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George Washington: First in War, First in Peace
Between 1753, when he was commissioned as a major of Virginia militia, and 1775, when the Second Continental Congress named him Commander-in-Chief of all colonial military forces, George Washington rose from anonymity as a minor landowner and surveyor to become America's first national hero.
With little military training he led the thirteen fledgling colonies through six years of grueling war against formidable British forces, steered the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, and served two terms as the first president of the United States. His accomplishments were so stunning and he was so revered that by the end of the war some of his generals urged him to install himself as king, an idea he looked upon with "abhorrence," calling the very thought "painful." Nor would he consider standing for a third term as president.
In this revealing book, James Crutchfield writes of Washington as an enigmatic man-"No more elusive personality exists in history" as an eminent Harvard historian observed. His outward commonness concealed a quick, analytic mind, capable of learning from mistakes, gauging his successes not on winning battles but on the effect his decisions would have on the future of his country.
"Washington remains an American hero, in every definition of the word," Crutchfield says. "He was a man who rose above the political uncertainty of the infant United States to chart its destiny for two centuries into the future."
With little military training he led the thirteen fledgling colonies through six years of grueling war against formidable British forces, steered the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, and served two terms as the first president of the United States. His accomplishments were so stunning and he was so revered that by the end of the war some of his generals urged him to install himself as king, an idea he looked upon with "abhorrence," calling the very thought "painful." Nor would he consider standing for a third term as president.
In this revealing book, James Crutchfield writes of Washington as an enigmatic man-"No more elusive personality exists in history" as an eminent Harvard historian observed. His outward commonness concealed a quick, analytic mind, capable of learning from mistakes, gauging his successes not on winning battles but on the effect his decisions would have on the future of his country.
"Washington remains an American hero, in every definition of the word," Crutchfield says. "He was a man who rose above the political uncertainty of the infant United States to chart its destiny for two centuries into the future."
240 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2005
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33 people want to read
About the author
James A. Crutchfield
96 books13 followersJames A. Crutchfield is the author of many books on United States history, including Tragedy at Taos: the Revolt of 1847, Eyewitness to American History, and Legends of the Wild West. His contributions to a variety of newspapers and nationally distributed magazines and journals number in the hundreds. He has been awarded the Spur Award from Western Writers of America and is a two-time award recipient from the American Association for State and Local History.
A native-born Tennessean whose direct ancestors were among the first settlers of Nashville in the 1780s, he has most often turned his probing eye toward their stories. But his writing career has spanned the entire continent, from the days of George Washington and the American fur trade to the Army of the West and the histories of such Western states as Montana, New Mexico and Arizona as part of his It Happened in… book series.
A native-born Tennessean whose direct ancestors were among the first settlers of Nashville in the 1780s, he has most often turned his probing eye toward their stories. But his writing career has spanned the entire continent, from the days of George Washington and the American fur trade to the Army of the West and the histories of such Western states as Montana, New Mexico and Arizona as part of his It Happened in… book series.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 20, 2023
🖊 My review: I enjoyed this short synopsis of the life of George Washington.
🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟
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🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟
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🔸First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in humble and enduring scenes of private life. Pious, just humane, temperate, and sincere; uniform, dignified, and commanding ... The purity of his private charter gave effulgence to his public virtues. Such was the man for whom our nation mourns. –Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee December 26, 1799
🔸On July 9, 1799, Washington sat down at his desk in the study at Mount Vernon and wrote his last will and testament. It was a lengthy document, numbering more than five thousand words and in it the weary Virginian waxed eloquent as he made arrangements for a vast number of bequests to family and friends.
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May 7, 2023
This was a fascinating book. Thank you NetGalley. Many books have been written about Washington. This gave his life to us in facts that I did not know but were interesting. I am amazed that we made to be an independent nation. We barely had an army to fight or funds to fight with. The politicians weren't any better. Washington was such an honest person. I felt sorry for him as the country kept calling back to serve and he wanted to just go home to Mount Vernon. I visited there many years ago and can understand just wanting to be home.
June 3, 2023
It all comes down to our personal expectations of a book, doesn't it?
Many erudite authors have written bookstores worth of volumes about this man, but very few have been brave enough to write a "Reader's Digest" study of him. We have two large bookcases to testify to this, but this is the one I would recommend to share with others because it would not cause them to give an eyeroll. This one has the research to back it up and is a good read for those beginning their Revolutionary War Reenacting ventures.
I requested and received an EARC from Sapere Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Many erudite authors have written bookstores worth of volumes about this man, but very few have been brave enough to write a "Reader's Digest" study of him. We have two large bookcases to testify to this, but this is the one I would recommend to share with others because it would not cause them to give an eyeroll. This one has the research to back it up and is a good read for those beginning their Revolutionary War Reenacting ventures.
I requested and received an EARC from Sapere Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
July 15, 2019
The most important lesson I got from this book is the fact that George Washington was so committed to the union over the individual state. So 80 years later when Robert e lee and the confederates choose Virginia or South Carolina over the union it makes that decision look far worse. They shoulda have known better.
May 20, 2025
A Fine Biography!
This is a great biography that flows easily and is written in a most interesting manner. Long enough to be thorough, short enough not to scare off interested readers. I learned some new things about Washington and found new connections between facts I’d known previously. I enjoyed this read. I’ll recommend it any time it becomes appropriate.
This is a great biography that flows easily and is written in a most interesting manner. Long enough to be thorough, short enough not to scare off interested readers. I learned some new things about Washington and found new connections between facts I’d known previously. I enjoyed this read. I’ll recommend it any time it becomes appropriate.
May 4, 2024
I found most of this book to be pretty boring. I would have enjoyed a more narrative style and less standard history textbook.
September 3, 2015
In this well-researched book for youth Washington is described as being "composed, dignified, majestic and a splendid horseman." p 59 The book gets off to a slow start which might deter an unsure reader. I was disappointed that the author didn't recount the battle of Trenton with enough detail to show how miraculous the victory was in light of the circumstances. I think overall, the book is accurate and quotes Washington's own words often but I like other biographies that have been written better.
January 20, 2009
Only a couple of hundred pages, so I read this book in a day. As historical biographies go, this treatment wasn't so much an oil painting, but more a rough pencil sketch. The events in Washington's life are flitted across in not too great depth, but not knowing anything much of the man prior to reading, it was just about worth it.
September 2, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. This book is an easy read for anyone who wants to learn more about the Father of our Country. A short book on a great man. Mr. Crutchfield has done a wonderful job in presenting the life of General Washington in an easy to read format that any reader of any age can enjoy.
July 4, 2015
This book gives a good foundation for more in-depth reading about our first President and the history of our country. It gave me a better understanding and refreshed my high school memory of the events of his life and the unfolding of the United States of America. It perked my interest to learn more about our founding father's. An easy read.
May 17, 2010
A little bland, but can't be too bad with an interesting subject.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews