Reed, Joseph, 63, 88, 91–92, 142, 148
regional balance in government, 60, 220, 297, 303, 373
regional disagreements: during French and Indian War, 28–29; in Revolution, 85–86; GW’s attitude toward, 213; over economics, 235–236, 241–249. See also state vs. national power; United States
republican government: attempt to establish, 171; equated with anarchy, 171, 200, 261, 318; GW’s belief in, 202, 212, 215–216, 247, 260–263, 316, 318, 345, 346, 356, 387
Republicans (Republican Party), 294, 308, 340, 342, 350, 357; moral values, 227–228, 243, 249; policies, 245–246, 296–297; advocate states’ rights, 259–260; expand beyond Virginia, 260, 268; pro-French policy, 274, 282, 309, 311, 372; conflict with GW, 284–285, 298–299, 338, 357, 371, 390; and Genêt affair, 287, 294, 298; and Jay Treaty, 309, 311–312; attitude toward Whiskey Rebellion, 317, 319; supports House demand for power, 343–346. See also Democratic Societies
Revolution, American, 256, 290, 294; colonists’ faith in cause, 28, 60; begins, 59; Boston occupation and Continental blockade, 66, 70–71; Boston campaign, 66, 74–76; activities in north, 74, 78, 102, 104, 108–109; necessity for public support, 77–79; New York campaign (1776), 77–87; New Jersey retreat, 86–93; British attempts to pacify Americans, 94, 98, 102, 103; Trenton and Princeton, 94–98; Morristown Heights and New Jersey activity (1777), 98–99, 102–103; Philadelphia campaign, 103–104, 107, 109; spying and intelligence, 104, 119, 147–148; Valley Forge, 109–111, 117–118; Monmouth campaign, 121–124, 126; 1778–1779 winter, 128; 1779–1780 campaigns, 132, 136–137; Yorktown operation and surrender, 137, 156–164, 179; 1780–1781 activities, 149–155; post-Yorktown, 165–168, see also civil war, threat of; civilian not military conflict, 179; peace negotiations and treaty, 149–150, 167, 176–177, 198, 251, 252–253, 309; French Revolution compared to, 256, 273. See also British army; Continental Army; Continental Congress, Second; France; Washington, George: AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF
Revolution, French. See France
Rhode Island, 94, 124, 137, 168, 209, 212, 229, 237, 387
Richmond, Va., 287
roads, 15, 33, 258
Rochambeau, Count de, 137–139, 143, 149, 151–153, 155–162, 167; portrait, 138
Rodney, Admiral, 160, 167
Roosevelt, Franklin D., 356n
Rumsey, James, 185, 197
Russia, 313
Rutledge, John, 332n, 340
St. Clair, Arthur, 253
St. Pierre, Legardeur, 13
Salisbury, N.C., 258
Santa Domingo, 392
Saratoga, Battle of, 107, 109
Savage (ship), 153
Savannah, Ga., 258
Schuylkill River, 104–105
secession, 316
Senate, U.S., 208, 220–221, 240, 255, 308, 345, 374; foreign policy role, 284, 301, 343; and Jay Treaty, 327–329, 334, 353
separation of powers, 205, 221
Seven Years’ War. See French and Indian War
Sharpe, Horatio, 19, 29–30
Shawnee Indians, 253
Shays, Daniel, 200
Shays’ Rebellion, 200–201, 316, 318
Shenandoah River, 7; Valley, 11, 27, 37, 318, 365
Shirley, William, 29
Short, William, 255
slaves and slavery, 243, 385; GW’s father’s holdings, 4; at Mount Vernon, 19, 44, 46–48 passim, 54, 388–390; GW’s attitude toward, 44, 54, 193–194, 247, 385–388, 390–392; in Revolution, 130, 164; issue, at Constitutional Convention, 208; freed by GW, 385, 388–390, 392–395
smallpox, 8, 132
society, American, 242–243
South, 208, 235, 242, 25 m, 262, 269, 327; aristocracy, 242–244; opposition to national bank, 245; GW’s tour, 258–259. See also regional balance in government; regional disagreements; United States
