Category: Heroes

George Washington, Donald Trump, and the Character of Power

George Washington addressing Revolutionary War officers in a candlelit wooden hall

In March 1783, George Washington faced what may have been the most dangerous moment of his public life.

The Revolutionary War was essentially won, but the American experiment was anything but secure. Officers of the Continental Army were furious. Congress had failed to pay them what they were owed. Some were openly discussing whether the army should use its power to force Congress to act.

Washington walked into a meeting of those officers at Newburgh, New York.

He argued against military intervention. Then, near the end of his remarks, he pulled out a letter and struggled to read it. Washington reached into his pocket for a pair of spectacles.

“Gentlemen,” he told them, “you must pardon me, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country.”

Men who had endured years of war with him reportedly wept.

The conspiracy collapsed.

There are few moments that better illustrate George Washington’s conception of leadership. He possessed enormous power at that moment. His officers revered him. The national government was weak. History offered plenty of examples of victorious generals who had converted military glory into political power.

Washington chose restraint.

Nearly two and a half centuries later, Donald Trump offers Americans an extraordinarily different conception of strength.

And whatever one thinks of Trump politically, that contrast is worth examining.

Because this isn’t really a story about whether George Washington was a good man and Donald Trump is a bad one.

It is a story about what Americans believe character has to do with power.

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The Meaning of A Battle Is Not Always Visible at Sunset

Battle of Eutaw Springs during the American Revolution

Today in Revolutionary War History — September 8

THE BATTLE

On September 8, 1781, two exhausted armies collided at Eutaw Springs, South Carolina, in one of the fiercest—and most revealing—battles of the American Revolution’s Southern Campaign.

Major General Nathanael Greene marched roughly 2,200 American troops toward a British camp commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Stewart. Greene had spent months refusing to let battlefield setbacks become strategic defeats. Again and again, he forced the British to spend men and supplies they could not easily replace.

The Americans struck early. Their militia gave way to Continental regulars, who drove much of the British line backward. For a moment, the Patriot attack seemed ready to sweep the field. Then the advance lost momentum. Some American soldiers stopped to plunder the British camp, while determined defenders rallied around a brick house and nearby garden. A British counterattack helped turn the tide.

By day’s end, Greene had withdrawn. The British held the field, so by the usual rules of eighteenth-century warfare they could claim victory. Yet their losses were punishing, and Stewart soon pulled his force closer to Charleston. The British had won the battle while losing more of their ability to control the South Carolina interior.

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Living to Fight Another Day

Today in Revolutionary War History — September 4

250 years ago today, September 4, 1776, George Washington was trying to rebuild discipline in an army still reeling from the Battle of Brooklyn. With the British poised to strike again, Washington was alarmed that soldiers were wandering away from their units. He ordered commanders to keep their men close, conduct roll calls three times daily, punish unauthorized absences, and stop the plundering of homes, orchards and gardens. In a remarkable letter to Colonel Fisher Gay, Washington warned that “the safety of the Army, & the good of the Cause” depended on vigilance and discipline. (Founders Online)

At the same time, Washington was quietly preparing for the possibility that Manhattan might have to be abandoned. He informed John Hancock that unnecessary military stores were being moved north of King’s Bridge so they would not be lost if the Continental Army had to retreat. Mount Vernon is highlighting this exact episode today as part of its “On This Day 250 Years Ago” series. (Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association)

September 4, 1778 also marked the opening movement of Grey’s Raid. Major General Charles Grey’s British expedition sailed into Buzzards Bay and landed near New Bedford that evening. During the ensuing raid, British troops devastated American shipping, warehouses and supplies—a reminder that the Revolution was also an economic war fought against ports supporting privateers and the Continental cause. (Revolutionary War) A recent New Bedford historical investigation notes that the raid remains surprisingly little commemorated locally, though plans are already developing for its 250th anniversary in 2028. (The New Bedford Light)

The thread connecting today’s events: in September 1776, Washington was learning that preserving his army mattered more than holding ground. Two years later, Britain was increasingly trying to damage the American war effort by striking the communities and commerce that sustained it.

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The Difference that 7 Years Makes

Historical battlefield beside gentlemen negotiating around a table indoors

Today in Revolutionary War History — September 3

Today gives us two excellent anniversaries—one exactly 250 years ago, and one that ultimately finished the Revolution.

