George Washington's Greatest Victories (1965)

[Music] here at New Windsor 7 miles north of West Point was our last great Revolutionary War camp [Music] here close to the Hudson was the gateway to our Republic the place where many believe America scored one of her greatest [Music] triumphs it was here right on on this spot that a basic principle of our democracy the supremacy of the civilian over the soldier was seriously challenged and here is where it triumphed over a plot for military [Music] dictatorship but how did this all come about well let's start at the beginning let's turn back to the pages of History his first name was George at 14 he wanted to join the Navy and wept when his mother wouldn't allow him to leave home at 16 he had already gone into business working as a surveyor for Lord farfax who owned 1/4 of what was then Virginia at 19 this same George whose last name was Washington had risen to the rank of major in Great Britain's Virginia militia A Dangerous Mission had to be performed the governor called for volunteers Washington responded to the call its purpose was to discover possible evidence of a French and Indian Invasion from Canada down the Ohio River it was the wor winter on record Creeks were swollen snows were deep the Wilderness was inhabited by Savage Indian tribes many of whom were loyal to the [Music] French Washington carried a warning from the governor of Virginia to the French Commander not to trespass on Virginia territory at Fort Le burf near Lake Erie Washington discovered clear evidence of a planned Invasion he counted over 220 canoes if the news was to reach Virginia in time there was no choice but to leave worn out horses and take a shortcut through difficult terrain with just one trusted compion an Indian offered his Services as guide then suddenly turned and fired on them they disarmed him and sent him home and quickly continued their Journey on the banks of the alagan river they built a raft halfway across Washington lost his footing and fell into the icy waters on reaching the opposite Shore they found a trading post nearby and delivered the warning of the French invasion soon the British and French are at War Washington now 22 and a lieutenant colonel is sent again into the territory to protect British interest but is forced to capitulate to the French at Fort Necessity ironically on July the 4th 1754 the following year he again moves against the French and Indians this time as an aid to General Brad the British are caught in an ambush and suffer ter terrible losses General bradoock is killed and Washington is one of the few surviving officers at the age of 25 Washington meets and falls in love with Martha custus whose first husband had died leaving her with two children later he and Martha marry and make their home at Mount Vernon where they enjoy the pleasures of country living meanwhile they the American colonies are beginning to resist British rule there are protests and demonstrations in the streets British troops are sent to reinforce New England garrisons and to enforce hated taxes and other burdensome restrictions there is a bloody massacre in Boston and Patriots are killed then in April 1775 the British determined to seize arms and Military supplies being assembled by the colonists Paul R sounds the alarm the regulars are coming colonists are aroused from their beds Minute Men answer the call to Arms the Battle of Lexington is followed by another at conquer the British are beaten back and Retreat towards Boston men are killed on both sides tree of Liberty is nourished by the blood of patriots at Bunker Hill the British are for a Time [Music] [Applause] repulsed Washington arrives and takes command of the troops at Cambridge up at Fort taond deroga Ethan Allen surprises the British commandant surrender in the name of the great god Jehovah and the Continental Congress much needed artillery is captured by The Americans Colonel Henry Knox manages to transport the captured Cannon and War supplies all the way from taond deroga to Boston a journey of some 300 miles after a long Siege Charleston is set a blaze Lord how uses the British Fleet to evacuate Boston but he decides to strike at another American city and lands 32,000 British and German regulars in the vicinity of New [Music] York both British and Americans Skirmish for favorable positions Washington takes part in the battle for Long Island [Applause] outnumbered and outmaneuvered he is fortunate in being able to withdraw his entire Army to [Music] Manhattan Washington then pushes on to White Plains and later he orders a further Retreat North along the Hudson the American forts Washington and Lee on the Hudson are captured by the British and Washington again is forced to lead a retreat across New Jersey and the Delaware River with his remaining troops he recrosses the Delaware on Christmas night and attacks the enemy's outposts at Trenton while the unsuspecting soldiers are still feasting and celebrating it is fearfully cold and raw a snowstorm is setting in the wind is Northeast and beats in the faces of the man the attack on Trenton completely surprises the enemy Washington's men have killed or wounded more than 100 Hess and taken nearly a thousand imprisoners the hessan commander Colonel R is wounded and surrenders to Washington then follows another victory at Princeton where General Mercer is mortally wounded and meets a hero's death General