Page 61 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 54 Late Spring 2025

resolution designating he purchased much
the New England mili- needed gunpowder.
tias occupying the hills Then he rode off to-
outside Boston as the ward Boston.
Continental Army.
He arrived there on
The same day, John July 2, and on July 4
Adams nominated wrote a directive de-
George Washington to claring that “All dis-
be the Commander in tinctions of colonies
Chief, reasoning that will be set aside”
appointing a Virginian and that all present
would demonstrate would be considered
that the opposition to “Troops of the Unit-
British rule went far ed Colonies of North
beyond New England America.” Up to that
radicals. (Washington point, colonists, even
helped Adams by at- those fighting battles
tending the Congress which the British won some nearly together, tended to
in military uniform.) Washing- worthless ground at a cost of enor- see their own states as their “coun-
ton’s personal qualities were also mous casualties. That report, try.” Washington’s declaration cre-
attractive to delegates, who un- which stressed the courageous ated a United States army, and in
derstood the seriousness of the performance of the militias, made fact, the single nation itself.
conflict ahead of them. Eliphalet him even more impatient to reach
Dyer, delegate from Windham, Boston quickly. But diplomacy de- Washington’s military instincts,
CT described him as “discrete and manded that he spend time in New reinforced by his service with the
virtuous, sober, steady, calm…no York advocating the cause. He left British military in the French and
harum-scarum ranting fellow.” But quickly after these meetings were Indian War, was for European-style
Washington was not a moderate over. battles—large forces confronting
on the main question facing the each other, relying on maneuver-
colonists: whether to resist or He reached Wallingford on the ing in precise formations. The first
29th, with a party reported to confrontation with the British mil-
submit to British rule. He wrote to consist of Lee, Major Thomas Mif- itary conducted in this manner—
a friend, “Can a virtuous man hesi- flin (later Governor of Pennsylva- the attempted defense of New
tate in his choice?” nia, and his aide, Samuel Griffin. York—was a disaster. Washington
Schuyler had stayed in New York to gradually learned that keeping the
Washington began his ride to Bos- command a northern wing of the Continental Army—and himself—
ton to assume control of the new Continental Army. Also with Wash- alive and uncaptured, and fight-
army on June 19th. In his small ington was Billy Lee, a slave, but ing small battles, was the path to
group were two of the four major who served as Washington’s valet wearing down British re- solve. The
generals appointed to be under his during the entire Revolutionary war would be won by not losing.
command, Charles Lee and Philip War. After dining and toasts at Car-
Schuyler. As Washington entered rington Tavern, Washington rode to After American independence was
New York, he received a dispatch the store of Caleb Atwater, where formalized in 1783, Washington
about the battle of Bunker Hill, in created a new norm that would

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