September 3, 1776 — Washington tries to restore his battered army. Just a week after the Battle of Brooklyn, Washington’s army around New York was in rough shape. General William Heath reported that soldiers who had suffered most on Long Island were “much Dispirited” after losing officers, blankets and other possessions. Some lacked money, and sickness was becoming a problem. (founders.archives.gov)

Washington’s general orders that day reveal his concern about something even more dangerous: the army’s discipline was beginning to crack. He condemned recent incidents of cowardice, plundering and rioting and warned that stealing abandoned property could bring about the “ruin of any Army.” (founders.archives.gov)

Meanwhile, engineer Rufus Putnam gave Washington a grim assessment of Manhattan’s defenses: the British had so many possible landing places—and such good intelligence about American movements—that preventing another British landing was essentially impossible. Washington was already strengthening the New Jersey side of the Hudson opposite Fort Washington, ordering work on defenses that would eventually become Fort Lee. (founders.archives.gov)

And Congress answered the extraordinary question Washington had raised the previous day: Should New York City be destroyed rather than surrendered to the British? John Hancock informed Washington on September 3 that Congress had decided “that no Damage should be done to the City of New York.” (founders.archives.gov)

And then, seven years later…

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To Burn or Not to Burn

Split historical artwork contrasting 1776 and 1781

I’m going to just keep going with this #semiquincentennial thing for awhile…

Today in Revolutionary War History — September 2

250 years ago today, September 2, 1776, George Washington was confronting the possibility that New York was lost—and considering an extraordinary response.

Only days after escaping the catastrophe on Long Island, Washington wrote the Continental Congress asking what should happen if his army were forced to abandon New York City. Among the possibilities: should the city be burned rather than allow the British to use it as winter quarters? Congress ultimately rejected the idea. (Smithsonian Magazine)

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Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier

Reenactor resting beside a canvas tent in a snowy military camp

Joseph Plumb Martin’s Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier is an extraordinary glimpse into the life of a soldier during one of America’s most pivotal eras. From the very first pages, Martin draws readers into his world with a vivid and engaging writing style that makes the harsh realities of war feel immediate and relatable.

What truly shines through in Martin’s narrative is his unwavering sense of duty and patriotism. His accounts of daily life in the Continental Army are filled with both humor and hardship, illustrating the resilience and camaraderie of the soldiers who fought for their beliefs. Each chapter offers a unique perspective on the American Revolutionary War, complete with personal anecdotes that give the reader a true sense of the trials and tribulations faced by those who served.

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Recommended Books after Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier

Open handwritten journal, quill, map, and leather-bound book on a wooden desk
Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier

Oh, yes. If what grabbed you about Joseph Plumb Martin was that wonderful “ordinary person actually living through the Revolution” quality—the hunger, marching, lousy officers, humor, fear, boredom, and sudden violence—there are some excellent places to go next. Martin is unusually special because enlisted-men’s memoirs from the Revolution are relatively rare. 

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August 31 in Revolutionary War History

Antique map surrounded by a quill, compass, candle, books, and sealed letter

Today — August 31 — gives us a particularly good Washington story, especially coming right after the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn.

🇺🇸 August 31, 1776 — Washington explains the Great Escape

One day after completing his extraordinary evacuation from Brooklyn Heights, George Washington finally sat down and told Congress what had happened.

He was exhausted.

Washington wrote John Hancock that during the preceding days he had “hardly been off my Horse and never closed my Eyes.” (Founders Online)

After the disastrous Battle of Brooklyn on August 27, Washington’s army had been trapped against the East River. Rather than risk another battle that could destroy the Continental Army, Washington secretly evacuated roughly 9,000 troops across the river to Manhattan during the night of August 29–30. Silence, darkness and finally a remarkably dense fog concealed the operation. (National Park Service)

On August 31, Washington reported the result to Congress:

“Our Retreat was made without any Loss of Men or Ammunition…”

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Washington’s Army Disappears

Revolutionary-era soldiers rowing wooden boats through foggy water

250 years ago today in the predawn hours of August 30, 1776, George Washington completed the extraordinary evacuation of the Continental Army from Brooklyn Heights across the East River to Manhattan.

After the devastating Battle of Brooklyn on August 27, roughly 9,000 Americans had been cornered with the British in front of them and the East River behind them. Washington recognized that another major engagement could mean the destruction of his army. National Park Service

So during the night of August 29–30, Washington pulled off a remarkable escape.

Colonel John Glover’s 14th Massachusetts Regiment—the Marblehead Mariners— used their considerable seamanship to ferry soldiers across the river. Wagons were muffled, campfires were left burning, and the troops were ordered to remain silent so the British wouldn’t realize what was happening. National Park Service

And then Washington caught an extraordinary break.

