George heard the news about Lexington and Concord as he was preparing to leave for the Second Continental Congress. He wrote a friend, Unhappy it is to reflect that a brothers sword has been sheathed in a brothers breast; and that the once happy and peaceful plains of America are to be either drenched with blood or inhabited by slaves. Sad alternative! But can a virtuous man hesitate in his choice? The Second Congress convened in Philadelphia on 10 May 1775 and immediately turned its attention to military preparations: raising troops, ordering forts built, gathering military supplies, and paying for it all with an issue of $3,000,000 of Continental currency. George attended sessions wearing his old uniform from the French and Indian War and was appointed chairman of every military committee appointed by the congress. George told people several times that he did not want to be the commander of the American forces but his very presence seemed to work against his desire. At this time George was 43 years old and firmly in his prime. As another delegate described him, He has so much martial dignity in his deportment that you would distinguish him to be a general and a soldier from among ten thousand people. There is not a king in Europe that would not look like a valet de chambre by his side.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 23:50:47 +0000
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