George Washington lost most of the battles that he commanded but still is rightly judged one of
America's greatest wartime generals. He not only kept an army in being when desertion and
disease could
easily have destroyed it but gave a moral tone to the Revolutionary War effort. Far
more than a general, Washington was what a general should be in the eyes of his officers and his
men. His grave face, tall, strong body, and willingness to undergo hardship made him an
inspiration to others. His combination of patience and self-discipline worked a tonic upon
younger officers. He became for them a symbol of republican virtue, a symbol that would last for
him and them after the guns were quiet.
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