South Carolina, 136–137, 151, 153, 236, 258, 373
Southwest Territory, 251
Spain, 149, 149n, 194–196, 280–281, 209, 332n, 368, 373; jackass from, 191–192; relations with U.S. and southwest activities, 250–252, 287–288, 313–314, 316, 341, 343, 354
“Spanish Conspiracy,” 251
speculators: during Revolution, 129, 169, 234–235, 243; and national bank, 244–245, 247. See also land speculations; financiers and businessmen
Springfield, Mass., 229
state vs. national power: connection with Continental Army, 85–86, 133, 142, 166, 207; taxation, 129; GW’s attitude toward, 133, 177, 198–199, 323, 351, 387; precipitates civil conflict, 168–171; post-Revolution, 184, 198; effect on Constitution, 202, 204, 207, 208, 210; in relation to debt funding and assumption, 236; issue, in formation of political parties, 245; Republicans advocate states’ rights, 259–260. See also regional balance in government; regional disagreements; United States
Staten Island, 79, 80, 94, 98, 160
steamboats, 185
Steuben, Baron von, 118, 120, 134
Stockton, Annie Boudinot, 135
Stony Point, 132
Stuart, Gilbert, 339–340
Sulgrave Manor, 3
Sullivan, John, 80
Supreme Court, U.S., 220–222 passim, 340
Sweden, 313
Talleyrand, Charles de, 372, 382–383
Terror, Reign of, 257, 274
Ticonderoga, Fort, 74, 102, 108, 141
Tilghman, Tench, 135–136
tobacco, 19, 44, 46, 47, 49, 51
Tories (Loyalists), 92, 94, 98, 100, 119, 142, 354; GW’s attitude toward, 76, 79, 100, 119, 142, 164
trade (commerce), American: western, 194–196; GW’s concern with, 229, 372; British enactments against, 252; U.S.-British maritime conflict, 278–284, 302, 306–307, 344; effect of Jay Treaty on, 327–330, 343. See also fur trade; Mississippi River; Potomac Canal; trade regulations
trade regulations, 208, 240; anti-British, 252, 255, 281
Treasury Department, 267, 297. See also Hamilton, Alexander
Treaty of Alliance, 281, 330
Treaty of New York, 252
Trenton, Battle of, 14, 94–96, 98, 111, 179
Trumbull, Governor, 383
Tryon, William, 64
union, continental, 124; GW’s belief in, 100, 111, 247, 249, 251, 262, 277–278, 294, 316, 346; states’ opposition to, 168–169; immigrants as threat, 194; GW’s fear for, 260; possible dissolution of, 262, 272, 316; prosperity, 341–342. See also regional balance in government; regional disagreements; republican government; state vs. national power
usury, 242
Valley Forge, 109–111, 115, 117–118, 142
Vergennes, Count de, 106
Vernon, Edward, 6
veto power, 220–222, 247
Villiers, Coulon de, 17
Virginia, 168, 205, 208, 373; aristocracy, 6, 242–244; militia, 8–9, 30, 59, 317; and Ohio Valley, 10, 14–15, 27; GW as hero in, 18, 36–37; frontier warfare, 27–32, 35, 37; lack of manufacturing, 28; indignation over road to west, 33; economic relationship with England, 44, 49; Revolutionary campaigns in, 151–154, 156–164; as GW’s homeland, 152–153; GW’s leadership requested, 153–154, 170; and Potomac Canal, 196; position on assumption, 236; opposition to federal power, 259–260; hostility toward GW, 293, 368; GW’s role in elections, 382; slave economy, 386–387, 391, 394
Virginia Assembly (House of Burgesses), 28, 30–31, 52, 58
Virginia Company, 15
“Virginia plan,” 303
Virginia Regiment, 18, 28–32, 35, 55, 66
Waldo, Albigence, 110
Wallace, William, 396
war debt. See debt, national
War Department, 222, 325. See also Knox, Henry; Pickering, Timothy
Warren, James, 70
Warren, Mercy, 134
Washington, Augustine (father), 4, 47
