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The Battle Of The War Essay

Decent Essays

IV. Essay On December twenty-third of the year 1776, Thomas Paine wrote the renowned words, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Never had truer words been written. Not only was the revolution trying for the men of the colonial army, but for the British army, and all those who had something riding on the outcome of the war. Though they were subjected to different sides of the war, George Washington, King George III of England and William Howe all experienced the hardships and trying times of the year 1776. General George Washington knew that he lacked experience with almost all aspects of the war. He had retired from military life fifteen years before the revolution, and had never led an army in battle, commanded anything more than a regiment or directed a siege. He accepted the command of the army on June 16, 1775 where he warned Congress, “[should] some unlucky event happen unfavorable to my reputation…may it be remembered by every gentleman in the room that I this day declared with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with. (McCullough Pg. 49)” Washington knew his limits, but what he did not know was the state of disarray that the army was in. Washington arrived in Boston the first week of July, 1775. No head count had been taken, and when an official count was taken, Washington learned that instead of the twenty thousand men he had been informed he had, he had sixteen thousand with only fourteen thousand fit for duty.

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