“I have heard him pray, Hannah, out in the woods to-day, and the Lord will surely hear his prayer. He will, Hannah; thee may rest assured He will.”
Many events happened between this winter at Valley Forge and the surrender of Cornwallis with all his army at Yorktown, but these we shall take up in a later chapter. Washington had led his army through the valley of despair, and never again while the war lasted was the sky so dark.
At the close of the war Washington was glad to return to Mount Vernon and become a Virginia planter once more. But, as we shall learn further on, he was not permitted to spend the remainder of his days in the quiet rural life which he liked so well. For his countrymen had come to honor and trust him as their leader, and the time was not far away when they would again seek his firm and wise guidance.
Some Things to Think About
- What kind of army did Washington have when he took command at Cambridge?
- What was the Declaration of Independence, and when was it signed?
- How did Washington show his ability as a general at New York? What great mistake did General Howe make at that time?
- What did Nathan Hale do? What do you think of him?
- Imagine yourself with Washington in the attack upon Trenton, and tell what happened.
- What were the results of the capture of Burgoyne?
- Who was Lafayette, and what did he do for the American cause?
- Describe as well as you can the sufferings of the Americans at Valley Forge.
- Are you making frequent use of the map?
CHAPTER V
NATHANAEL GREENE AND OTHER HEROES IN THE SOUTH
We have given a rapid glance at the part which Washington took in the Revolution. He, as commander-in-chief, stands first. But he would have been quick to say that much of the credit for the success in that uneven struggle was due to the able generals who carried out his plans. Standing next to Washington himself as a military leader was Nathanael Greene.
