General George Washington: A Military Life

General George Washington: A Military Life by Edward G. Lengel. New York: Random House Publishing Group (http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg), 1745 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10019, 2005, 496 pages, $29.95 (hardcover); 2007, 512 pages, $16.95 (softcover).

Thousands of books on George Washington are available. Researchers study him as much as they do Abraham Lincoln. Why would anyone waste time on yet another biography of the nation’s number-one founding father? Well, maybe because Washington’s biographers have gotten off track and are presenting a false or partial portrait of the man. Maybe because there is a large collection of primary documents just begging to be used. Actually, for both reasons.

As author Edward Lengel notes, for a century the focus remained on Washington as the political and military leader, particularly during the Revolutionary War. Then in the twentieth century, histori ans and biographers began looking at aspects of Washington as the fashion shifted to “the-man-and-his-times” or psychohistory. Historians either turned to history from the ground up or turned inward and deconstructed history into meaninglessness, and other fads came and went. Good, old-fashioned military/political studies fell by the wayside.

Meanwhile, the University of Virginia began an effort to make the Washington collection the most complete in the world. Tens of thousands of documents poured in. Presumably, most of them added only bulk to the collection, but others provided new insights into Washington’s leadership during the revolution and earlier.

General George Washington uses the new material to create an old-style portrait of the man. Though incorporating scholarship of the twentieth century to create more nuance than did the earlier warrior/leader portraits, it stays firmly in the school that defines Washington, in Thomas Flexner’s term, as the “indispensable man.” By no means does indispensability mean that all works in this school are little more than hagiography. Washington, after all, was merely a man—one with flaws. Vain and cold, he kept a watchful eye out for both his accounts and his place in history. He made all sorts of poor strategic and tactical decisions and could well have come down as the loser of America’s aborted war for independence had it not been for a bit of luck and a couple of British generals whose errors proved more egregious or more disastrously timed than his.

The book follows a standard chronological structure, beginning with Washington’s childhood and youth and touching on his formative relationship with his older stepbrother, who died prematurely. It recapitulates his early career and ambition to become a British officer—in keeping with his urgent need for status. Another key element of that need is his dedication to self-improvement. Connections, favors, and occasional rewards for merit were also important to the young Washington, elements that continued throughout his life.

Most of the narrative naturally deals with the wars—first the French and Indian War but mostly the American Revolution. The approach remains chronological, with no side tours or flashbacks. Old-fashioned though straight narrative might be, when an author wishes to move clearly and simply from one point to the next, it works. Lengel writes with enthusiasm and clarity, telling an old story well enough to engage the attention of those who have heard it many times before. He narrates with ample explanation and depth; those new to these events will come away with a good grasp of Washington and the revolutionary era. His explanation of the military structures of the competing forces is particularly impressive. Still thrilling and compelling are the descriptions of battle and camp life—hardships unimaginable in today’s military.

There is no mystery as to why General George Washington is on the chief of staff of the Air Force’s reading list. It is not the most sophisticated scholarship available on Washington, but it is as good a work as exists on him and the American Army during the Revolutionary War. It is a must-read.

Disclaimer

The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University . They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University .