Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-03
WASHINGTON HELD
COMMAND Twice
Only American Soldier to Be
So Honored, BicentenniaI
Commission Reveals.

George Washington was the only
American soldier ever to hold the post
of commander in chief OF the Army for
two separate terms, it was disclosed to-
day by the George Washington Bicen-
tennial Commission. in noting that this
Is the 1880 anniversary of Washing
tons nomination for the second lead
ership.
On July 3, 1898, the Senate received
from President Adams recommended
ton for appointment of Washington,
then in rural retirement at Mount Ver-
non, as commander in chief of a pro-
visional army of 10000 men. to be
raised fer possible war on France.
The Senate promptly confirmed the
nomination and the President made the
appointment the next day. Washing
ton had not been consulted IN advance,
and the delicate task of handing him
the commission by which he was COM
mandsd to re-enter the profession of
arms was intrusted to Secretary of
War James McHenry.
Accepts Commission.
Washington bowed to the wishes of
his country and accepted the commits
sion with two provisos-first, that he
be allowed to select his own officers
and second, that he should not be call
ed into the field until the Army was
in condition to require his presence or
until the urgency of the situation de-
manded action.
Trouble had been brewing with the
French Republic ever since 1893, due to
her resentment over Washington's policy
of neutrality, and especially over the
Jay treaty with Great Britain. The
depredations committed by her pri-
vateers and public vessels on American
commerce were as persistent, within
their more limited opportunity. as those
of Great Britain. and when Washing
ton in 1876 recalled Minister Monroe
and appointed Charles Cotesworth
Pinckney The French director not only
refused to receive him officially, but
ordered him out Of its territory. Presi-
dent Adams. In a final effort for peace
in 1897, sent special mission of three
Pinckney. John Marshall and Elbridge
Gerry-of whom bride was demanded
as preliminary to their recognition.
Pinckney's spirited mot a sixpence" was
later transformed by some unknown au-
thor into the phrase Millions for de-
fence, but not cent for tribute"
Eyes Turned to Washington.
AS a crisis approached all eyes were
turned upon Washing on. who for more
than a year had been devoting his cf-
quite content with his life as planter
at Mount Vernon
The reasons and motives" wrote Mr..
Adams in his instructions to the Secre-
tary of War. (which prevailed with me
to venture upon such step as the NOM
nation OF this great and illustrious
character. whose voluntary resignation
alone occasioned my introduction to the
office which I now hold, were too nu-
merous to be detailed in this letter, and
are too obvious and important to escape
the observance of any part of America
or Europe. But as it is a movement of
great delicacy, it will require all your
address to communicate the subject in
manner that shall be inoffenSive to
his feelings and consistent with all the
respect that Is due from me to him.
If the general should decline the
appointment. all the world will be silent
and respectfully acQuiesce. If he should
accept 1t, all the world, except the en-
emies Of this country, will rejoice
Could Not Refuse Call.
When Secretary McHenry delivered
to the veteran commander his new COM
mission as lieutenant general and
commander in chief" Washington said
that so long as he was able he could
never refuse to answer the call of duty
He Immediately set about organizing his
army and planning his campaign with
all the zest and eagerness of the WASH
,ington of yore. He advised the APP
pointment as major general of Alex
ander Hamilton, who was to be in
spector general and second in command.
lie also selected as major generals
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and Henry
Knox, both of whom had served with
him in the Revolution, but Gen. Knox
declined his commission.
The military measures taken in
America caused the French rulers to
assume more pacific temper They
indicated Willingness to cooperate in
ef1ecting a friendly and equitable ad-
justment of existing differences. List
ening to these overtures, President
Adams appointed three ENJOYS extraor-
binary and invested them with full
powers to negotiate with the French
government When they arrived in
Paris they found Napoleon Bonaparte
at the head of affairs, who, having
taken no part in the preceding disputes
and perceiving no advantage in con-
tinuing them, readily assented to an
accommodation.
No event was more desired by Wash
1ngtcn. but he did not live to partici-
pate in the JOY with which the intelli-
gence was received by his countrymen.