Fog rolled in.

It concealed the final stages of the evacuation from British observation. By about 7:00 a.m. on August 30, the Continental Army had safely reached Manhattan. The troops on Governors Island were among the last removed. National Park Service

We even have an eyewitness diary entry from Massachusetts soldier Moses Sleeper for today:

“Last night Evacuated Long Island with verry Much Fatigue…”

Sleeper recorded reaching New York at about 1:00 a.m. National Park Service

Why August 30 matters

This wasn’t a victory in the conventional sense. Washington had just lost the largest battle of the Revolution.

But he understood something fundamental that would become central to his strategy:

The British could capture territory. They could not be allowed to capture Washington’s army.

As long as the Continental Army remained intact, the Revolution remained alive.

And there’s something wonderfully cinematic about it: Howe wakes up expecting Washington’s battered army to still be sitting across from him at Brooklyn Heights—and discovers that the Americans have simply vanished.

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Washington Decides to Escape Brooklyn

Revolutionary-era soldiers rowing boats past burning shores at night

250 years ago today and two days after the disastrous Battle of Brooklyn, Washington’s army was trapped in its fortifications at Brooklyn Heights. The British were close enough that one American soldier recorded on August 29 that they had thrown up a breastwork “within gun shot of our Lines.” National Park Service

Washington now faced the possibility that his army—and perhaps the Revolution itself—could be destroyed.

On August 29, he made the critical decision to evacuate Brooklyn secretly across the East River.

That evening, Colonel John Glover’s Marblehead Mariners, experienced Massachusetts seamen, began ferrying thousands of soldiers, horses, artillery and supplies across to Manhattan. The evacuation continued through the night of August 29–30, aided famously by fog that concealed the operation from the British. National Park Service

It’s hard to overstate this one: Washington didn’t win a battle on August 29, 1776. He saved his army. And by saving the army, he kept the Revolution alive.

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A nation’s narrowest escape: Washington’s ‘Midnight Miracle’ at Brooklyn

Painting titled "The Foggy Retreat: Washington from Brooklyn, 1776," showing Washington and soldiers boarding boats.

On this night 250 years ago, the flame of American independence nearly flickered out. Against a backdrop of crushing defeat and overwhelming odds, Gen. George Washington executed a stealthy retreat across the East River that remains one of the greatest military escapes in history—a testament to leadership, expert seamanship, and a timely turn of theContinue reading “A nation’s narrowest escape: Washington’s ‘Midnight Miracle’ at Brooklyn”. Source: A nation’s narrowest escape: Washington’s ‘Midnight Miracle’ at Brooklyn – NJTODAY.NET

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Battle of Brooklyn Comes Back to Life in Prospect Park 250 Years Later

In a remarkable event marking the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn, Prospect Park recently hosted its first large-scale reenactment in 50 years. The event drew significant crowds, providing a vivid glimpse into history and honoring the legacy of those who fought in this pivotal battle. The reenactment featured actors, period costumes, and demonstrations, allowing attendees to experience a slice of 18th-century life.

For a more detailed account of this historic reenactment and its significance, be sure to read the original article: Battle of Brooklyn comes back to life in Prospect Park 250 years later

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Battle of Brooklyn Coverage Around the US

Vintage collage featuring a prominent 50th Anniversary Celebration sign

I’ve been tracking the anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn and pulled together recent news coverage and commentary about how this pivotal moment in the Revolutionary War is being remembered today.

“Today, August 27, 2026, is exactly the 250th anniversary and the Battle of Brooklyn/Long Island got some noteworthy coverage.

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The Role of Virtue and Education in the American Experiment

Open antique book, quill, stacked books, papers, candle, and glasses on wooden desk

Popular government requires virtue, and public opinion must be enlightened.

George Washington

This is one of the central assumptions behind the Founders’ idea of republican government: a republic could not be sustained by a good constitution alone. It required citizens capable of governing themselves—both morally and intellectually. That theme also fits the broader Revolutionary-era framework we’ve been building.

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Battle of Long Island: 250 Years Ago Today

If most Americans know what happened 250 years ago today, it might be because of this song from the music Hamilton:

Hoewever, celebrating 250 years of America has nothing to do with Hamilton, UFC matches or Indy car races: it has to do with being mindful of the courage of real Americans who put everything on the line for us.

