The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-02-16
70 REMIND US Of
GENERAL WASHINGTON
The Man First in War and First in
Peace.
CAREER OF A GREAT LEADER
Born in Virg SchOoIed in Frontier
Life-Became Fitted for Leader
ship in the Greatest Revolution of
the World

George Washington is the only
American whose birthday is honored
as public holiday. He was born in
Westmorelaud county, Virginia. Feb
ruary %, 1882. He was the son of Aug
Justine and Mary Washington, whose
ancestors emigrated to Virginia from
England about 1867. His father be-
ing planter, his early life was spent
on the farm He received such educa
ton as the poorly equipped country
schoolsof the time afforded. He made
the most of his opportunities and his
exercise books are models of nealness
and accuracy While his mother was
limited in the matter of education she
was, nevertheless, a woman of culture
and of great force of character. She
inculcated those habits and traits of
character which made the son famous
and which served him so we'll in all
the trying and important positions he
afterwards filled as citizen, as a sol
der and as a statesman. In addition
to the common school branches, read
ing, writing and arithmetic, he became
proficient in knowledge of survey
ing, and while yet boy he was engag
ed by Lord Fairfax, an English noble
man, to survey great tract of wild
lands included in the Virginia terri
tory. In this way he was given a
knowledge of the frontier country
and afforded an opportunity to be-
come acquainted with the habits of
the Indians 1t it we'll to note that
i during his boyhood days he engaged
IN all those activities which were pos
~ . to make him strong, physically,
tally and morally. He was indus
rious, truthful, honest, economical
md resolute. Those qualities direct
ed attention to him and at nineteen
he was made major of the militia
and at twenty-one Governor Dinwid-
die sent him on a mission to the
French posts on the Ohio. By his
cool Judgment and prudent conduct
in Braddock's and Forbes expedi-
tious, and in his defense of the Vir-
ginia frontier, he won the confidence
and esteem of the American people
and was made member of the Con
tinental Congress of 1774. While
Washington is not ranked as an ex
ceptionallY brilliant man. Patrick
Henry pronounced him "fOr solid in
formation and sound Judgment nm
questionable the greatest man on the
floor of the Continental Congress.
At % (1754 he commanded regi-
ment against the French, who had
established themselves at Fort Du-
quesne (now Pittsburgh and held
Fort Necessity against superior num-
bers until compelled to capitulate.
The year following, when two regi
ments of regulars were led against
Fort Duquesne by General Braddock,
Washington volunteered; and at the
disastrous ambuscade of July 8, 1865,
he was the only aide not killed or
wounded. He had four bullets
through his coat, and two horses
were shot under him. The Indians
believed that he bore charmed life,
and his countrYmen were proud of
his courage and conduct. Two thou
sand men were raised and he was Sc
lected to command them. In 1859 he
married Mrs. Martha Curtis, q wealthy
widow, resigned his military appoint
ments, and engaged in the improv-
ment of his estates, raising wheat
and tobacco and carrying on brick
yards and fisheries He was for some
years member of the Virginia AS
semblY and rendered good service.
Though opposed to the idea of indie
pendence, and in favor of "a union
with Great British so ardently desir-
ed by all British Americans, he was
ready to fight, if necessary. for the
constitutional rights of the colonists.
Tba news of the battle of Lexington
u 10th, 1775) called the country
arms, and Washington. then a
.ember of the Continental Congress.
vas elected Commander-in-C Chief by
that BODY"
Note-The main facts of Washing
on's biography are so clearly brought
ont in school histories and other writ
iDgs which are easily obtainable by
Both teachers and pupils that it is
deemed unnecessary to reprint them
herein.
That the troops may have an OPP
portunity of attending public wor-
ship. as well as to take some rest after