The Clio messenger., 1918-02-22
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the wounds which my feelings as an officer have
received by thousand things that have happened
contrary to my expectations and wishes: the ef-
feet of my own conduct and present appearance
of things so little pleasing to myself as to render
il a matter of no surprise to me If should stano
capitally censured by congress lnuuce I"
thorough conviction in my mind that II VIII ne
impossible. unless there is a thorough change III
our military system, for me to conduct matters 10
give satisfaction to the public, which is all the
recompense aim at or ever wish for.
This unhappy state of things was almost whohy
due to the feeling manifested in several secuono
of the country, persisted in to the harnpering vi
Washington's campaign and to the detriment OF
the cause Congress finally prevailed upon pv
Washington's representations and the taruiiS
dawning consciousness that war was ineVltaoie
and that being so, unpreparedness meant Gu
lamity.
On December 20, 1776. he wrote to the president
of congress "ShOrt enlistments ana a MISTAKEN
dependence upon our militia have been the origin
of all our misfortunes and great accumulation OF
our debt beg leave to give Ii as my
humble opinion that SS battalions are by no means
equal 10 the opposition you are to make, ana tn"
not n moments time is to be lost in raising
greater number, not less in my opinion and that
of NV officers than no. In my Judgment
this is not time to stand upon expense; our
funds are not the only object of consideration.
II may be thought that / am going good
deal out of my line of duty to advise thus freely
character to loose, an estate to forfeit. the In
estmable blessings Of liberty at stake and life
devoted must be my excuse.
Far from holding himself aloof and wanting to
keep all power in his own hands, Washington
welcomed cooperation
After ne had been invested with the dictatorial
powers necesstated by the emergency Of public
affairs, the council of safety Of New York apollo
gized for certain measures they had taken In re-
gard 70 New York troops which later dis
covered to have been infringement on his au-
thority. Washington replied: II should be un-
happy in the belief that any part Of my letter to
YOU could be construed into the slightest hint
that you wish to interfere in the military line.
Heaven knows that I greatly want the aid Of
every good man. and that there not such
enviable pleasures attending my situation to
make me too jealous Of its prerogatves. Rather
than complain Of your late efforts I'm the military
way you deserve the thanks of all. and feel
myself happy in this opportunity of returning you
mine in the greatest truth and sincerity"
At Valley Forge, where Washington's troops
almost naked, had few blankets and scanty
food h" was moved to resentment against "the
gentlemen, without knowing whether the army
really going into winter quarters or not
reprobating the measure much as If they
thought the soldiers made of stocks and
stones and equally insensible of frost and snow
ticable for inferior army under the disad-
vantages / have described ours to he to confine
a superior one. in all respects well appointed
within the city Of Philadelphia and to cover from
depreciation and waste the states of PENNSYLVANIA
and New Jersey. I can assure these gen.
tlemen that ii is much easier and less distress
ing thing to draw up remonstrances in COM
Portable by good freside than TO occupy n
cold bleak hill and sleep under frost and snow
without clothes blankets. However, although
they seem to have little feeling for the naked and
distressed soldiers. I feel superabundantly for
them, and from my soul pity those miseries
which it is neither in my power to relieve nor pre-
vent"
Washington made persistent efforts to get n
guarantee Of half-pay for his officers after the
war, himself having personal interest in the
measure; he had declared from the first that he
would profit by 1t to the amount of a single
penny He deprecated constantly the jealousy of
the military part of the government by the civil
department.
IF we would pursue right system Of policy"
he wrote to n member Of congress. "in my opinion
there would be Of these distinctions We
should all congress and army be considered as one
people, embarked in one cause. I'm one interest
acting on the same principle and to the same end"
In 1893 Washington, in his second term as presi-
dent, wrote to congress that. while he sought
peace and urged faithful discharge OF every dutv
toward others, he recommended prompt measures
not only for defense but for enforcing just claims
'There is rank due the United States among
other nations which will be withheld, IL not alb
solutely lost, by the reputation of weakness n
desire to avoid insult we must be able to repel
1t; IL we desire to secure peace, one of the most
powerful instruments of our prosperity II must
be known that we are at all times ready fer war;
he wrote.