Sometimes he had to put aside his "great reserve"

When the backcountry regiments joined the Continental army outside Boston, they made much trouble for George Washington.  He wrote that "some of them especially from Pennsylvania know no more of a Rifle than my horse."  They were difficult men to lead.  The social attitudes of a Fairfax gentleman did not sit well with them, and they were utterly defiant of discipline and order.  Washington grew so angry with them that he ordered some to be tried for mutiny and threatened them with capital punishment.  The backcountrymen responded by coming close to a full-blown insurrection.

They also started more serious trouble with New Englanders.  It happened in Cambridge when a regiment of Virginia riflemen in "white linen frocks, ruffled and fringed," met Glover's Marblehead regiment in "round jackets and fisher's trousers."   There were mutual shouts of derision, and then something worse.  Many of the Virginians were slaveowners, and some of the Marblehead men were former African slaves.  Insults gave way to blows, and blows to a "fierce struggle" with "biting and gouging."  One spectator wrote that "in less than five minutess more than a thousand combatants were on the field."  Americans from one region began to fight Americans from another part of the country, on a larger scale than the battles at Lexington and Concord.

Washington acted quickly.  A soldier from Massachusetts named Israel Trask watched him go about it.  As the fighting spread through the camp, Washington appeared with his "colored servant, both on horseback."  Together the general and William Lee rode straight into the middle of the riot.  Trask watched with awe as "with the spring of a deer he leaped from his saddle, threw the reins of his bridle into the hands of his servant, and rushed into the thickest of the melees, with an iron grip seized two tall, brawny, athletic, savage-looking riflemen by the throat, keeping them at arm's length, alternately shaking and talking to them."

Talking was probably not the right word.  The rioters stopped fighting, turned in amazement to watch Washington in action, then fled at "the top of their speed in all directions."  The trouble ended without courts, irons, or whips that were more terrible than death to a proud backsettler.  In a few moments George Washington and William Lee had restored order to the army.  Trask remarked that "hostile feelings between two of its best regiments" were "extinguished by one man."

---from Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fischer

Comments

[Gray Lensman]

Compare and contrast the two American Presidents at the beginning and the end of the Republic in five pages, double-spaced. Spelling will count.Include aspects of character, statesmanship, leadership, courage, self-sacrifice and overall effect on United States and world history.

[White Linen Frocks, Ruffled and Fringed]

I shout at you with derision, Round Jackets and Fisher's Trousers!

[Round Jackets and Fisher's Trousers]

But I know more of a Rifle than my horse, you most ruffled and fringed, white linened frocked one.

[William Lee]

My reserve, while great, is not that great.

[White Linen Frocks, Ruffled and Fringed]

That's some proclamation coming from a dirty scruff in fisher's trousers. I lob additional derision in your general direction.

[John Cleese]

I shake my nether regions in your direction, all frocked up non French one.

[Ray Kroc]

French? Of course I'm not French. Nothing but Freedom Fries here, my friends.

[G. Washington]

Ok, ok, you wise guys, don't make me seize you by the throats and alternately shake you and talk to you, and believe me talk is definitely not the right word.

[Eddie Izzard]

I'm not from your country...

[Insatiable Washington Groupie]

George, are you threatening what I hope you are?

[David Hackett Fischer]

The rioters stopped fighting . . .

[G. Washington]

Insatiable, would you like to stop by my tent sometime so I can show you my "great reserve?"

[Insatiable Washington Groupie]

Oh my my my. Fluttering fan and blushing cheeks. Why, yes, Mr. President. I would be honored. I've heard about your "great reserve" and it has long been my desire to experience it for myself in the flesh.

[Martha Custis Washington]

Remember who pays the bills, wooden toothed one.

[G. Washington]

William Lee! Make sure we're not disturbed. If Mrs Washington calls, tell her I'm out inspecting the troops with Baron von Steuben.

Now, Miss Insatiable if you'd care to ride behind me we'll be at my tent in no time.

(aside) he he he. George Washington slept here...again!

[Insatiable Washington Groupie]

As you wish, Mr. President. I'm eagerly awaiting my arrival at your pitched tent.

Why, I do believe your "great reserve" is in sight as we speak, sir. Or are you just happy to see me?

[Washington's Mother]

Groupie, grope another. Or find out how mean a mother the mother of the father of your country is.

[Insatiable Washington Groupie]

Why, Mrs. Washington, I do declare! I have no groping intentions. (Don't listen to me, George.) I am a lady, and ladies never grope. (Yes, we do, and yes, I will.) I am shocked and appalled at the mere suggestion. (Titillated, really, just at the thought.) Take back your insinuation at once! (Take me to your tent. Quickly.)

[Martha Custis Washington]

There is a reason he is known as the pup tent.

[Insatiable Washington Groupie]

I'm more interested to find out why he is called the Sword of the Revolution.

[Embattled farmer]

Cat fight! Cat fight!

[Rabble in arms]

Where? Where?

[J Garcia]

Wooden Tooth, the song I never got to perform, was dedicated to the Father of the Father of our Country, who grew the kind , kind kill, kill bud, buddy.

[Cat]

I take offense.

[Catticus Finch]

I stand in your defense.

[Double Entendre]

Right, I've had just about enough of this nonsense. Just leave me out of this conversation, right?

[Pun]

Me, too.

[One Is The Loneliest Number]

I for one make two if you add me to the too, too.

[Bishop Tutu]

Pardon me?

[Cassius Brutus]

Et tu, Tutu?

[Bishop Tututu]

Pardon me?

[Nomine Patris]

. . . et cum spiritu tuo

[Bishop Beavis]

Heh heh. You said...spiritu.

[Michael Corleone]

It's not personal, it's business, butthead.

[The Fishes]

You'll be sleeping with me soon if you're not careful. And no one wants that.

(Which is dreadful for my self-esteem, by the way.)

[Luca Brazzi]

Take it from me, what those fishes said is right.