When the American colonies went to war in 1775 against Great Britain, the greatest military power

on earth, they did it without an army. There were local militias here and there but no army in any

organized sense, but the Americans did have a general. His name, of course, was George Washington.

What possessed this man a prosperous Virginia farmer to take on such a dangerous seemingly hopeless

mission? Washington fervently believed in the cause of independence. He was willing to risk everything

to make this ambition a reality, and he believed there was a chance America could win.

He believed it because ironically he had fought for the British. He knew their strengths certainly,

but he also knew their weaknesses. Washington's education began in 1753 at the tender age of 21.

And ambitious for a military life, Washington volunteered to deliver an ultimatum from the royal

governor of Virginia to the commander of the French forces in the Ohio River Valley. The ultimatum

said this to the French. This is our colonial territory, not yours, vacate or face the consequences.

Although military command was completely new to him, Washington already displayed the intangibles

of leadership, decisiveness, the ability to stay calm under pressure, and physical courage.

What he lacked in sound judgment, he was 21. He made up in sheer determination. He endured

extreme hardships without complaint, face near death experiences without flinching, almost freezing

to death and nearly drowning in an icy river were only two examples that the French commander

scoffed at the Virginia governor's demands was disappointing, but that wasn't Washington's fault.

The following year 1754, Washington was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Virginia Regiment

and was once again sent to the frontier to engage the French. When Washington,

near what is now Pittsburgh, became convinced that the French were preparing to ambush him,

he decided to make a preemptive attack. In the ensuing battle of French officer Ensen

Jumanville and nine of his men were killed, the French didn't take it well. They sent a force

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