GEORGE WASHINGTON'S
YOUTH AND EARLY ADVENTURES
1732 (1731 Julian) Baby George Washington was born on February 22 (then February 11, 1731 by the Julian calendar) to Mary Ball Washington, the second wife of Augustine Washington --- at Wakefield Plantation in Bridges Creek, Westmoreland County, Virginia.
1738 The family moved to Ferry Farm on the Rappahannock River opposite Fredericksburg, Virginia.
1743 When George was 11 years old, his father, Augustine, died at the age of 51 . The main farm went to Lawrence Washington, George's 14 year older half brother. Lawrence called the farm Mount Vernon after the name of his Naval commander, Vernon, in the unsuccessful battle at Cartegna, a huge Spanish fort in what is now Columbia, South America. George inherited Ferry Farm indirectly. His mother was to control it for ten years. Lawrence married Anne Nancy Fairfax of the wealthy relatives of patroon, Lord Fairfax - from the large estate next door to Mount Vernon..
1746 George's mother strongly objected to him joining the British Navy as suggested by Lawrence in a letter.
1748 At age 16, George began his diary. He and young George William Fairfax rode out to the frontier to survey property owned by Lord Fairfax - near the Shenandoah Valley. They truly roughed-it, swimming rivers, sleeping in mite infested houses. They finally spent an evening and night with American Indians, who danced around a huge night fire as they shared beverages; an Indian appeared carrying a scalp - as he returned from an inter tribal conflict. It is said that George Washington had a lifetime "heart crush" for the two year older Sally Cary, "a Miss Sunshine;" but she married GW's neighbor and friend George William Fairfax - son of Lord Fairfax.
1749 George was appointed by Governor Dinwittie to be supervisory surveyor of the distant Culpepper County, Virginia
1750 At age 18, George made his first land speculation by purchasing land in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. George went with Lawrence to hot springs in Virginia, in hopes of curing Lawrence's illness, tuberculosis.
1751 At age 19, George and Lawrence set sail toward South America for Lawrence's health. After a voyage of a variety of weather and adventure, including work aboard the ship, they arrived at Barbados Island. They stayed with the Clarke family where George caught "small pox" from a young lady in the household. In those days, about 1/3 survived the fever and poxes, as did George after treatments and over three weeks in bed. Lawrence rented a cottage and remained with a plan to meet his wife in Bermuda, later. When George regained his strength, he toured and observed much of the island. On the first day back out to sea as a passenger, George took his eyes off the horizon and wrote a long dissertation on what he saw and the exotic foods available on the island; his inner ear and the swaying of the ship caused him to become sea sick. For the next month and a half, the ship rode smooth and rough seas - sighting other ships along the way. They battened down and rode through hurricane weather. George had been away from Virginia for half a year. Upon arrival, he delivered some messages to Governor Dinwiddie, who would later select George for a special mission into the frontier wilderness.
1752 When George was age 20, Lawrence died after returning to Virginia. He willed the Mount Vernon properties to his wife and children - with stipulation that George should eventually follow them in ownership, upon their deaths. George received ownership of Ferry Farm. The calendar changed by 11 days, but a second change for the "start of a year" from March to January caused the need for George to refer his birth date to be 1732 (from 1731, Julian calendar). George joined a Fredericksburg lodge of the Masons. He was then appointed by the Governor as a major in the state militia.
THE SEVEN YEAR (FRENCH & INDIAN) WAR
began by GEORGE
WASHINGTON'S ACTION
1753 George, when age 21, was sent on a very dangerous and sensitive mission to tell the French soldiers at Fort La Boeuf in Western Pennsylvania about removal from the Ohio River valley; they were accused of encroaching in British Colonial territory. He had to wait days at American Indian encampments - to meet "Half King," an Indian chief of two tribes, who would accompany George and his men as they advanced northward to near Lake Erie. Upon meeting the top French officers, the French resisted and tried subterfuge to influence GW's Indian friends (with guns and whiskey) to join the French. George's expedition was almost to Erie, Pennsylvania, when they met that top French General. Upon receiving the French rejection of Governor Dinwiddie's message, George planned to return to Virginia to deliver the negative news. Snow became so deep that George gave the horses to the Indians. He and his guide, Gist, set out on foot toward Virginia. To cross a wide icy river, they constructed a raft from tree branches. George's steering pole jammed and flipped him into the ice clogged river. George and Gist were soaking wet - they bundled and shivered all night on an island in the river. With frozen toes, in the morning they limped across ice to the east bank of the river. Along the miles toward Virginia, they observed massacred pioneers, and George and his guide were shot at by Indians from the forest. In Virginia, he published a summary of his trip and its results. The people of Virginia knew that a possible war with the French was brewing.
