“The General most earnestly requires and expects a due observance of those articles of war established for government of the Army which forbid profane cursing, swearing and drunkenness.  And in like manner he requires and expects of all officers and soldiers not engaged in actual duty, a punctual attendance of Divine services, to implore the blessing of Heaven upon the means used for our safety and defense.” — July 4, 1775 General Order, George Washington

Having taken a look at a few of the battles in the Revolutionary War, I will now take some time to look at a few of the men who participated in the establishment of this great nation.

We will start this study with a man by the name of George Washington.

George Washington was born Feb. 22, 1732, at Popes Creek Plantation in Westmoreland County, Va. His father, Augustine Washington, was a farmer who owned more than 10,000 acres of land. His father died in 1743. His mother was Mary Ball Washington.  History records that he had three brothers and one sister, along with two half-brothers.

When his father died, George inherited the small Ferry Farm on the Rappahannock River. This was the land where he, his mother and his siblings had been living at that time. His older half-brother, Lawrence Washington, inherited a larger farm at the junction of the Little Hunting Creek and Potomac Rivers. Lawrence later renamed the place Mount Vernon.

George really wasn’t into keeping on with his Ferry Farm plantation. He had other things in mind for his future. One idea was to become a midshipman in the British Navy.

We will continue with his life in our next article.