Pressing On

We looked briefly at Henry Knox, the prominent Revolutionary War general, in a recent post - a remarkable man whom history linked with other remarkable men, most notably George Washington.
David McCullough referenced a quote from General Knox at the opening of a chapter in 1776. It caught my attention.

"  We want great men who, when fortune frowns, will not be discouraged."

 Given his exploits, he was not a man easily given to discouragement. Neither was his senior, General Washington. McCullough does not water down the numerous, and seemingly constant challenges faced by our first president. Those challenges came from every side. He faced a well-armed and seasoned British army who also additionally employed the mercenary Hessians to aide their efforts at putting down the rebellion. Logistical issues pressed in the form of an army lacking necessary training, equipment, provisions, clothing, ammunition, and food. The winter weather decimated the ranks of the Colonial army along with sickness and disease. The morale of the army needed constant attention (Washington shines here). The terrain varied widely as the war traversed the mountainous of the northeast down through the coastal swamps of New York and New Jersey. Internal strife ate at the chain of command as orders and decisions were questioned and Washington's authority endured constant challenge.
Fortune, to use Henry Knox's term, frowned constantly on these men. Yet, in the light of history, their greatness shines.