revolutionary war myths

[Donovan]

Washington was a shrewd leader but not a haughty one. He played up his connection to the common man in an effort to hold his army together and solidify his leadership of the Continental forces. His own peers considered him less of a threat than a possible scapegoat should things go wrong and his overwhelming support and ascendency to President were a bit of a slap in the face to John Adams who thought he would be the first. In the jockeying for power that went on constantly, Washington would have solicited Maggot ' s friendship as a useful tool, perhaps even a spy.