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GLIMPSES INTO HISTORY - GEORGE WASHINGTON: THE SOLDIER

George Washington's may be America's most famous soldier. Ironically, his primary desire was to be a sailor, an adventurous profession that his mother forbade him from pursuing. Thus, it is thanks to her that George Washington rose to greatness as the main military mastermind for the United States.

Have you ever pondered how the primitive Colonial army defeated the sophisticated British forces in the Revolutionary War under Washington's strategic leadership? One of Washington's quotes sheds light on his military philosophy: "Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another."

Washington's military career opportunities started in 1753, as the rivalry between the French and British escalated over primary control of the fertile Ohio Valley. Military superiors took notice of Washington's ambition when, just prior to the French and Indian War 1754-1763, he was ordered to undertake a futile mission.

He was dispatched to the warn Fort LeBoeuf's French commander to cease encroaching upon British-claimed territory. Washington, who was noted for keeping a written journal of his experiences, wrote of the dangers and hardship of his journey into northern Pennsylvania. The entry he made in his diary regarding his journey was published upon his return, and it is presumed that his detailed descriptives helped elevate him to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1754.

Washington's 22-year-old mind soon grasped problems facing the American militia, and he began tackling issues such as recruiting, desertions, obtaining ammunition, and other resources necessary to man the Colonial army. He handled situations with a brash quality coupled with a natural instinct for such matters, and his style eventually caused his commanding officers to respect his efforts and leadership.

Another of Washington's notable quotes explains the way he handled stress, "Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble."

Oddly enough, Washington reputedly did not like war. He perceived it as a necessary evil encountered on the road to freedom. What he did enjoy profusely was farming and working with the land. He married Martha Dandridge Custis in 1759, shortly after playing a major role in Britain's defeat of the French, which resulted in the capture of Fort Duquesne (Fort Pitt).

Washington's military prowess was again called upon to lead American

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