The Battle of Long Island, fought in August 1776, was a significant engagement during the American Revolutionary War. It marked the largest battle of the conflict in terms of troop strength, as British forces sought to seize control of New York City from the Continental Army. The battle showcased the tactical superiority of the British army and resulted in a decisive victory for them, forcing the Continental Army to retreat. This encounter set the stage for subsequent struggles throughout the war, highlighting both the challenges faced by the American forces and their resilience in the face of adversity.

For a more in-depth look at the strategies, key figures, and aftermath of this pivotal battle, be sure to read the full article on Wikipedia — I think you’ll be amazed! This is what it means to celebrate America; to pause and reflect on moments like this…

Bonus

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Media, Technology, and Stress At America’s 250th

“The United States is in a strange position. Even as we prepare to celebrate our 250th anniversary we are dissatisfied with how things stand. A recent Pew Poll indicated that 69% of Americans don’t like the way things are going right now but that may have always been true in this country; historians believe that only 30-40% of American Colonists actively supported the Revolutionary War, with 20% remaining loyal to the crown, and the remainder being neutral or disengaged.”

Go to the source and read the whole article if you’re interested: Media, Technology, and Stress At America’s 250th

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The Legacy of Lou Holtz

Lou Holtz is a celebrated figure in American football, known for his remarkable career as a college football coach and his contributions to the sport. Born on January 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, Holtz gained prominence during his coaching tenure at various institutions, most notably at the University of Notre Dame. Under his leadership, the Fighting Irish won the national championship in 1988, solidifying his reputation as one of the game’s great strategists and motivators.

Holtz’s coaching philosophy emphasized discipline, hard work, and the importance of education, principles that have had a lasting impact on his players and coaching colleagues alike. He was known for his ability to connect with young athletes, instilling in them not only a competitive spirit but also valuable life lessons. His teams were often noted for their resilience and undeterred work ethic, qualities that contributed to Holtz’s success and acclaim in the football community.

Beyond the field, Holtz has made significant contributions as a motivational speaker and author, sharing his insights and experiences with a broader audience. His legacy transcends wins and losses; it lies in the character and integrity he fostered among his players, as well as his enduring influence on the sport. Lou Holtz remains a respected and inspirational figure in college football, leaving a footprint that continues to guide future generations of athletes and coaches.

Recommended reading:

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Danke, Thomas! Cheers to a True Legend

You will never convince me that there never has been nor will there ever be another Thomas Müller. Here are just a few of the heartfelt tributes worth watching as he ends his 25+ year career with FC Bayern Munich at the end of the 2025 season…

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Unlock Your Peak Performance with Purpose

Want to live in the zone like Jordan or Ruth? The secret isn’t talent—it’s purpose. Discover how a simple mindset shift can unlock peak joy, focus, and flow.

The article “How to Live Life in the Zone” emphasizes that achieving a state of peak performance and joy, akin to that of great figures like Michael Jordan and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is not merely about inherent talent but rather about having a clear purpose. It explores the importance of a mindset shift, suggesting that focusing on one’s purpose can enhance concentration, happiness, and a sense of flow in daily activities. The piece encourages readers to cultivate this mindset to unlock their fullest potential and lead a fulfilling life.

Source: How to Live Life in the Zone

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Thomas Müller Career Summary

Thomas Müller: The Raumdeuter’s Reign – An Analytical Career Retrospective

1. Introduction: Thomas Müller – The Raumdeuter Who Conquered Football

In the intricate tapestry of modern football, few threads are as unique, enduring, and decorated as that woven by Thomas Müller. He is not merely a footballer; he is a phenomenon, an enigma wrapped in relentless effectiveness. Müller is the self-proclaimed “Raumdeuter” – the space interpreter 1 – a player whose genius lies not in dazzling dribbles or thunderous strikes, but in an almost preternatural understanding of space, timing, and tactical intelligence. His career, spent almost entirely under the banner of FC Bayern Munich and the German national team, stands as a testament to a different kind of footballing greatness, one built on consistency, adaptability, and an extraordinary haul of silverware that places him among the most decorated German footballers in history.3

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Celebrating Thomas Müller’s 500th Career Game

Today marks a significant milestone in the football world as Thomas Müller steps onto the pitch for his 500th career game. This celebrated German forward, known for his remarkable versatility and tactical intelligence, has established himself as one of the most iconic players in modern football. He is only the 13th professional footballer to accomplish this amazing feat and only 4 of the 13 have done it with the same team like Müller…

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