The man whose heart was wrung by the sufferings of the poor people on the Virginian frontier, in the days of the old French war, never in fact changed his nature.

Fierce in fight, passionate and hot when his anger was stirred, his love and sympathy were keen and strong toward his army.
His heart went out to the brave men who had followed him, loved him, and never swerved in their loyalty to him and to their country.
Washington's affection for his men, and their devotion to him, had saved the cause of American independence more often than strategy or daring.

Now, when the war was practically over, his influence with both officers and soldiers was destined to be put to its severest tests.
The people of the American colonies were self-governing in the extremest sense, that is, they were accustomed to very little government interference of any sort.

They were also poor and entirely unused to war.

Suddenly they found themselves plunged into a bitter and protracted conflict with the most powerful of civilized nations.
In the first flush of excitement, patriotic enthusiasm supplied many defects; but as time wore on, and year after year passed, and the whole social and political fabric was shaken, the moral tone of the people relaxed.