- George Washington's Headquarters -
The End of the American Revolution / The Newburgh Conspiracy
Newburgh, New York
nysparks.state.ny.us/historic-sites/17/details.aspx
This Dutch farmhouse, The Hasbrouck House, was built in 1750. Although a private residence, it served as George Washington's headquarters during the final 18 months of the Revolutionary War. At the time of Washington's stay in the building, the war had technically been won through the American victory at the Battle of Yorktown, Virginia; but many British troops still occupied New York, and the details of a peace treaty had yet to be formalized, so Washington's army moved to this position on the Hudson River as a precaution against further aggression in the north.
It was here that Washington issued the cease-fire order that officially ended the war in April of 1783. Because of its outstanding historical value, this was the first property to be set aside for historic preservation by any U.S. state.
The building is exquisitely preserved - even the floorboards are original - and you can see the actual desk and chair that Washington occupied when he signed the cease-fire and attended to other important correspondence. The inexpensive tour of the home is very much worth your while if you visit.
Although no actual battles took place during the encampment at Newburgh, a great deal of internal contention and intrigue occurred within the army here. While living at this residence, Washington famously defused an ugly episode known as the Newburgh Conspiracy. His success in winning over the loyalty of his officers during this crisis is regarded as one of the more important moments in his career, not only revealing the depth of his good character, but very likely preserving the future of the entire nation, as well.
The problems began as Congress repeatedly failed to secure sufficient funds from the various states to pay soldiers for their service in the war, causing anger to spread throughout Washington's weary and destitute army. The slow pace of progress toward their compensation caused some to doubt the benefits of adopting a republican form of government at all. Figures who desired to establish a stronger federal government sought to take advantage of the military discontent. Soon, an anonymous letter was distributed, encouraging the army toward actions as extreme as taking up arms against their own Congress in order to extract payment.
Washington succeeded in cooling tempers during a surprise appearance before his officers, in which he gave a speech known as the Newburgh Address:
"...let me entreat you, gentlemen, on your part, not to take any measures which, viewed in the calm light of reason, will lessen the dignity and sully the glory you have hitherto maintained; let me request you to rely on the plighted faith of your country, and place a full confidence in the purity of the intentions of Congress; ...By thus determining and thus acting...you will give one more distinguished proof of unexampled patriotism and patient virtue, rising superior to the pressure of the most complicated sufferings."
This was good, but not quite good enough. What really won them over was an unintended moment after the speech, in which Washington fumbled with his newly acquired spectacles as he prepared to read from a paper. Few had ever seen him wear the new glasses. He said, “Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country.” This inspired so much sympathy for the general, whose own sacrifices for the country had obviously been so great, that the whole company regained their senses. First-hand accounts of the event indicate that the men were so moved that there was hardly a dry eye in the room.
Above and below: the Tower of Victory, housing a life-sized statue of Washington, stands in honor of the General on the lawn behind the Hasbrouck House; although I photographed this on a rainy, hazy day, you can just catch a glimpse of the Hudson River in the background.
Despite Washington's success in appealing for patience, the army's grievances were not remedied immediately, and other voices continued to express doubt about the wisdom of America's intended future as a constitutional republic. Not long after Washington's Newburgh Address, he received a personal letter from an army officer, Lewis Nicola, who cited the government's failures toward compensation and urged Washington to consider scrapping the purely republican form of government originally intended by the Founders, in favor of one consisting of a mix of republican and monarchical systems; in describing his vision of a constitutional monarchy, Nicola implied that Washington himself could claim the title of king - a title which, he temptingly added, "would be attended with some material advantages."
This idea of an American monarchy did not go over well with Washington. In his terse reply of May 22, 1782, he wrote:
"...you could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable; ...Let me conjure you then, if you have any regard for your Country, concern for yourself or posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your Mind..."
The public perception of this incident has apparently been plagued by a long-standing error, in which Nicola has been assumed to have been writing on behalf of a wider conspiracy of military officers who were prepared to direct the army toward the establishment of an American monarchy. This, however, seems not to have been the case, as evidenced in Nicola's own words, "Republican bigots will certainly consider my opinions as heterodox...I have therefore hitherto kept them within my own breast." In later letters of apology to Washington, Nicola continued to assert that he spoke only for himself.
Nevertheless, a man of lesser character than Washington's might easily have found opportunity to utilize the army's discontent to his own advantage, perhaps seizing power as had been done by Napoleon during the French Revolution. Washington's responses to the events that presented themselves at Newburgh demonstrate his extraordinary character in the context of history, and render this property uniquely important as a memorial to his service.
Another statue, "The Minuteman" by Henry Hudson Kitson, has stood on the front lawn of the house since 1924.
Finally, this side door to the Hasbrouck House caught my eye:
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