First in War, Yadda Yadda

So, we made our way out to Mount Vernon today for a little (local) tourism. The house itself is worth the visit, and the grounds are interesting . . . but the brand-new "educational center" is a bit much. Or, more precisely, a bit heavy on the militarism. Really, the present conception of Washington's life, as presented by the nice old ladies of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, is a bit blood-thirsty.

The introductory film (18 minutes) at the visitors center focuses on the Revolutionary and French and Indian Wars, as though Washington were the U.S.'s greatest general. His role in the Constitutional Convention and as our first president is left to some text at the end of the Battle of Trenton. Lots of blood and gore, but little on Washington's life away from war. That is, little on most of his life. That's an interesting way to present the man, especially when you're about to tour his house, which was not really part of his military life at all.

We also watched the 14-minute special effects show on the Revolutionary War, at the new "educational center," in which one is given a high-tech presentation on the battles of Boston, Trenton, and Yorktown. The high-tech is shaking seats, flashes of light with cannon fire, and fake snow during the crossing of the Delaware preceding the Battle of Trenton. This show makes one thing clear, at least: Washington was an "opportunistic" commander, always willing to take maximum advantage of his opponents' mistakes. So Howe leaves the heights overlooking Boston Harbor undefended, Washington moves in fortifications and makes like he will bombard the British fleet. Howe withdraws. The Hessians pull their sentries on Christmas Eve, and don't defend the crossings of the Delaware--Washington attacks, on Christmas morning. Cornwallis decides to march his forces to the end of a peninsula and await the British fleet--the French fleet blockades the Chesapeake and French and Continental forces besiege the garrison.

Btw, in the history of warfare, Cornwallis's decision to move his army to Yorktown and await the fleet has to be one of the worst, and most arrogant, tactical decisions ever made. I can imagine a junior officer on his staff recommending a different location--since, on a peninsula, one is easily cut off. And Cornwallis ranting that his is the best army on the face of the earth, yadda yadda . . . .

So, GW--first in war, first in peace? Not so much, at Mount Vernon today.

Oh, one last thing: On the tour of the house, there was this sort-of know-it-all woman, who asked whether Washington's family was English or Welsh (Jefferson's family was Welsh). The guide answered: "British." That's for you, Rebecca and Sam.