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683. Washington: Hero of the Revolution (Part 1)
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Washington Takes Command: The Continental Army and the Underdog Question
At 23:13 · chapter starts 22:50
With fighting already underway at Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress votes to create the Continental Army and must choose a commander. Washington is the obvious candidate: he has Seven Years' War experience, he comes from the most populous and oldest colony (Virginia), and — crucially — he is 'a bit vanilla.' He says nothing offensive, offends nobody, and a Connecticut delegate's description captures the essential qualification: 'No harem scare 'em, ranting, swearing fellow, but sober, steady, and calm.'[10] Dominic then unpacks the 'great underdog' narrative. Yes, Britain has the Royal Navy, a professional army of up to 50,000 men, and 30,000 Hessian mercenaries. But citing the recently deceased historian Gordon Wood, Dominic points out that no 18th-century power had ever won a war 3,000 miles from home[5]. North America's vast forests make guerrilla warfare devastatingly effective. Washington's strategy — never get caught in a pitched battle, keep melting into the woods, outlast British political will — is essentially the same as the Viet Cong's two centuries later.
Britain fielded a professional army of up to 50,000 men and additionally brought over approximately 30,000 German mercenaries known as Hessians.
Britain had the navy, the professional army, and the Hessians. But no 18th-century power had ever won a war 3,000 miles from home. North America's vast forests made pitched battles irrelevant. Washington's only job was not to lose — and eventually, Britain would give up.
