Milford chronicle., 1915-03-05

WIS appointed bg the CsntiAontal Congress Gs
commands In chief Of the army. For this he was
specially qualified. He was not only skiRfai IN
military affairs but taught By preeept and exper-
fence In the arts of war. His extensive knowledge
Of the geographical character Of the countzy. bis
familiarity with the characteristics and qualihca-
tons of the royal army. made him certainly the
most dangerous antagonist. COMMANDING cfhcer
with whom the British might cope. As coon as
appointed. be left Philadelphia and Joined the
army at Cambridge. assuming command On JAY
End. iT75- The army all told. numbered lT.ooe-
including the sick. II was in want Of everything
that could make It fighting force. IL needed
arms. Ammunition. .eecoutrements. and worse thaa
all. ''ensprit de corps" The way Wsshinge0a
was appointed eDeited the jealousy Of the otieers
The organization was woefully defective o Com
misariat and Adjutsnt General were more needed
than Commander in Chief who was brave aad q
skilfui taeticiau; but in Washington, happily TIE
country had all three eombined.
We cannot go into detail as 70 the battles fought
and the history that intervened before victory
came TO the eolonistS. but we must speak Of Valley
Forge for just as the diamond in the rough By the
grinding becomes more valuable and beautiful -
the rigors Of Valley Forge bring out the ine Parts
of eur American soldier. Of that awful period
between December 18th and January. lth. Freder-
lex the Great, says: That the achievements Of
this great general and his little band Is not ex
oelled for its brlhaney in any recorded annals OF
military activities" We see Washington at his
best when we see the Continental troops at their
worst After the defeat at Germantown, WASH
inston with his half starved, half clothed defeated
men made their terrible march to Valley Forge,
where on October 11th they went into winter quar-
ters. IN a fortified encampment. During this Try
ing period Washington and his men suffered in
conceivable privations. To add 10 his eznbarrass-
fnent. there was a conspiracy among his swn gen
erals which had It not been for the good sense of
Lafayette and De Kalb, whose irmness sustained
him, Washington would have been depOsed from
his command. Meanwhile he and his men suffered
from lack Of food and proper clothing. with all
the departments disarranged and inadequate the
cause Of the patriots reached its lowest ebb. But
just then the tide began to come In, for In the
darkest hour Washinstoa never lost his courage.
nor his faith in the cause that was on his heart
Washington Was First as q Christian.
Valley Forge brought out the christian eharae-
ter Of Washington. The suffering Of his men.
their awful privations, while the enemy Wers hv-
ing In luxury in Philadelphia. must have been
great trial to the man of men. who ct this time
held the destiny Of his people in his hand.
Here. If ever. in his life. Washington learned 70
pray. It's a sign of real greatness when Oae can
pray. We know that Washington was q faithful
member of the Episcopal Churbh. From bic youth
full days be bad known the right way. and bad
walked in It No one would accuse him Of being
impious. he always showed HE sense of the divine
in all his dealings with his fellows. with himseif
and with his God, he had actuated bv these priu- |
ciDies that Christ lived and taught At VaIley |
Forge he Is the peoples SaviOur-he bore % bic |
heart the hurt Of his peopie-he iOved them and /
suffered with them Here he cultivated the pres
enee Of God. Many times In these lOnely. trying
days. be might have been sesn on bis kneas IN
prayer to the God who WouId Do right. and Who is
not On the side Of the biggest army. unless that
army ls right Here the fate of the ysaAs Re
public WAS in the balance. As the FatbG Of bic
country he experienced the birth throes a peO-
pie destined 10 be free. We see him lead bic for
orn hope to signal vietsr, and then at tbe pima
lie Of bis glory retire % private life when the
oayopets Of his soIdiers would have made him
King. He was made the first president Of the new
Republic. His tenure of Office for two terms
ihowed him TO be the man for the place. As a
great pilot be guided the Ship Of State into large
md Influential sphere.
To-day we eelebrate his birth. he was q u,Rn Of
Iterling ability. who came saw and conquered.
We esteem him gracious. gentle, loving and
'eloved. His courage and sublime hopefHness I
n the depths Of defeat his insight into human
harseter, his absoiute integrity and purity make {
lin the model for us aTtruly the First American.