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Today is Presidents Day, which officially observes George Washington’s birthday. One of Washington’s best leadership qualities was his ability to listen and change course based on what he learned.
In the summer of 1781, all of General Washington’s officers, including the Marquis de Lafayette, knew that Washington’s mind was set on attacking New York City, where the British military was headquartered. Because Washington had lost New York to the British in 1776, he longed to soundly defeat them in New York in 1781 to win the war. Such a victory would be the sweetest possible and the most glorious.
“Had not your attention been turned to New York, something with a fleet might be done in this quarter (Virginia)—But I see New York is the object and consequently I attend to your instructions,” Lafayette loyally wrote Washington on August 6, 1781. Lafayette commanded American troops near the position of British General Cornwallis in Yorktown, Virginia.
Five days later, Lafayette received intelligence, likely from a black slave named James Armistead, who was a servant to Cornwallis but a spy for Lafayette. The intelligence was clear. Cornwallis was not preparing to leave Yorktown, Virginia. Quite the contrary, Cornwallis was digging in to stay for the winter in Virginia. Lafayette urgently wrote Washington about this news.
“But to return to operations in Virginia, I will tell you, my dear General, that Lord Cornwallis is entrenching at Yorktown and Gloucester,” Lafayette confided on August 11. “The sooner we disturb him the better.”
The more entrenched Cornwallis appeared, the more urgent Lafayette became.
“Unless the greatest part of your force is brought here, a small addition can do little ... I ardently wish your whole army may be soon brought down to operate,” Lafayette wrote.
How did Washington respond? He listened.
Lafayette was not the only one to advise him of attacking Virginia. The French Admiral Comte de Grasse also offered to send his French naval force to Virginia. Washington took their advice and changed his plans.
Instead of attacking the British position in New York City, Washington brought his army to Yorktown, Virginia, where he beat Cornwallis and his men. Because Washington listened, he succeeded in defeating the British military once and for all at the Siege of Yorktown in October 1781. This was the last major battle of the American Revolution.
Had Washington prioritized glory seeking in New York instead of listening to wise counsel, he might have lost the war. Being a good listener was critical to his and America’s success.
Lafayette also listened to his spy James Armistead. After the war, Lafayette helped Armistead to become a free man. Armistead was so grateful that he changed his name to James Lafayette.
For Presidents Day, I have launched my latest children’s book called Why the 4th of July? Part of my Revolutionary Readers for America’s 250th series, this book shows why July 4 is America’s birthday, not other major dates in American history. A refutation of the 1619 Project’s attempt to change America’s birth year to 1619, this book shows why the 4th of July in 1776 is America’s birthday.
Why the 4th of July? shows children the story of the American Revolution, especially the upcoming 50th anniversaries of the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill. If parents only buy one book for their children to celebrate America’s 250th, this is it.
Other highlights include Washington’s miraculous survival and the origin of America’s name.
