Guns, Politics and Independence: Correspondence between General Washington and President Hancock – June 16, 1775-July 10, 1776

By: CL Gammon

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

This book presents the letters between President John Hancock and General George Washington from Washington's appointment as Commander-in-Chief until shortly after Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. That period of just over one year was perhaps the most pivotal of the Revolution. Had Congress given in to the temptation to compromise, the war would have been lost before it began. Had Washington been less diligent in his duties, or had he been a weak leader, the British would have overwhelmed his poorly equipped, untrained and unmotivated army. While the letters illuminate the greatness of both Hancock and Washington, they also reveal an amazing amount of infighting, political chicanery and nepotism among America's politicians and soldiers. Hancock and Washington attempted to stand above the various upheavals caused by the personal battles of some Patriots, but they did occasionally take sides. Amazingly, the two men, especially Washington, solved most of the problems caused by the ambitions and jealousies of their fellows with minimal damage to the cause. Another major issue exposed in the letters is the Continental army's chronic lack of supplies and arms. Washington requested supplies and weaponry repeatedly in his letters and while Congress provided millions of dollars to the American military, the shortages continued unabated. The embarrassing lack of arms and supplies led some in Congress to accuse Quartermaster General Thomas Mifflin and Commissary General Joseph Trumbull of malfeasance. No one ever accused Washington of corruption, but some members of Congress disapproved of his extravagance. While Congress never fully solved the supply problems, it was able to keep Washington's army in the field until America realized its dream of independence. The Revolution was deadly business, but at times good ole American wit came through. For instance, John Sullivan's account of the British evacuation of Boston is hilarious.