His Excellency: George Washington

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2004

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Preface-Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Key Figures

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Chapter 3Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 3 Summary: “First in War”

Washington’s “debut as commander in chief” (75) is the Siege of Boston, in which his troops keep the British forces bottled up in the city for nine months, forcing them to retreat to Canada. Convinced that a volunteer militia cannot win a war against Great Britain, Washington lobbies Congress for a “permanent standing army” (99). Among Washington’s “aggressive proposals” (85) is a campaign to capture the city of Quebec. The battle, led by Benedict Arnold, is a disastrous defeat for the Americans, dealing a blow to some of Washington’s dearly held convictions about the war. At the same time, Washington shows foresight in instituting mandatory inoculation against smallpox among his troops.

Desiring a direct confrontation with the British instead of a defensive style of warfare, Washington moves his troops to New York City, putting them at an extremely vulnerable spot. Fortuitously, the British commander Howe decides to leave Manhattan and attack Fort Washington, allowing Washington’s troops, now severely reduced, to escape into New Jersey. The subsequent battles in Trenton and Princeton (preceded by a Christmas night traversal of the Delaware River) are a resounding victory for the Americans, boasting popular support for the war.

Washington reluctantly persuades Congress to grant him temporary dictatorial power, partly in order to find more recruits to fill out his desperately depleted army. The battles of Brandywine Creek and Germantown are won by the British and expose some of the weakness of the American side. However, the Battle of Saratoga (New York) is won by the Americans, radiating “shock waves” toward Britain and France, which decides to enter the war in support of the Americans. Partly on the advice of his lieutenants, Washington becomes convinced that he must put his personal honor aside and lead a “Fabian” defensive war, one in which “the preservation of the Continental army was the priority” (109).

Chapter 3 Analysis

This is the first of two chapters detailing Washington’s experiences during the Revolutionary War. Apart from the descriptions of battles and key tactical decisions, one of the notable developments in this chapter is Washington’s growing “semi-royal status” (78) in American society, epitomized by his new unofficial title, “His Excellency.” Ellis claims that this status fit well with Washington’s nature and background, because as a Virginia landowner he was more accepting of aristocratic trappings than many other colonists. However, it will cause problems for him later on, as some accuse him of making himself another monarch in place of King George III. This royal status is epitomized in the flowery verse that the African-American slave and poet Phillis Wheatley writes in Washington’s honor, and for which Washington thanks her (77). The controversy over Washington’s status in American society shows that the path was not always smooth for him, and that he had to overcome hostility even among his countrymen.

Another important facet of this chapter is that Washington must fight a battle for the hearts of the American people even as he is fighting against the British on the battlefield. The “spirit of ‘76” was fueled by a conviction that despite the British army’s superior power and sophistication, the American colonists could defeat them through sheer willpower and virtue. This romantic notion is shattered, however, as the British win more engagements in the war and the American army’s weaknesses are exposed. Washington must now maintain morale and prove that the war is still worth fighting, even as the prospects for victory seem slim and his army seems to be falling apart. To help get his message out, Washington chooses cultured aides who help him draft correspondence and give him trusted tactical advice. Washington is “First in War” because he is the visible symbol and driving force of the whole revolutionary movement.