1754 At age 22, George Washington was given a commission as Lt. Colonel and assigned troops. He was instructed to approach Fort Duquesne (later Pittsburgh) in the wilderness at the Ohio River. The French and British had contested rights to North American control for about 70 years - from 1689 until 1748 (with King William's War, Queen Anne's War, and King George's War). At night, George and his men came upon an encampment of French soldiers. At the ambush, ten French soldiers were killed. One, Joseph Coulon, Sieur de Jumonville, was the brother of the head French general. The French forces, a month later, retaliated by a successful attack on George's (350 to 700) outnumbered and poorly equipped soldiers (with damp gun powder) at poorly located Fort Necessity in the Great Meadows. George fought but soon signed a French language "Terms of Surrender," which included the word for assassin. It admitted or indicated that the ambush was illegal warfare. It is said that this document led to debates in Europe, which became one of the causes of the "7 year French and Indian War," a war which made England the greatest world power. As a result, France would in the future withdraw from much of North America. George's men surrendered but were allowed to return with their arms to their homes. In November, George resigned as Colonel of the Virginia state militia when offered a demotion in rank.
1755-58 At age 25, George was appointed an Aide-de-Camp to the British Major General Edward Braddock, Commander-in-Chief of all British forces in America. They marched toward Western Pennsylvania but were ambushed by the French and Indians in "the Battle of the Wilderness." Of about 1500 British, 977 were killed or wounded, including 63 officers and 8 women. General Braddock received a mortal wound. George Washington took over command of the British forces. He narrowly escaped after having two horses shot from under him and had four bullet holes through his clothing. George was highly acclaimed and became Colonel and commander of troops of Virginia.
Read detail of 1755 - 1756 New York region conflicts <==Fort William Henry, Fort Oswego and the Mohawk Valley.
In July of 1758, the French took Fort Carillon at Ticonderoga, NY (but later fled it in July 1759). In July 1758, the French lost at Louisbourg at Cape Briton Island. Washington soon joined another expedition against the French in Western Pennsylvania. But, in late 1758, the French abandoned and burned Fort Duquesne, which was then renamed "Fort Pitt" by General John Forbes, who had been ill and relied heavily upon his colonels Washington, Armstrong, and Bouquet. George resigned his commission in December 1758. At age 26, George Washington from Frederick County Virginia was elected to the House of Burgesses for the government at Williamsburg, VA.
1759-1760 At age 27, GW visited Martha Dandridge Custis near Williamsburg. She was a very wealthy widow who had two children. He proposed; they were wed and soon moved to the then small house at Mount Vernon; George wrote his farewell message to his officers. Meanwhile, there were battles between the Cherokee Indians and the British, in the South. The final battle of the "7 Year War" between troops of General James Wolff and the Marquis Louis Joseph de Montcalm at Quebec was won by the British in September 1759. Major Robert Rogers took possession of Detroit for the British. The French and Indian War partially triggered by George had come to an end, favorably leaving Britain the most powerful nation in the world.
In September 1760, General Jeffrey Amherst peacefully took possession of Montreal. France would then begin plans for relinquishing their land holdings west of the Mississippi River, and plan other lands in America to the British.
GW :
FARMER-PLANTER-REPRESENTATIVE-
VESTRYMAN-WARDEN-VETERAN'S
AFFAIRS
1761-1769 George was re-elected Burgess for Frederick County. In 1762, he became Vestryman of Truro Parish; in 1763, he became Warden of Pohick Church in Truro Parish of Fairfax County. In 1764, he was elected Burgess for Fairfax County. (He was to be re-elected in 1768, 69, 71 and 1774).
1770 At age 38, George took a trip west, halfway down the Ohio River using canoes. He eventually purchased - and used French and Indian War veterans bounties - for more than 30,000 acres.
1773 At age 40 and 41, George entertained Lord Stirling at Mount Vernon. Lord Stirling (William Alexander) had been snubbed by the government in England, so he was one most likely to rebel. In May, they went together from Philadelphia to Basking Ridge, NJ and Morristown, visiting conservative Royalists (William Franklin, Peter Kemble, General Gage). George returned via towns from Perth Amboy, NJ to York, PA - the region in which he would need to know if there were to be a war.
1774 At age 42, George supported the Virginia Resolve to call to the many Committees on Correspondence for recommendations regarding the Boston Port Act - after their assembly had been dissolved. In July, he presided over a Fairfax County meeting regarding actions against Britain's Coersive and Intollerable Acts. On August 1, the Virginia Convention at Williamsburg drew up "non-importation resolves" and elected Washington and six others as delegates to attend a General Congress in September.
