58 pages • 1 hour read
1776
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Themes
The Spirit of the Continental Army
In the final chapter McCollough remarks that the most miraculous part of the American Revolutionary War was how the patriots managed to do so much with so little. He credits their success not training or resources but to their valor, perseverance, and spirit—not to mention the shrewd leadership of George Washington, Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox, and others.
This argument is successful largely thanks to the contrast McCollough develops between the Continental Army and the British forces, as well as the Hessians. The Americans were an uneducated, untrained, undisciplined, ragtag group of volunteer soldiers. They were not properly outfitted with uniforms or armed with weapons; rather, they fought with their own guns and wore mismatched uniforms, with some men even lacking boots.
Britain, meanwhile, sent soldiers who were properly outfitted and professionally trained. While the colonists would leave to attend matters at home, the British remained dedicated to their duty because it was their career. McCollough presents the Hessians as an even more proficient and methodical fighting force, one whose ruthless competence became the stuff of legend in the colonies. The British also had one resource the Continental Army sorely lacked: experience. The British army and navy were led by men like William Howe, who had honed his military expertise in conflicts like the Seven Years’ War.
Considering the skill and experience of their opponent, it seems remarkable that the Continental Army won any battle at all, much less the war. What the patriots did have, however, was courage, determination, and conviction. As Washington himself said, “Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages” (11). He made similar statements in multiple passionate speeches meant to raise morale and confidence, reminding his men that they were independent, and that there was nothing more powerful than free man fighting to preserve their freedom. McCollough takes care to emphasize the power of this rhetoric, citing Thomas Paine’s galvanizing pamphlets as further evidence that vocalized belief in the American experiment was actualized in the patriots’ perspectives and actions, and buoyed them to victory.
George Washington’s Character and Leadership
The portrait of George Washington that emerges alongside McCollough’s history of the war’s early years is likely the most developed in the text. McCollough recounts Washington’s backstory, tracking his rise from orphan to self-educated young man to wealthy plantation owner to commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. In doing so, he draws parallels between Washington, the men he led, and the country he served.
McCollough pulls from primary accounts—letters, journal entries, and the like—to envision Washington as his troops saw him. His physical presence was striking, as army surgeon James Thacher wrote: “His personal appearance is truly noble and majestic, being tall and well-proportioned” (42), but Washington stood out in more ways than one. The text contrasts Washington’s genteel temperament with the rough and poor manners of his troops. He was more educated than his men, he enjoyed a higher standard of living, he was friends with influential people, and he had a good sense for politics and incredible discipline. His men then emerge as foils—uneducated, undisciplined, discourteous, and often more concerned with the harvest back home than the fight before them. Washington was shocked by their uncleanliness and debauchery, and he struggled to conceal his contempt.
However, McCollough also draws more positive parallels between Washington and his troops. Washington was not perfect, and he made several costly mistakes while learning how to lead an army on the fly, including the disastrous battle for Fort Washington. But his sharp mind, imposing presence, and strong conviction that the war was just, noble, and necessary provided an example for the average soldier to emulate. The determination and strength of spirit that McCollough identifies as key to the success of the American experiment can be traced back to Washington’s own virtues and his leadership on the battlefield.
One example of the parallels between Washington’s character and that of the United States comes in Chapter 4, when Lord Howe sent several letters to Washington addressed as esquire rather than general. Washington perceived this as a snub that derided his authority and dismissed the colonies’ grievances against the British Crown by extension. Just as Washington rebuffed this slight against himself, the colonies rose up in defiance of their unequal and exploitative relationship with Britain. Ultimately, the very traits embodied by Washington—courage, perseverance, integrity—would become foundational parts of the American identity.
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