Washington, Bushrod, 370–371
Washington, Fanny Bassett (niece), 269, 368
Washington, George: eminence, ix; current attitude toward, xv–xvii
BEFORE THE REVOLUTION: education, 3, 5–6; childhood, 4–6; as surveyor, 3, 7, 11; wilderness experience, 3, 7, 11, 20, 34, 37, 55; youthful amours, 8–9, 19–20, 40–42; militia command, 8–9; Ohio Valley expedition, to French, 10–15, map, 12; French and Indian War, 15–18, 23–27, 33–38, 47, 58, 59, 69, 137; growing reputation, 27, 36; Assembly member, 37–38, 52; planter, 43–54; land speculator, 54–56; marriage, see Washington, Martha Dandridge Custis
AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF: preparation for command, 28; strategy and tactics, 30–31, 66, 77, 83, 86, 90, 92, 95, 99, 105, 120, 131, 132, 139, 157, 159; acceptance of rebellion, 57–59; appointed, 59–63; compares Colonial and British war-making potential, 60; symbol of cause, 61; opposition to and attempts to remove, 62–63, 87, 91–93, 99–100, 109, 111–117, 119, 124, 172, 296; dependence on civilian support, 64, 71, 77–79, 95, 110, 179; expects British compromise, 71, 73–74; endorses independence, 74, 78; assassination plots, 79; headquarters, 124, 135; prevents army revolt, 166–174; farewell to officers, 178; development as a strategist summarized, 179–190. See also Continental Army; Revolution, American; Washington, George: SOLDIER
AFTER THE REVOLUTION: retirement to Mount Vernon, 178, 183–194, 202–204
PRESIDENCY: as model for executive, 209; attitude toward, 213, 215–216, 220, 261, 272, 295; election, inauguration and acclaim, 214–218; relation with Congress, see Congress, U.S.; veto power, 221–222; travel, 229–230, 237, 258–259; financial and economic problems, see debt, national; attacks on, 237, 261–262, 275, 283–285, 287, 288, 293, 295–299, 338–340, 345–347, 354–355; disinclined toward second term, 260–262, 266, 269–272; public discontent, 261, 270; denounces Democratic Societies, 321–324; salary and personal finances, 338–339; enumerates nation’s assets, 341–342; confrontation with House, 343–346; succession issue and third term, 345, 346, 356; disappointment over national disharmony, 346. See also Washington, George: POLITICIAN AND STATESMAN
LAST YEARS: retirement to Mount Vernon, 360–361; attacked as anti-French, 370–372; confusion, suspicion, disillusionment, of old age, 371–373, 376–379, 382–383; recalled to command army, 372–379; intervenes in Virginia elections, 382; refusal to interfere in Adams’s diplomacy, 383–384; will and tomb, 395–396; death, 396–402
AMUSEMENTS: dancing, 7, 51; drinking, 30, 37, 66, 157, 228; entertaining and social life, 52, 59, 129, 157, 184–186, 194, 225–228, 248–249, 368; gambling, 30, 37, 51, 248; hunting, 7, 51–52, 192, 269; dreaming of Mount Vernon, 118, 134, 151; scapegraces, 255; shows and spectacles, 51
ATTITUDES: aesthetic effects, 52, 192, 265; ambition, 20, 171–172, 270; architecture, 264; bathing, 124; battle, 16; charity, 52–53, 185, 322; civilian vs. soldier/statesman, 64, 171–172, 177, 182; death, 183–184, 219, 224, 362; devotion to duty, 32, 128, 135, 154, 185, 202; education, 5, 322; extravagance and frugality, 46, 69, 129; friendship, 166, 186, 255–256; immigrants, 380–382; judgment over passion, 42; killing, 14; marriage, 41–42; mob violence, 256, 274; music, 190; people and public opinion, 110, 179, 213, 214, 229, 247, 256, 270, 293, 296, 322–324, 387; public life, renunciation of, 177, 180–183, 202, 215, 261, 347; political excesses, 43, 58, 198; popularity, 292; power, 15; refusal to be pushed, 345, 388; religion, 51, 125, 216, 350; slavery, see slaves and slavery; virtue, 216–218; war, 307
