George Washington First in War

This short volume (only 73 pages, including more than a dozen illustrations) is a good military biography of George Washington, the Soldier. Author David Palmer, a well known and respected Soldier and Historian, divides Washington's military career into four parts - Aspirant, Colonel, General, and Commander in Chief and concludes with a brief examination of Washington's legacy, which was considerable. Indeed, at the end of the Revolutionary War, Britain's King George himself stated that if Washington voluntary surrendered the immense power Congress had given him during the war, he would be the greatest man of the Eighteenth Century and one of the greatest men that had ever lived. Palmer, however, mythologizes Washington, giving him too much credit for the success of others. The reality is that the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army had to learn the business of war against the British the hard way and suffered defeat after defeat in the first two years of the war. Had it not been for the likes of brilliant general such as Benedict Arnold, Nathanael Greene, Ethan Allen and others - and the repeated bungling of battle after battle by a long line of less than competent British generals - the war might have well been lost. There is, however, no denying that Washington evolved into an extremely effective military strategist and field commander later in the war, maintaining an army in the field under almost impossible conditions and then defeating the British (with considerable help from his French, Spanish and Dutch allies) again and again. Still, those who know little about George Washington the Soldier and Commander and Chief will find this small and inexpensive volume a good read!