A Great Leader, Even if a Mediocre General
George Washington was a great leader, but only a so-so general. As a matter of fact, he lost more battles than he won. Fortunately for him, the battles he won included the American Revolution’s final and most important battle: the Siege of Yorktown, that ended with the surrender of a British army. The fights he lost included the Battle of Germantown, near Philadelphia. There, a British army led by Sir William Howe defeated Washington and his forces on October 4th, 1777.
After the loss, the Americans were forced to retreat. They discovered that their ranks included an unexpected addition: a clearly well-kept terrier. When they inspected the dog’s collar, Washington’s men discovered that it belonged to Sir William Howe. The British commander’s dog had wandered into the battlefield, and in the confusion attached itself to the Americans. The Patriots wanted to keep it in order to taunt Howe and the British, but Washington would not stoop so low as to keep another man’s dog.