BUSINESSMAN: ability, 366; agrarian and farmer, 38, 47–49, 190–192, 363–364; agrarian vs. financier, 130, 247–248; animal breeding, 52, 191–192, 364; borrows from bank, 366; estate, 39, 395–396; tries to buy farm near Philadelphia, 237–238, 248; financial situation, 7, 43–46, 48, 49–50, 128, 193–194, 213, 214–215, 224, 235, 247, 338–339, 359, 364–366 389; land purchases and sales, 7, 46, 47, 54–56, 130, 190, 194, 237–238, 364–365; salary, refusal of, and expenditures, 61, 69, 193–194, 213, 338–339; sale of preisdential furniture, 359–360. See also Potomac Canal; slaves and slavery
PERSONAL: action, need for, 71, 103, 184, 238; advancing age, 261, 269, 305, 313, 326, 335, 337, 355; anger, 115, 123, 135, 153, 295; appearance, 8, 39–41, 69, 217–218, 288, 339–340; aristocracy, influence of, 6–9; art collection, 359–360; character in general, 37, 51, 100, 140, 157, 186, 227–228; charisma and leadership, 11, 23, 28, 36, 61, 69, 116, 123, 180, 202, 357–358; childlessness, 42, 185, 395–396; clothes, 46; consistency, 285; correspondence, 187, 330, 362; detail, attention to, 49, 191; diffidence, 15, 28, 61, 62; eyesight, 173; family and background, 3–5, 8, 367; family, at Mount Vernon, 42–43, 48, 185, 269, 361 (illus.), 395–396; hairstyle, 191; health and energy, 8, 24, 26, 32–33, 37, 46–47, 49, 202, 204, 219, 232, 237–238, 288, 313, 376; immunity from death and injury, 14, 26, 27, 34, 36, 84, 97–98, 106, 152, 301; life style, 46, 186, 247; melancholy, 33, 47, 84–85, 184; relation to mother, 5, 7, 23, 39, 223–224; portraits and life masks, 53, 175, 185, 206, 227, 339–340, 381; prestige and people’s faith in, 196, 201, 207, 211, 296, 312, 345–346, 356, 357; profanity, 123n; reasonableness, 371; scientific potential, 48; self-control, 367; self-education, 38, 180; sexuality, 367; strength and resolution, 16, 26, 27; teeth, 36, 41, 339–340; and women, 7–8, 19–20, 31, 37, 41, 54, 134–136, 147, 227, 248, 259, 270–272, 355, 367, 367n, 368
POLITICIAN AND STATESMAN: chief executive during Revolution, 170; compromise, belief in, 127, 207, 213, 216, 246–247, 249, 263–264, 268, 296, 298, 303, 311, 323, 371; on confederation, 198; economy, belief in, 214; elections, 345, 356–357; financial education, 128; impartiality, 31, 221–222, 371; influence on government, 221, 272, 345–346; military intervention in civil government, opposition to, 169–174; neutrality policy, 214, 277–278, 282, 284, 311, 347, 350; opposes American monarchy, 61, 170–171, 202, 246, 257, 261, 285, 295, 297, 345; on political parties, 346, 350; and prosperity, 213–214, 247; speaking style, 218; supports unification vs. regionalism, 100–101, 111, 133, 177, 179, 198, 208, 323; world view, 38, 58. See also Washington, George: PRESIDENCY
SOLDIER: command method, 28; desires military career, 5, 18–20 passim, 33, 38, 59; disciplinarian, 37, 68–69, 85; guerrilla and traditional warfare, attitude toward, 16, 23–27, 83, 92, 96–97, 102, 104, 106, 120, 131, 155, 378; early inadequacies, 31, 33–34, 37, 38; relationship with men and officers, 28, 31, 37, 173, 177–178, 198; persecution and brutality, opposition to, 110, 164, 179; secrecy, 155; skill, 15, 28, 61, 62, 76, 84–85, 178–180; uniforms, passion for, 5, 29, 379–380
Washington, George Augustine (nephew), 269
Washington, Harriot (niece), 185
