of Rochambeau united with the
continental forces gave him for the
first time in the war an army. The fleet
also gave the needed sea power to attack
where the British were strongest, along
the coast. The main British army was
in the south under CORVALLIS. Wash
ington sent Greene to the south with
orders not to fight for positions, but to
draw CORVALLIS northward. Morgan
was also in the south with his Virgin
ians. Both these brilliant soldiers, the
mountaineer and the blacksmith, had
been driven from the service by the in
gratitude of congress. but Washington s
appeal caused them to buckle on their
swords for the last cast Lafayette was
sent to Virginia with an army, and after
many useless chase CORVALLIS retired
to the seaboard at Yorktown.
Washington left strong garrisons on
the Hudson, and with about 1000 SOL
diers threatened to attack New York
He lowered within striking distance,
gradually moving southwark, and reach
ing New Brunswick made forced
march to the head Of the Chesapeake.
By water the army was transported to
the York, and with the aid of the
French feet and the troops on shipboard
the allies laid siege to Yorktown. They
outnumbered the British, and re enforce
ments for CORVALLIS were cut off by
the French ships. Yorktown fell, tri-
umph of strategy. Washington struck
the enemy where he was weak with the
most men, but it was only by the most
skillful planning that he caught his en-
envy in position favorable for the blow.
The result showed Washington's gen.
ius in holding on to New Jersey and
while risking all to keep the enemy
near the seaboard preserving an open road
between the Hudson and the south. He
was always within reach of the Hudson
and of Maryland and Virginia. His
army at its best was never the equal Of
the British in numbers had they been
brought into action. Often they had
$1,000 to 10000 in New York, while
Washington stood ward outside with
less than 5000.
To compare Washington with the
great generals of modern times would
be unjust to him. He hadn' the army
for great battles. He waged long and
tedious warfare for national existence,
and although rarely victorious he was
never driven to the wall. He was pio-
neer soldier, leading motley and tempo
rary bands Of pioneers against an old
and strong military power.
GEORGE L. KnMER