Choosing a Commander: Myths & Realities Behind the Continental Congress' Decision to Make George Washington the General

This July brings the 250th anniversary of General George Washington's arrival in Cambridge, the result of momentous decisions by the Continental Congress. More than a quarter-century later, John Adams wrote a dramatic account of the choice, which became the standard source on the event. But Adam's version is not supported by contemporaneous documents, and people pushed back against it at the time. In this talk, J.L. Bell sifts the evidence to explore the real politicking behind the Congress' choice. Boston1775.net

J.L. Bell maintains. He is the author of The Road to Concord: How Four Stolen Cannon Ignited the Revolutionary War and a book-length study for the National Park Service of Gen. Washington's Work in Cambridge. Register here to attend this in-person or online.