“The next seven years of his life brought him into wider public notice. Lawrence Washington had been for several years interested in a land company that planned to settle immigrants in the Ohio Valley. As the French were occupying the same region, there was bound to be a clash. In preparation, the colonists of Virginia formed military organizations. Through Lawrence Washington’s influence George was appointed adjutant general, and entrusted with the work of drilling a company made up in the district that included Mount Vernon. He studied military tactics under an old soldier, took lessons in swordsmanship from a fencing master, and commanded the company admirably.While he was staying in the island of Barbados with Lawrence, he caught the smallpox, which left him pockmarked for life. Upon the death of Lawrence in July, 1752, George became his executor. In case Lawrence’s daughter should not live to be of age, George was to inherit the Mount Vernon estate. On that plantation he was now occupied for some time in settling his brother’s estate. Then he once more became adjutant- general of a military district, with the rank of major. He was selected by Governor Dinwiddie as commissioner to visit the French commander in the Ohio Valley region, and find out why the French were building forts in English territory. This long journey began in October, 1753. The commandant was seen, an answer to the English question was received, and the hazardous return journey accomplished. In the spring of 1754 Washington, now a lieutenant colonel, took part in his first battle, in which his force captured twenty-two prisoners and lost one man killed by the French. Colonel Washington threw up a rough fort, called Fort Necessity, which he was obliged soon to surrender on account of the appearance of a much superior force of French. He started back to Virginia on July 4, 1754, unsuccessful in his expedition, but he received the thanks of the House of Burgesses for the bravery of his soldiers and their gallant defense of their country. The next year he was with Braddock, as aide-de-camp in that general’s disastrous expedition, about which everybody knows. The next three years he was energetically getting ready for another expedition against the French. During this time he made a seven weeks’ journey to Boston to consult Governor Shirley and secure if he could a regular commission in the king’s army. He failed in this, but in 1758 he was at the head of a Virginia regiment when the English forces occupied Fort Duquesne and gained possession of the Ohio region. These seven years from 1751 to 1758 are especially important in Washington’s life because in this period he learned the necessity of meeting an enemy according to the needs of the situation rather than according to mere rules of war and old-world military tactics. Though only twenty-six years old, he had become the best known military man in America. On January 6, 1759, Washington was married to Mrs. Martha Custis, widow of Daniel Parke Custis, He and his pretty and intelligent bride made their home at Mount Vernon, which had now become Washington’s by the death of his brother Lawrence’s daughter. He might have devoted the rest of his life to the busy occupation of looking after his plantations and those of his wife. He did spend the years from 1759 to 1774 in quiet domestic life at Mount Vernon, varied by the service that he gave during all this time in the Virginia House of Burgesses. He was wont to count his work as a burgess an important section of his public life, for toward the end of his Farewell Address he must be including his membership in the Virginia assembly when he refers to his service to his country as having lasted forty-five years. As a planter at this period, he was thoroughly posted regarding all the details of the management of his estates, from the amount of work each slave could do to the current price of tobacco. As a member of the House of Burgesses, Washington was considered by Patrick Henry “for solid information and sound judgement unquestionably the greatest man in the assembly.” Though he rarely spoke, there was no question about his re-election term after term, for he was known as a thorough, faithful, well-informed worker on committees, ready to speak his opinion on important matters. In the consideration of the Stamp Act and its repeal, he showed a comprehensive grasp of the principles at stake for the colonists; so early as 1769 he wrote to a friend that he would not scruple to take arms for the gaining of American freedom if that were necessary as a last resort. This period of his life seems too ideal to be lasting. Rich, busy, respected, having a sensible, charming wife, happy in his home life and contented in the performance of his duties as vestryman and member of the assembly, he seems to have been untouched by the trials of ordinary existence. The time of stress and strain was soon to come”
Excerpted from “WASHINGTON’S FAREWELL ADDRESS and WEBSTER’S FIRST BUNKER HILL ORATION”. Publisher: GINN & COMPANY, Boston, New York, Chicago,London. To be continued: Islander.