British Opinion of Washington

Practically all of the stories concerning the Revolution are the American versions. We wondered, for some time, what the British version might be. When we were in England, several years ago, we purchased a small book titled 'George Washington's Army'. It is amusing to read the chapters on the many aspects of the Revolution even to the personalities of the military leaders.

The British claimed there were perhaps 15,000 armed rebels from the New England area at Lexington and Concord whereas they had only 3,500 troops. They reported the Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17,1775) to be a very bloody affair and a victory for them. They did not mention that the Americans had 145 killed and 304 wounded compared with their loss of 226 killed and 828 wounded. They wrote that the Second Congress at its meeting in 1775 never anticipated a complete breakdown between the colonies and Britain. Also, when General Washington took command all his soldiers were former residents of New England. Some lived in tents, log huts, private homes and in one instance even being housed in the dormitories of Harvard University. Furthermore, very few men had guns and that he had difficulty in holding his men together as an army. They reported that the rebels considered fighting as a seasonable job, and that a man could go home to plant or harvest his crops and then return to fight when his services were needed.

The officers fraternized with the men, and there was no discipline. Very little or no court martial or punishment proceedings were taken against the soldiers. In some instances this report was true. They were reporting these instances as a comparison with their own army system. The British military code of war was considered 'Plumb crazy' by the Americans. The rebels lacked the 'guts' to stand up shoulder to shoulder with his fellow soldiers and go through the compulsory manual of arms—load, present and fire. Instead, the rebels seemed to play the game by using cover such as rocks, logs, earthen works or trees. They showed no mercy to their enemy nor gave a quarter. The rebels were experienced in Indian warfare, and many times used darkness in their favor. Any means of winning a battle was considered legitimate. They did not see it as a game—only as a life or death struggle.

Punishment in the British Army was very harsh. Soldiers were many times treated as animals. One of the common forms of punishment, depending upon the crime, was from 100 to 1,000 lashes on the bare back with a whip, called the cat of nine tales, and well laid on was the command. Friendship between the officers and the common soldier was strictly forbidden.

The British admitted that the inactivity of some of their officers gave Washington what he needed most—TIME. Washington had time to organize the new volunteers in the newly formed Continental Army. He had time to train and equip, as well as appoint new and better trained men, especially officers.

With the mixed multitude of people, as Washington called his army, he proceeded to take on the British Army with its German and American auxiliaries.

The area that is now Bedford County contributed its share of these mixed multitudes. They were present when the Americans recovered Boston on March 17. They were present in August when the Americans lost New York and they endured the hardships with hundreds of men from other colonies, when Washington spent the winter at Valley Forge. Some were with Washington when he crossed the Delaware and surprised over 1400 Hessians at Trenton.

The British had bragged that even with the help of France they were able to defeat Washington at Brandywine on September 11, and the loss of Philadelphia was atributed to the excellent leadership of General Howe.

The Americans had one spark of hope in October when they defeated Gentleman Johnny (Lieutenant General) Burgoyne and captured 6,000 of his men. This victory was a severe blow to the pride of England. However, Washington had used delayed tactics that did not look like a smart move. The British believed that the reason for this was due to the lack of properly trained men, thus the reason for Congress to approve three year enlistments rather than one year duration. They also attributed much of the Colonists delays to the sickness and disease in their encampments.

Nothing was mentioned about the filthy conditions of their army camps. The Americans had typhus and small pox with little or no medical services available. The field hospitals were hot houses for widespread infection. The sick and wounded were laid on lice infested straw—head to toe and row after row. The year 1776 was worst. It was reported that Washington lost about 10,000 men from sickness, in addition, he had 1,000 soldiers killed in battle, 12,000 wounded and 6,000 taken prisoners.

The doctors following the army learned that vaccinations for smallpox were necessary. In the year 1777 the death rate fell from 150 per thousand to less than 2 per thousand. Both British and American surgeons had no knowledge of anesthetics. The wounded were given a lead bullet to bite upon when operations were necessary. Leg and arm amputations were made by unsterilized knives and meat saws. The stumps were cauterized with hot tar. As the war continued both sides realized that 'sinks or necessaries' (Now called latrines) were necessary to ensure cleanliness and sanitary conditions about the camp.

No mention was written about the spiritual life of the British Army, however, a great dissertation was said about this of Washington, in fact he felt that prayers by the troops was a most important phase of camp life. Ministers on Sundays gave long sermons, not only about the patriotic obligations but also on their religious thoughts.

