The Jeffington Files, Part 2: “The Assignment”| The Post & Email

The Jeffington Files, Part 2: “The Assignment”| The Post & Email: "HOW DID WASHINGTON’S FLEDGELING ARMY DEFEAT THE BRITISH?

by General Canwell Jeffington

(Jun. 28, 2011) — I could tell that Washington was almost euphoric that I had agreed to spy for him. He had other reasons to be encouraged as well. His troops had emerged from the Hell of the winter at Valley Forge. Their supply lines were open, their supplies had increased, his troops were now well fed and clothed and Baron Von Steuben had done an excellent job of training Washington’s irregulars into a cohesive and capable fighting force. They demonstrated their new skills at the battle of Monmouth where Washington’s troops had slowed down General Clinton’s retreat from Philadelphia to New York. It wasn’t a win by any standards, but they proved they could attack British forces in the open without the advantage of surprise and hold their own. Yes, they had to retreat, but they still inflicted significant damages on the British’s baggage trains and rear guard with attack-and-retreat and flanking maneuvers. They might have inflicted much heavier damages on the British at Monmouth if it hadn’t been for the ill-advised, if not negligent commands of General Lee. Washington literally took over command from Lee and turned an almost certain rout into a draw."