Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-02-20
FIRST IN AMER
ICAN HEARTS.



- is impossible atthis day to add any
thing of a new character to the ac-
- count of men and events OF a hundred
years and more ago, for the field OF his
tory, in so far as it relates to the Ameri-
can revolution and the men who were
representative in its accomplishment, has
been well explored and voluminously ex-
pounded by hundreds OF men equal to the
task. Nor is there q school child of ~
years in all this country, who has not
written his ersay on these same men and
events, so that their history is in-burned
in the minds of all Americans. Yet this
is one of the hopeful signs of the dispo-
sition of a great people towards those
VINO called its nation into existence. And
of the leader of all those courageous
men, the one who before all others car
rieG to an astonishing and successful
achievement the herculean iabors of
bringing victorious a handful of ragged
and unframed soldiers through the dark
ness of a struggle with one Of the most
powerful countries on earth, certainly
nothing now needs be said.
As young man, Washington was prob
ably no less fiippant and worldly than
hundreds of others in the colonies. His
ordinary in their courtlineSs, we're prob
ably not the slightest bit more so than
those OF the majority of his acquaint-
ances. He was not fCee from the faults
OF men of his time. He was accustomed
20 methodical eXactness from his expert
cnce on his mothers plantation and 10
her he no doubt owed many of the traits
which afterwards stood him in such good
stead. From his school teachers, Viii
liam Hobby, who was also the church
sexton. and Thomas Williams, he learn
I'd to read and To write as we'll as to un-
dcrstand the art of computation. The
latter of the two also gave him the rudi-
ments of surveying which served as much
rs any other one thing 10 develop him in
10 the general of the American forces.
For it was on account OF his knowledge
Of this science that he spent three OF
his years of early manhood in the wids
af the forests, running lines, determin-
ing levels. fixing boundaries. His wages
at this time were sufficient TO enable him
10 purchase large pieces of that trackless
wilderness bordering on streams. which
were afterwards of great value, thus de-
veloping his insight and shrewdness as a
business man. But the lessons that he
solitary hours, were priceless, and the
constitution that was hardened By his
Iife in the woods enabled him in after
years to endure untolu strains of expos
IRE and suffering. to rescue Braddock af
Ter that generals defeat by the French,
to conceive the crossing of the Delaware
on that bleak and cherries December
night, to undergo Valley Forge and to
oil hn m
contained, reserved gentleman. 1t was
because of his knowledge of the ways of
the forest that he was sent ON that
seemingly needless errand to warn the
French off English territory in the win
ter of 1753-54, on which he quilted him
self well and learned his first lessons in
practical warfare. The next year he
was chosen to go with Braddock on his
ill-fated expedition against the French.
Here it was that Washington learned for
the first time, that Americans were If
lust as good stuff as Englishmen, that
they could fight just as bravely rs the
seasoned veterans of the mother country.
For it was through the efforts of the
''bush-whacking' Virginians that Brad
docks force escaped entire destruction.
The coloniSts knew better than did Brad
dock that the evolutions of the parade
ground were of no avail in the sort of
warfare in which they We're at that time
engaged. The physical strain undergone
by Washington at this time was extra
ordinary. From the ninth TO the six
teenth of that auly, he had little sleep,
walking ana riding, sometimes all night
long through the forest, and succeeding
in bringing up some support for Brad
docks retreating army. He was then
- years old. In the course of that one
expedition he had seen enough to give
him an unconquerabe faith in the yalor
and abilities of his fellow colonists. This
faith, it may have been, that so upheld
him through the dark hours OF defeat and
intrigue. when his army well nigh per-
ished from lack of food and clothing.
Washington had no foea, even when the
colonies were being greatly reused over
Inc injustice of their treatment by Eng
land, that the end would be war. He
did not desire war. And il was only when
there was no other way to decide the
momentous question of principle that he
set his heart on hoStilities. The cour-
age OF the man in accepting the position
Of commander-in-chief which was offered
10 him by the assembly was sublime.
The mother country could send hundreds
of thousands of trained soldiers against
the colonists; her ships ruled che seas.
On the other hand. the colonists were
few thousands, Gndisciplined In any war
fare except that against the Indians;
their resources were comparatively insig-
niticant. Ii seems as IL there could have
been bat one outcome. But Washington
lnodestly undertook the task. refusing
first any money remuneration for the
services he might render. Aud then his
Sagacity as a commander began to display
itself. Quietly did he collect stores and
ammunition aud prepare for the struggle.
The retreats which he managed in the
following years were almos; as inspiring
as the victories be planned. His must be
waiting game 60 great extent, and
how well he played il history tells. He
compelled England TO recognize the trou-
BILE as more than 4 mere instruction
aud secured thus the rights of civilized
warfare.
\ How great the odds were against Gen.
Washington can never he rightly esti-
mated. Time aud again was his army
ON the point OF dissolying away. There
we're many true hearts in the Congress;
but there were many. also. who still lean
cd a little towards England. fearing that
the new order of things would never be
successful. There was only half-heart-
ed support for the commander-In-chief.
Jealousy inspired officers TO scheme
a-ainst him. Money was often scarce
and sometimes not TO be had. His men
were sometimes without food. barefoot
cd, end half clothed Through all these
trying years Gen. Washington had 10
rely mainly on himself. His volume OF
correspondents was enormous. Thousands
OF letters did he write. urging Congress.
the governors. the intiuents | men of the
colonies TO take this or eAat step. to
raise men or money. TO help Ell the work.
Tic was the revolution. Almost always
he had perfect control OF his temper,
which was by no meaas mild. and over
his passipnssan his positive. aggressive
spirit. But sometimes the overwhelming