CONTINENTAL ARMY
1775 Philadelphia and Boston Area: CLICK TO RIDE ALONG TO BOSTON AND BATTLES AT BREED'S HILL, AND PRESSURE ON THE BRITISH.
1776 The RETREAT OF THE BRITISH, an HONORARY DEGREE, THE RIDE TO NEW YORK. New York Area Battles - Withdrawal across New Jersey - The key Victory at Trenton, NJ : CLICK TO RIDE ALONG IN BATTLES AT BROOKLYN, MANHATTAN, WHITE PLAINS, FORT WASHINGTON, NY, FORT LEE, and TRENTON, NJ.
1777 The army re-crossed of the Delaware to win the "orchard-bridge battle" at Princeton, NJ. Wintering: Millstone, NJ, Pluckemin, MORRISTOWN. CLICK FOR THE BATTLE OF PRINCETON, WINTER TRAINING IN MORRISTOWNand DETAIL, News arrived of losses at Danville, CT and some success at Richfield, CT. The army moved to Boundbrook and Middlebrook, NJ. The British are repulsed at Westfield, NJ. The army moves rapidly north via Morristown, Pompton Plains, Suffern's Tavern - then Smith's Clove, NY. After hearing of ship movements to the south, the Continental Army moved back south via Ramapo, NJ, Pompton, Morristown, Reading, Pa and back to Coryell's Ferry (Lambertville, NJ). They marched through Philadelphia to Chadds Ford and to a loss at Brandywine and "The Clouds". George was at White Horse Tavern, near Paoli (a loss by General Anthony Wayne), and Pottsgrove, PA. The British took Philadelphia on September 26. But news arrived that there was the first of three major American victories near Freeman's Farm and Saratoga, NY. Under much confusion, fog and smoke, the Americans took a loss at Germantown, PA - also at Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery, NY. FRANCE, SPAIN and HOLLAND joined in the war against Britain. There were victories at Fort Mercer on the Delaware, River. Washington was at Whitemarsh, PA for over a month before marching to some low hills north west of Philadelphia. He stayed in a log house and then in the small stone house in a very small valley with a nearby forge - Valley Forge. The main problem was less about weather than it was a severe lack of supplies, clothing and food. There was poor support from the Pennsylvania citizens. General Conway wrote to General Gates of an attempt to replace George Washington. An aide dueled Conway, who was killed. An officer named Willkinson was somewhat involved and retired from active duty (he would lead our armies many years later). A French ship arrived with munitions and supplies in New England.
1778 Conditions of supplies and training improved when General Green supervised forage and the rounding up clothing supplies. German speaking General Von Steuben drilled the soldiers and instilled discipline; he was given command of General Conway's forces. John Paul Jones was raiding the Scottish coastal towns. Aaron Burr was put in charge of the military Secret Service. On May 1 and 2 the ship "Sensible" arrived with news of a treaty with France. George Rogers Clark won a battle at Kaskaskia, IL Washington's siege near Philadelphia and the news of French ships arriving caused the British to do an overland retreat across New Jersey toward New York. Washington's army followed, nipping at their heals. When General Charles Lee demurred, LaFayette replaced him. The next day the authority of Lee was restored. But at the Battle from Englishtown and Monmouth Courthouse, NJ (Freehold), Lee retreated when commanded to attack. He was releived of duty and replaced by LaFayette again, who helped win another battle there, followed by a British retreat to the Jersey shore and to New York. Lee was court-marshaled and he left the army - after he had written a letter showing insubordination. Washington's army rushed toward New York via Scotch Plains, NJ Newark, NJ, Haverstraw and Kings Ferry New York. George went to West Point, White Plains, Poughkeepsie, and Fishkill, NY. But the strategy changed as the British began to refocus their forces from New York. Washington moved south via Elizabeth, NJ in December. The army was spread out with Washington at Middlebrook and set winter headquarters at the Wallace House (now) in Somerville, NJ. George and Martha spent over a month in Philadelphia as he conferred with Congress. There was the bad news about the loss of Savannah, GA to the British. : 1778 DETAIL.
