He was not ambitious in the ordinary personal sense, but he had a passion for success.

Whether it was breaking a horse, or reclaiming land, or fighting Indians, or saving a state, whatever he set his hand to, that he carried through to the end.

With him there never was any shadow of turning back.

When, without any self-seeking, he was placed at the head of the Revolution, he made up his mind that he would carry it through everything to victory, if victory were possible.

Death or a prison could stop him, but neither defeat nor neglect, and still less the forces of intrigue and cabal.
When he wrote to his brother announcing Burgoyne's surrender, he had nothing to say of the slight Gates put upon him, but merely added in a postscript, "I most devoutly congratulate my country and every well-wisher to the cause on this signal stroke of Providence." This was his tone to every one, both in private and public.