Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-23
Gen. Washington Advanced
Much Money to Prosecute
Campaign Against British.
TRUE CHARACTER SHOWN
IN ACCOUNTS HE KEPT
Every Cent Spent From His Own
Pocket During Years He Was at
Head of Army Recorded.

Perhcps nowhere is shown more of
the true character OF George Wash
inston than in his account with the
government which he Kept carefully
and painStakin9iy during all the eight
years he was commander in chief or
the army. This was from June Is, rs.
to July !. 1883. The book. which en-
tirely is in WaShington's handwriting,
was kept for nearly half century in
the office of the register of the Treas
ury. and later for many Years in the
office of the auditor for the Treasury
Department 1t was exhibited at the
centennial celebration in Philadelphia
in 1876 and at the Columbia exposition
at Chicago in 1899. Upon its return to
Washington from Chicago it was placed
IN the Congressional Library. where
efforts have been made carefully to
preserve il. The writing is gradually
fading, but the document is in much
better coHGItion than either the Con-
stltution or the declaration of hide
rsauence, which are Kept under seal
N the STATE Department.
fhis account indicates the difficulty
the colonies would have encountered
in the revolution had man totally
without means been at the head OF
the army. tor while funds with wnlcn
to carry on the war were raised hero
amounts. Washington advanced mis-
own money to carry on the campai gn-
His account shows that at one time
lie. was nearly $4,000 out of pocket,
and When he resigned his commis sion
there was a balance of f1.912 IS 4d
due MIN by his own account. which
was admitted by the government.
The coascientiousness with which
Gen. Washington Disseminated be-
tween his purely personal and public
expenses is striking feature of the
account. Being unable to leave his
army to make an annual visit to Mrs.
Washington at Mount Vernon, he sent
TO- her TO come to him when he was
on Long Island. This expense was a
little more than f45 and at first ne
did not charge it up. He finally felt
thar in justice to himself he should
do SO. since he really was entitled to
furlough to visit his family.
Difficult to Keep Accounts.
1t was a difficult matter up in the
Massachusetts campaign and down in
New York, the Jerseys and PENNSYLVANIA
to keep accurate account of every ex-
pendture. and sometimes. through the
stress of the campaigns, the expenses of
the american army We're mixed up with
those of the French. When in serious
doubt Washington gave the government
the benefit. For instance, May Is, 1850,
he made cash credit OF G 1873 los to the
government and in a footnote he ex-
plains:
This sum stands in my acct. as a
credit to the Public-but l can find no
charge of it against me in any of the
Public Ofices-Where the mistake Iyes 1
know not, but wish it could be ascertain
ed, as | have no desire to injure or be in
jured. ---
The book is labeled:
Accounts.
G. Washingtcr-with the
United States,
Commencing June, 1T1J
and ending June,
1888,
Compromising a Space
of S Years.
There are sixty-five pages. each care
fully and neatly written, ending with a
balance that would do credit to the most
expert accountant of today Contrary to
popular belief. Washington did not sign
himself merely &c. Washington" but
used that manner Of indicating himself in
the third person. In his signature the
W. was continued from the &c" with
out a break. but following the &c" and
slightly above the line was a small 20"
which made the old English abbreviation
for George"
Uses His Own Funds.
L.