By 1778, according to England, Washington's army was much smaller due to sickness, large numbers of desertions by the weak hearted who had gone home and that thousands had come over to the British side to fight. He was also the victim of mismanagement, graft or selfishness on the part of the politicians and traders. This was the year, too, that France formerly entered into the war, thus they claimed they were faced with fighting a world war. They failed to mention that they hired the Germans to come over and help as well as encouraging the Indians to make raids in New York and Pennsylvania as well as creating spies among the colonists, often causing many neighbors in both town and country to become bitter enemies. They claimed that two-thirds of the colonists were in sympathy with England and that about 40,000 had remained loyal and served the British army.

By May, the British had learned that Washington had planned a series of movements against them. They evacuated Philadelphia and began to go to New York. Washington caught up with the British at Monmouth Court House on June 28. Two skirmishes took place. However, Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton was able to reach New York. Here, Washington put on a massive blockade against him.

In 1779, Washington moved his headquarters to West Point. The British now claimed the American Army was becoming more professional in their activities. They estimated the rebel strength to be 27,000 (actually it was about 10,000). The British claimed their own strength to be 29,000. This figure included 4,000 loyalists and 11,000 German troops.

England was quick to blame the state governments for breaking contracts with the soldiers for not paying them for their services. A high ranking officer could not purchase a pair of shoes with a years salary. Many officers resigned instances mutinies had to be suppressed by force.

The year saw the British victorious in the south. Lieutenant General Cornwallis defeated General Gates in South Carolina. Washington was having a hard time. Congress reduced his army to 58 regiments and the value of money had decreased, also the French had little success against the English at sea. These points were good for the Loyalists.

After Washington received reinforcements from France, he left 4,000 men to guard New York. He moved his army south. With the help of the French Navy, Who defeated the British Navy along the Virginia Capes. Washington was now able to force Cornwallis to surrender at Yorktown. At least one Bedford Countian was present at this surrender. He is buried at Colerain Township.

In 1783 (February) the British had announced the end of all hostilities, but the peace treaty was not signed in Paris until September 3. The last British troops left New York on December 4, and General Washington resigned his Commission on December 23 in a very simple ceremony in the Chamber of Congress at Philadelphia. In his resignation to England proposed that he should be made King. He detested this suggestion.

England's opinion of Washington as a general was anything but good. They said he was far from being a great general. They admitted he was a good administrator but his fighting record or experience in the Seven Year’s War were his assets, and that he won the war with an army was not proof of his best military talents. In other words by today’s comments, we might term their opinion as ‘he was just damned lucky’. The British had failed in their plans to find their and destroy him.

The British opinion of General Washington does not coincide with the French. The French had sent an observer to serve under General Lafayette. He was le Chevalier de Pontgibaud. He seemed to have a very high opinion of Washington. In his reports he wrote that Washington was intended by nature to become a great man. His personal appearance alone gave confidence to the timid soldier and respect to the bold and brave man. He seemed to possess the outward advantages that a man should have to command. He was tall in structure, with a noble face, gentleness in his glances and simplicity in his gestures and expressions.

Other historians have described Washington as a very stern man and prone to use the most vulgar language at the slightest provocation. Another historian said libertine with an Irish mistress inspite of his model family life.

Chevalier de Pontgibaud further reported that Washington dressed in a most simple manner without the distinctive uniform of a commanding officer, and that he gave large sums of money of his own to the war. He refused payment for his services from Congress.

Many stories have been written about the stupidity of the British in their treatment of the Indian tribes. At first they wooed them with gifts and promises. They convinced the Indians that the real authority in their lives was ‘Father’ King George III, just as the French in Canada had convinced Chief Pontiac that the King of France was his father.

When the colonists revolted against their father, they accepted this as an insult. However, they were soon to be disappointed. Most of the English Officers looked upon them with contempt. Their request for powder and lead was rejected many times. This was a blow to them as they could not obtain as large quantities of fur and animal hides with the bow and arrow as with the musket. Since their ammunition was not obtainable, the weapons they already had were now useless.

Also the British failed to provide protection to the tribes when their nations were attacked by the colonists. General Washington approved General Sullivan’s expedition to devastate the Indian villages and their gardens. Many tribes fled to the British forts for safety, but when the British surrendered, the tribes were then faced with potential extermination. Had the British shown more consideration and kindness and supplied them with guns and ammunition, the Revolutionary War might have ended in a British victory.