He knew that he was about to face the best troops of Europe, and he had learned by experience that after the first excitement was over he would be obliged to rely upon a people who were brave and patriotic, but also undisciplined, untrained, and unprepared for war, without money, without arms, without allies or credit, and torn by selfish local interests.

Nobody else perceived all this as he was able to with his mastery of facts, but he faced the duty unflinchingly.

He did not put it aside because he distrusted himself, for in his truthfulness he could not but confess that no other American could show one tithe of his capacity, experience, or military service.

He knew what was coming, knew it, no doubt, when he first put on his uniform, and he accepted instantly.
John Adams in his autobiography speaks of the necessity of choosing a Southern general, and also says there were objectors to the selection of Washington even among the Virginia delegates.

That there were political reasons for taking a Virginian cannot be doubted.