deob is killed Washington leads his men into winter camp at moriston next year Washington orders Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery on the Hudson River to be strengthened the river must be protected at all costs he orders a chain to be forged and placed across the river near bare Mountain the dispatches bring bad news 7,000 British regulars and Indians under General bergoin are moving down from Canada and have recaptured fort taond deroga in the north next they try to follow up this success in Vermont but are badly defeated by the Americans near Bennington in Pennsylvania Washington is hard pressed at Brandy Wine again he Retreats but less than a month later he is pressing the enemy at germ town we fight take take our losses and fight again beroy continues advancing but through difficult terrain toward Albany to slow his March woodsmen cut trees to block the roads and trails at Saratoga bergoin is cut off from his supplies beaten and forced to surrender on the Hudson the British managed to capture forts Clinton and Montgomery they cut the chain across the river the Americans are forced to set fire to their ships to prevent them falling into enemy hands the English sail further up the Hudson and burn Kingston but American forces swarm around them on all sides and the British pull back to New York it is now the winter of 1777 the place is Valley Forge fully half our men are without stockings breaches or blankets again the Patriot cause is at a low head Baron von stoin arrives at this winter encampment he is greeted by Washington he is a professional soldier who has offered his services to the American cause immediately he starts drilling and training the American soldiers and they G gain new confidence in themselves by springing the French become our allies the Americans start building a new fort at West Point Washington has great regard for the Marque de Lafayette and gives him the command of an advanced core the Battle of Monmouth is fought with defeat suddenly turned into Victory by Washington's determination and bravery m pitcher takes her dead husband's place at the cannon for two more years the revolution continues without any decisive advantage to either side there is a mutiny in the Pennsylvania line money has become scarce and what paper money there is is worthless one patriotic woman gives General green her entire savings then in July 1780 the French Landon Army Newport Rhode Island under the count de roshambo but back on the Hudson there is bad news for Washington a plot is discovered to sell the Great American fort at West Point to the English for 50,000 lounds Andre a British major is arrested with the plans of the fort hidden in his boots he b a pass from Benedict Arnold thus exposing the general that Washington had had placed in command of West Point as its betrayal Arnold realizes he will be discovered and flees on Horseback to the Hudson where he manages to evade capture Washington in despair wonders whom he now can trust at Stony Point the Americans score a stirring Victory Washington is heartened by having the French army and Fleet at his disposal finally at Yorktown a large British Army is trapped the battle starts with the Americans mounting a heavy bombard 3 days later after the British reive a fearful pounding from our guns Cornwallis cut off from retreat by sea surrenders another long period of waiting takes place the Hudson Highlands are still Washington's Center of Defense should the British Army move in any direction he makes his headquarters at Newberg and ERS his army into winter Quarters at New Windsor it is a large cantonement for 7,000 troops some of whom are Negroes it is up to Hudson just above West Point meanwhile in Paris negotiations for peace are begun rumors of it reach the Army instead of Joy there is uneasiness especially among the officers pays in a rear accounts are not settled Promises of retirement pay have not been confirmed no one has confidence in Congress will it forget the soldiers once it has no further need for them Washington at his headquarters at Newberg learns of a conspir iracy against the government two letters have been circulating among the officers at New Windsor suggesting that the army take control away from Congress Washington quickly summons a meeting at New Windsor to counter this conspiracy on reaching the cantonement he enters a large rectangular building called the temple because religious and Masonic rights were often held there by officers on mounting the ballot frustrated platform he calls the meeting to order then searches for his spectacles you will pardon me I have as you see grown not only gray But Blind in your service an anonymous writer has suggested that you either desert your country in the extremest hour of her distress or turn your arms against it unless Congress can be compelled into instant compliance with your wishes gentlemen let me entreat you on your part not to take any measures which viewed in the calm light of Reason will lessen the dignity and Sully the glory you have hitherto maintained let me request you to rely on the plighted faith of your country the speech is over the young officers crowd around around him some even weep unanimously a crowd of mutineers become loyal officers of the United States a few days later comes news of the peace at New Windsor Washington and his men had opened the gateway to the [Music] Republic [Music] n