He dressed for success everyday … he was also the tallest kid in the class!
June 15, 1775
2nd Continental Congress – Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“Hey you! You wanna be a general? We’ve got this spot open at the top of the food chain and you have military experience … AND … you’ve worn your military uniform every day since we’ve been sitting in this room! We figured you were trying to tell us something!”
There was surely a silence in the room as the man they were speaking to was indeed the only man in the room with the qualifications they needed. The question was, did he want or need the frustration of running an army … if you could even call it that.
He had a pretty good thing going on up there at Mount Vernon; a farm—a stable full of horses—a brewery, and a pretty pleasant view of the Potomac River. Pleasant? This guy had an awesome view from his front porch.
Why do I need this thankless job anyway? Payrolls … constant complaining … crappy winter weather (he hadn’t even been to Valley Forge yet) … spies watching your every move!
Spying! That actually sounds like fun! I bet I’d be good at that!
“Okay, I’ll take it … how much you paying?”
“EXCUSE ME? How much?”
“Actually gentlemen, I’ve got a pretty good gig up at Mount Vernon! And did one of you clowns mention something about … Valley Forge? It’s cold out there in the winter!
There was a pause as Washington was heading toward the door of the Assembly Room at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. Turning around, he shrugged his shoulders as he faced the packed room.
“I guess that would be better than trying to cross the Delaware River in the winter!
I’ll get back with you!”
Obviously, it didn’t go down quite that way, but Washington might just have had a real hesitation before he accepted. And besides … it did sound like a lot of work!
But that didn’t mean Washington shirked away from hard work. He ran a large farm, 8,000 acres! Even though that took time and energy, running an army would be much more frustrating … and he hadn’t even seen them yet! Maybe he should have done some due diligence first and rode out for a little pre-commitment tour! Fortunately for all of us, he didn’t. Otherwise, it might have been, Bob Smith, the Father of our Country.
But he really did like the idea of putting together clandestine operations. Better known as, spying! You wouldn’t exactly call him James Bond, a lone wolf out in the field. He was more of a Mr. Phelps/Ethan Hunt—put together a team and send them out, occasionally getting in on the fun. And he would prove to be really good at it. So much that some of his own Life Guard conspired in an attempt to kill, or at least kidnap him. It was a failed venture by British loyalists in New York City to end this unlawful war with extreme prejudice!
Whether someone would have stepped up to replace Washington and go on to win the revolution is questionable. Maybe they would have selected Benedict Arnold. Maybe he would never have committed treason. History will never know.
George Washington did of course accept his fate and much like Grant, and eleven others with the rank of General in their military service, became President of the United States.
Saving Liberty
Benjamin Franklin discovers that he has to save the life of George Washington and two other founding fathers when he travels in time to a 2025 alternate timeline where history didn’t turn out quite as he expected.
“Read All About It!” in the upcoming Franklin In Time series introduction.