Washington the Warrior

Although George Washington is remembered as our first President, Washington the Warrior, a History Channel-aired documentary narrated by Stacy Keach, reminds us that Washington was first and foremost a military man, forged in battle. Combining dramatic re-enactments and interviews with scholars, the program reviews Washington's military career—a crucible of trial and error—examining those qualities (strength, reserve, dignity, and the drive to succeed) that helped him to wear down his enemies, all the while creating alliances and holding contentious officers, a ragtag militia, and the Continental Congress at bay. As a very young man in the 1750s, Washington was put in a position of responsibility and peril scouting and performing dangerous diplomatic duties at the edge of the frontier. Through a combination of inexperience and ambition, the young officer made mistakes—some credit him with starting the French and Indian War in 1754, when he shot a Frenchman—but his honesty, ability to mold order out of chaos, and inspiring habit of leading from the front won over his troops. After the war, Washington returned to Mount Vernon, where the necessity of managing men (including slaves) and material on a large plantation also taught him about leadership. Originally a loyal British subject, Washington eventually threw his lot in with the colonists, heading up the Continental Army in a long string of victories and failures, including the desperate trial by fire during the winter encampment at Valley Forge, the breakthrough battle at Monmouth, NJ, and the siege and final victory at Yorktown, VA. Ironically—for a “warrior”—Washington's greatest quality may well have been his ability to surrender power: although he essentially could have adopted the role of king after routing the British, Washington retired and only returned when called upon to serve as the leader of the fragile new nation. DVD extras include a “making-of” featurette. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)