Description
I Feel Great Distress
Conflict raged in New England. Boston was under siege by the redcoats. Blood had been shed at Lexington and Concord and at Bunker and Breed’s Hill. But the forced who fought the British were local and regional militias. On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress voted to adopt and restyle all troops in the field as soldiers in the American Continental Army.
Once the army was created now there needed to be a commander-in-chief. Of course each militia had its own popularly elected officers, but there were those who believed that in order for this to become the war of the country and not a local skirmish, someone must be appointed to signal the other colonies that this was their fight as well. John Adams who was present in Congress wrote the following in his diary,
“I had no hesitation to declare that I had but one gentleman in my mind for that important command and that was a gentleman from Virginia, who was among us and very well known to all of us; a gentleman, whose skill and experience as an officer, whose independent fortune, great talents and excellent universal character would command the approbation of all America, and unite the cordial exertions of all the colonies better than any other person in the Union.”
Washington was nominated for the position and as he Adams refer to him on the House floor, Adams said that Washington, “who happened to sit near the Door, as soon as he heard me allude to him, from his Usual Modesty darted into the Library Room.” After Washington left, a debate ensued. Some were not thrilled about the appointment of a southern General. The “Army was all from New England,” wouldn’t a northern General be better? The subject was postponed, at least for a little bit. Undeterred, Adams went to work outside of the meeting, gathering support for Washington.
On June 15, 1775, the congressional record of the Second Continental Congress reports,
“Resolved, That a General be appointed to command all the continental forces, raised, or to be raised, for the defence of American liberty.
That five hundred dollars, per month, be allowed for his pay and expences.
The Congress then proceeded to the choice of a general, ∥by ballot,∥ when George Washington, Esq. was unanimously elected.
Esqr. that he had the order of the Congress to acq[ain]t him, that the Congress had by a unanimous vote made choice of him to be general and com[mander] in chief to take the supreme command of the forces raised and to be raised, in defence of American Liberty, and desired his acceptance of it. Whereupon Colonel Washington, standing in his place, spoke as follows:
“Mr. President,
“Tho’ I am truly sensible of the high Honour done me, in this Appointment, yet I feel great distress, from a consciousness that my abilities and military experience may not be equal to the extensive and important Trust: However, as the Congress desire it, I will enter upon the momentous duty, and exert every power I possess in their service, and for support of the glorious cause. I beg they will accept my most cordial thanks for this distinguished testimony of their approbation.
“But, lest some unlucky event should happen, unfavourable to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered, by every Gentleman in the room, that I, this day, declare with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the Command I am honored with.
“As to pay, Sir, I beg leave to assure the Congress, that, as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to have accepted this arduous employment, at the expence of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact Account of my expences. Those, I doubt not, they will discharge, and that is all I desire.”
[Note 1: 1 This reply, in the writing of Edmund Pendleton, with a single line added by Washington, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, vol. I, folio 1.]
Benjamin Rush was among the delegates present as Washington spoke. He later reported, “He has so much martial dignity in his deportment that you distinguish him to be a general and a soldier from among ten thousand people.”
The historical record contains the following account after the vote. Washington spoke to his fellow Virginian, Patrick Henry. His eyes filled with tears as he said, “Remember Mr. Henry, what I now tell you: from the day I enter upon the command of the American armies, I date my fall, and the ruin of my reputation.”
Sources:
https://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/washington/george2.html
https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-george-washington-cic
https://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field(DOCID+@lit(jc00236)):
Copyright Glenn Rawson 2023
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