American Revolution - Biography, Historical Biography - United States - Colonial & 18th Century, Presidents of the United States - Biography, 18th Century American History - Politics & Government

George Washington's indispensable men

Name: George Washington's indispensable men
Author: Arthur S. Lefkowitz
ISBN: 9780811716468

by Arthur S. Lefkowitz

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Overview

"George Washington's Indispensable Men is a valuable addition to the literature on Washington and the Continental Army, and it opens a window onto the lives of important young men who, in many instances, would go on to have substantive public careers of their own." ---John Ferling, author of Setting the World Ablaze: Washington, Adams, Jefferson and the American Revolution

While history has immortalized George Washington, it has largely forgotten those who helped to propel him to such greatness: the 32 men who served as his aides-de-camp. George Washington's Indispensable Men asserts that Washington relied heavily on these men for help in formulating policy and strategy. His aides were definitely not just "pen men," but real, behind-the-scenes advisors that potentially affected some of his greatest decisions.

Arthur S. Lefkowitz is an independent researcher and historian specializing in the Revolutionary War era. His first book, The Long Retreat: The Calamitous American Defense of New Jersey, 1776, was published in 1998.

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly

This densely written but valuable monograph is a group portrait of George Washington's plentiful aides. Drawn from major early American elites-merchants, doctors, planters-these men performed most of the function of a modern staff, including keeping the general from being bothered by importunate politicians while performing his military duties, and helping him overcome the inability to be in two places at the same time. The only one who became famous was Alexander Hamilton, although most of us have heard of the fort in Baltimore named after James McHenry. But who (besides those who preserved his Revolutionary War uniform) has heard of the longest-serving aide, Tench Tilghman? Washington remained on good terms and in contact with most of the 32 after the war, so they continued to be his eyes and ears during his postwar career and almost certainly contributed to his effectiveness as president. Lefkowitz (The Long Retreat: The Calamitous American Defense of New Jersey, 1776) has made few concessions to the reader unfamiliar with the period, but an abundance of detail, a firm command of the declarative sentence and positively magisterial notes and bibliography make the volume a valuable addition to serious studies of the war. (Jan.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.