A Year With George Washington
January 31st 1778
On January 31, 1778, General Washington wrote to Henry Laurens, president of the Continental Congress, from Valley Forge concerning the “Conway Cabal,’ a group of officers attempting to have him removed as Commander-in-Chief.
It cannot be a coincidence that the two greatest presidents in American history, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, were also the most humble. Both were beset with enormous undertakings: one with creating a nation, the other with preserving it.
It is also worth considering that the same two greatest presidents were also the two least formally educated. A fact that may well be the source of their humility, as they were always in the habit of striving to repair the deficit of knowledge as yet unfulfilled.
Washington’s letter to Henry Laurens, the President of the Continental Congress, on January 31, 1778, is a perfect demonstration of his humility. It was written in the midst of the miserable conditions of Washington and his men at Valley Forge, three and a half years before the American victory at Yorktown.
The encampment at Valley Forge followed Washington’s defeat at Brandywine and the subsequent evacuation of Congress at Philadelphia. Out of the 12,000 soldiers encamped there that winter, upwards of 2000 men died of disease, malnutrition, or cold. The dawn of every morning brought more sorrowful news of the men who had breathed their last.
Newly appointed Army Inspector General Thomas Conway, the namesake and instigator of the “malicious faction” to which Washington refers in his letter, added to Washington’s distress by arriving at the camp, unannounced, to harangue him and his men.
In the letter to John Laurens, President of the Continental Congress, Washington laments that he is disadvantaged in his present state, in that he cannot publicly dispute the charges against him, as it will expose details about the army to the enemy, and be injurious to the cause.
He then humbly assents to an inquiry into his conduct based upon the absurd and spurious charges of the hostile faction. The weary but confident general even goes so far as to assist the inquiry by providing a copy of the letter that denigrates his character and abilities. He offers that the position he has been entrusted with should not be above scrutiny and concedes that he has in the past made mistakes in judgment.
Finally, he humbly states that, while he believes he has endeavored to do his best, he does not delude himself into believing he is of superior merit or talent and holds that he may well be wrong often enough to merit the charges leveled against him. He closes the letter with a statement of gratitude to Laurens for his support in the trying times.
Washington’s demonstration of dignity and humility in the face of such an onslaught of difficulty is precisely why he belonged in the position with which he was entrusted. He would continue at the head of the fight for liberty and the American ideal through the war and until his death some twenty years later. He proved to us and to the world that humility is the true strength of a man.
To Henry Laurens
Valley-forge Jany 31st 1778.
Sir,
I this morning received your favor of the 27th Ulto.1
I cannot sufficiently express the obligation I feel to you for your friendship and politeness upon an occasion in which I am so deeply interested. I was not unapprized that a malignant faction had been for sometime forming to my prejudice; which, conscious as I am of having ever done all in my power to answer the important purposes of the trust reposed in me, could not but give me some pain on a personal account; but my chief concern arises from an apprehension of the dangerous consequences, which intestine dissentions may produce to the common cause.
As I have no other view than to promote the public good, & am unambitious of honours not founded in the approbation of my Country, I would not desire in the least degree to suppress a free spirit of enquiry into any part of my conduct that even faction itself may deem reprehensible.
The anonymous paper handed you exhibits many serious charges, and it is my wish that it should be submitted to Congress. this I am the more inclined to, as the suppression, or concealment, may possibly involve you in embarrassments hereafter; since it is uncertain how many, or who may be privy to the contents.2
My Enemies take an ungenerous advantage of me—they know the delicacy of my situation and that motives of policy deprive me of the defence I might otherwise make against their insiduous attacks. They know I cannot combat their insinuations, however injurious, without disclosing secrets, it is of the utmost moment to conceal—But why should I expect to be exempt from censure—the unfailing lot of an elevated station? Merits and talents, with which I can have no pretensions of rivalship, have ever been subject to it. My Heart tells me it has been my unremitted aim to do the best circumstances would permit; yet, I may have been very often mistaken in my judgment of the means, and may, in many instances deserve the imputation of error.
I cannot forbear repeating that I have a grateful sense of the favourable disposition you have manifested to me in this affair, and beg you will believe me to be with sentiments of real esteem and regard. Sir Yr much obliged & Obedt Sert
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