Washington, John (great-grandfather), 3–4
Washington, John Augustine (brother), 76
Washington, Lawrence (half brother), 5–6, 8, 19, 43, 47, 269, 379
Washington, Lund (cousin), 84
Washington, Martha Dandridge Custis, 165, 178, 192, 300, 368, 390; described, 39, 134, 270; marriage, 39, 41–42, 367–368; children and grandchildren, 42–43, 165, 185, 192, 401; financial position, 43; as hostess, 52; portrait, 53; informed of GW’s election as commander in chief, 62; visits GW during Revolution, 134–135; gloom over GW’s return to public life, 202, 214; as First Lady, 225, 227–228; back at Mount Vernon, 366–368; GW’s love letters to, 367, 367n; slaves, 392–393; at GW’s death, 397–402; after GW’s death, 393
Washington, Mary Ball (mother), 5, 7, 23, 223–224
Washington, Richard, 44
Washington, Samuel (brother), 185
Washington, D.C.: site chosen, 236–237, 245, 264; planning, 264–266; GW’s financial contributions to, 366
Washington, Fort (N.Y.), 86–91, 101
Washington, Fort (Cincinnati), 253
“Washington Elm,” 66
“Washington’s Legacy,” 177, 198
Waterford, Pa., 13
Watertown, Mass., 66, 70
Wayne, Anthony, 120, 132, 253, 254, 306, 318, 341
West Indies, 132, 155, 167, 231, 244, 278; British, 126, 306, 327–328, 334, 353; French, 101, 126, 156, 281, 288, 302, 306, 353; Spanish, 5
West Point, 131, 143–146, 151
Wethersfield, Conn., 155
Whigs
, 243. See also Old Whigs
whiskey, excise tax on, 259, 314–315
Whiskey Rebellion, 314–320, 333, 336; illus., 317
Wilkinson, James, 113
Will (valet), 191
White Plains, N.Y., 131; Battle of, 86
William and Mary, College of, 243
Williamsburg, Va., 52
Willing, Thomas, 270
Wilmington, N.C., 258–259
Winchester, Va., 27, 30, 32, 41
wine culture, 48
Winstanley, William, 360
Winston-Salem, N.C., 258
Wolcott, Oliver, Jr., 325–326, 331–336, 338
Worcester, Mass., 229
Yazoo scheme, 252, 259
yellow fever, 269, 300–302
York River, 162–163
Yorktown, Va., 165; campaign, 156–164, 179, 231; surrender, 137, 163–164, 179; map, 161
Young, Arthur, 388
XYZ Affair, 372, 380, 382
Acknowledgments
As has been my happy situation down the long years, I have been befriended and sustained from day to day by two of the libraries that are among the great cultural institutions of the United States: the New-York Historical Society and the New York Public Library, which has permitted me to frequent the Frederick Lewis Allen Room.
The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union, which has preserved Washington’s home with such grace and scholarship, continued its many helpful courtesies. I have also been assisted by the library of the Century Association, the Free Library of Cornwall, Connecticut, the Library of Congress, and the New York Society Library.
My wife, Beatrice Hudson Flexner, and my daughter, Helen Hudson Flexner, have helped in many ways.
I owe much to the staff of my publishers, Little, Brown and Company, and particularly to Arthur Thornhill Jr., Llewellyn Howland III, and that excellent copyeditor Jean Whitnack. Margaret Zweig has assisted greatly in the preparation of the manuscript. Ferdinand Lundberg suggested the subtitle, “The Indispensable Man.”
I am also grateful to John A. Castellani, Thomas J. Dunnings, Jr., Leon Edel, Sue Adele Gillies, James Gregory, James J. Heslin, Donald Jackson, Oliver Jensen, Mary-Jo Kline, Dumas Malone, Christine Meadows, Nancy Milford, Frank E. Morse, Harold C. Syrett, and Charles C. Wall.
Washington- The Indispensable Man Page 47