1779 After returning from Philadelphia to Somerville, George and Martha attended winter relaxation activities at Pluckemin, NJ. In Chattanooga, TN and Vincennes, IN - George Rogers Clark won victories against the British and Indians. The army paraded before the Spanish Ambassador and later before American Indian chiefs. There were losses in the South at Norfolk and Portsmouth, VA - and losses on the Hudson River at Verreplank, NY. Washington again rushed his army north through the Morristown area, Troy Hills, Pompton, the Clove, NY to West Point and New Windsor on the Hudson River near West Point. Washington planned the night bayonnet-raid on the Stoney Point, NY fortification - which was a great success by General Anthony Wayne's men. George stayed at "Moore House." A young Major Lee successfully raided the British at Paulus Hook (Jersey City). The French Fleet arrived, and sharp looking standard uniforms were issued to Washington's troops. He moved the army across the Hudson at King's Ferry again and set out to winter in Morristown, NJ. The recent profiteer, Benedict Arnold, lost a court-marshal hearing in Morristown at the end of December, with George Washington's promise to try to resurrect the reputation of the once great hero Arnold. Arnold was secretly very bitter. The 1779 Detail and DECEMBER ARRIVAL AT MORRISTOWN
1780 Morristown: 1780 THE WORST WINTER OF THE WAR
1782 GW returned to Newburgh, NY to await word of a signed peace treaty from Paris. He and his troops kept a watchfull eye over the British troops in NY town. 1782
1783 At Newburgh, NY, GW's speech calmed the rebellious spirits of his fellow army officers. He declared the end of the war on the anniversary of the day it had started. GW published his "Farewell Orders" at West Point, NY. The final farwell from his colleagues took place in NYC at Fraunces' Tavern. He left via boat to see Congress and to go home to "farm" again. GW resigned his commission before Congress at Annapolis in December. 1783
1784 GW convinced the
commissioned officer members of the Society of the Cincinnati to abstain from
political activity.
He set out for an inspection tour of the western lands.
HOME & SEEKING A STRONG GOVERNMENT
1785 Topics of navigation on the Potomac and in Chesapeake Bay were reviewed at a Mt. Vernon conference.
1787 Robert Morris nominated GW, who was unanimously elected to preside over the Constitutional Convention.
1789 All ratifying states, except New York, choose electors. On April 1, Frederick Muhlenberg from Pennsylvania was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. On April 6, Washington and John Adams were certified President and Vice President by the new Senate. On April 23, George Washington arrived in New York from Mount Vernon. On April 30, the oath of office was taken at Wall Street and Broad Street from an outdoor balcony. Washington gave his first inaugural address in the Senate chamber. He then attended services at St. Paul chapel, nearby.
PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON
1789 First Term --- THE FIRST INNAGURAL ADDRESS --- THE THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION
1790 HAMILTON'S REPORT ON PUBLIC CREDIT --- HAMILTON'S SECOND REPORT ON PUBLIC CREDIT
1791 NATIONAL BANKING --- VIEWS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON --- HAMILTON'S VIEW OF ITS CONSTITUTIONALITY.
1792 KNOX and ST. CLAIR --- and INDIAN WAR in INDIANA
1793 Second Term --- THE SECOND INNAGURAL ADDRESS
1793 PROCLAMATION OF NEUTRALITY
1794 PROCLAMATION ON THE WHISKEY REBELLION
1795
1796 THE FAREWELL ADDRESS
HOME AGAIN
1797 George Washington was present at the inauguration of John Adams. GW left Philadelphia for Mt. Vernon.
1798 President Adams appointed GW as COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF of the Armies. GW selected Alexander Hamilton as second in command - as tensions between the USA and France grew.
1799 "Land rich and cash poor," GW took a bank loan. He prepared wills for the possible disposition of lands and slaves.
1802 May 22, 1802 Martha died. She was buried beside her husband at Mount Vernon, Va.
DID YOU KNOW ? == SOME HISTORY ==
Young George Washington
had little formal
schooling, but he read.
He took a course at William and Mary in Surveying.
As Commander-in-Chief, on June 28, 1775, he reviewed military students at Yale.
Was GW "Ivy League?"
He received an Honorary Doctor of Law
degree LL.D. at
:
HARVARD
on April 3, 1776 (the day before going to defend NY
Town) ...
YALE
in 1781 ...
University
of PA
in 1783 ...
BROWN
in 1790 ... also,
Washington
College, Maryland - in
1789.
The year 1 9 9 9 was the 2 0 0 th year since GEORGE WASHINGTON passed away.
George Washington slept in mite-infested houses, met Indians at pow-wows, and swam horses across rivers. He helped the sick, went aboard ships, negotiated with French Generals, hiked for hundreds of miles through snow drifts, fell into the raging ice-filled Allegheny River; he explored on horseback and in canoes.
He made big mistakes, had horses shot from under him, received bullet-holes through his clothing, met the poor, the industrious, married a rich widow who shared the tough times with him - as well as the good life. He socialized with an unbelievable number of folks.
He devoted time to town-government and also to the Virginia House of Burgess. He dined with governors, lordly and common neighbors, danced with pretty ladies, suffered feisty and ambitious politicians. And he got along with people from many countries, religions and races. His friendship with La Fayette "saved-the-day".
protect NEW
ENGLAND.
