Washington and Lincoln

George Washington (1789-1797)

Towards the end of the American Revolution in January 1783, General Washington wrote General Nathaniel Greene that “I scarcely need to assure you that…the liberation of the Southern States from the power of the Enemy has afforded me infinite satisfaction...” After discussing potential force distributions “in case the war should continue,” he ends by considering the political outcome of the contest:

…the Commission enabling M. Oswald to treat with us as “the United States of America” kindles a brighter ray of hope, than any which has hitherto shown upon us: and altho’ it should not light us so soon as some fondly imagine, to the wished for period of all our toils and all our dangers; yet it will remain like a fixed luminary, by which to steer our future course to the harbours of Peace of Independence.

Below is the frontispiece and title page from a first edition of The Life of George Washington published in 1807. This biography by David Ramsay, a South Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress, proved immensely popular with residents of the new country.