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George
Washington's by Jeff Antos |
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On the evening of June 24, 1778, General George Washington called a Council of War with his senior officers. There had been rumors that the British General Clinton was leading his troops out of Philadelphia in a rapid march to New York, leaving his army vulnerable to a flank attack from Washington’s troops now based in Valley Forge. Washington’s troops were rested, well trained, and ready for a fight. Furthermore, Washington knew that the best strategic move would be to attack with the full force of his army. Second in command, General Charles Lee, lectured the senior officers on the folly of attacking the superior British force. Feeling democratic, Washington asked for a show of hands of those who wanted to attack. Only five hands were raised and Washington abandoned his bold plan to defeat the British. After
the meeting, Washington’s closest advisors implored him to
send at least a smaller force to attack Clinton’s troops. Washington
acquiesced and asked Lee to lead the attack. Lee, who had spoken
against the attack plan, refused the command and it was given to
twenty-year-old Frenchman Lafayette, an avid supporter of Washington
On the afternoon of June 27, Lafayette’s troops had marched to within a few miles of Clinton’s entire army. At the last minute, Charles Lee, jealously fearing Lafayette’s success, appeared and took command away from the young Frenchman. On the morning of June 28, Lee’s forces attacked the British and quickly gained the upper hand. To the disbelief of his troops, Lee, fearing the British, ordered an immediate retreat even as the Americans were advancing. Washington,
arriving by another route was met by his troops retreating from
the British in an orderly fashion. He turned his troops around and
soundly defeated Clinton as the day came to a close. On the following
day, prepared for their final route of the British, they awoke to
find that Clinton’s army had fled in the middle of the night.
Washington’s democratic vote and its resulting confusion had
robbed the new nation of a decisive victory. Washington’s leadership
team had never discussed how they should make decisions; they had
never considered their operating principles. Vacillating between
democratic and military decision-making had an Copyright © 2001-2003, Beacon Hill Technologies. All rights reserved.
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