George Washington, first president of the United States, father of our country, and hero of the Revolutionary War, began and ended his military career in Cumberland, Maryland … for the most part.
“The setting played a considerable role in the beginning and end of his military career,” according to MountVernon.org, the website for Washington’s estate.
George’ Washington’s father, Augustine Washington, died when George was just 11. Not only did that event impact young George emotionally, it changed the direction of his life. His older stepbrother, Lawrence, became a mentor to George. Lawrence married Anne Fairfax, whose father, Col. William Fairfax, was influential in Virginia politics. Anne also took young George under her wing.
“There is no doubt that her training helped George to assimilate better with the prominent colonial citizens. Through his older brother’s connections, George took on his first job as a surveyor when he was around fifteen years old,” according to the website GeorgeWashington.org.
George Washington continued working as a surveyor in different positions and was even included in expeditions to survey the western lands of the growing country.
When Lawrence died in 1752, George joined the Virginia militia. Lawrence Washington’s service as adjutant general of the Virginia militia inspired George Washington to seek a militia commission. In 1755, at the age of 23, George Washington became the aide-de-camp to British Gen. Edward Braddock.
In 1754, Braddock gathered his army at Fort Cumberland, the location of modern-day Cumberland. Washington had first passed through the area a year earlier, but this time, he was stationed in the area. He saw the construction of the fort, which was enclosed by a log wall 12-feet-tall with cannons mounted along the top and slits left for muskets to stick through and fire.
Fort Cumberland was not a city, but it was where one would be established, and it was the young aide-de-camp’s first exposure to the area at the start of his military career. Unfortunately, his first venture into Western Maryland ended in disaster.
Braddock left Fort Cumberland on June 6, 1755, heading toward Fort Duquesne (the location for modern-day Pittsburgh) in Western Pennsylvania. The difficult terrain of steep mountain ridges and thick forests slowed their progress. Washington recommended splitting the army so that the fighting men could proceed at a faster pace and reach Fort Duquesne, allowing the men bogged down by hauling supplies to catch up later.
Indians and French soldiers ambushed the split army, killing about 500 of the soldiers, including Braddock, and wounding another 500. Only 28 Indians and Frenchmen were killed in the attack. Washington fought in the battle and had two horses shot out from under him, and his hat and coat had bullet holes in them, but amazingly, he was uninjured.
Washington was noted for either being very lucky or bulletproof. As one blog writer noted, “George Washington’s survival in battle often defied logic. From the chaos of Monongahela to the daring charge at Princeton, he emerged unscathed while death claimed those around him. His men saw it. His enemies noted it. And Washington himself, though reserved, acknowledged it.”
From this battle, Washington would rise through the ranks, gaining experience, until he was ready to lead the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and then serve as the first president of the United States.
Nearly 40 years after the ill-fated Braddock’s March, during his presidency, Washington took command of troops during the Whiskey Rebellion. He returned to Fort Cumberland in 1794 to review troops gathered there to march into western Pennsylvania and suppress the rebellion. Soon after, he turned over the direct command of the troops to Gen. Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee (Gen. Robert E. Lee’s father).
Washington’s presence was significant as he remains the only sitting U.S. president to command troops in the field. His review of the troops was his final active military command.
Washington’s connection to Cumberland is still remembered, in part, because his former headquarters sits in Riverside Park on Greene Street.
Although it is not on its original site and there is some controversy surrounding whether it is the actual cabin where Washington lived during his time in the area, it is generally accepted to be authentic though restored. The cabin is listed in the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties, but it is not on the National Register of Historic Places since it has been moved from its original location.
So, while George Washington saw service before Cumberland and continued as commander-in-chief of the military after it, the city is considered by many sources as the place where his military career started and ended. He is tied to the history of Cumberland just as he is tied to the history of this country.
Contact Jim Rada at jimrada@yahoo.com or 410-698-3571.