6. George Washington, the Comedian?
George Washington was known for his adherence to formality and strict etiquette. Describing him as an upright and uptight prig would not be far off the mark. Little known, though, is that at one of the most dramatic and tense moments of his career, Washington took a stab at being a comic, and pulled it off.
Washington Crossing the Delaware, by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, is one of the most iconic images of the American Revolution. It depicts George Washington and a flotilla of Patriots in boats crossing the Delaware River on the night of December 25 – 26, 1776, for a surprise attack against enemy forces. The event was dramatic and worthy of commemoration. As 1776 drew to a close, things were going poorly for Washington and his men. They had been outgeneralled, outfought, and badly beaten. Most notably in New York City, where they had only avoided annihilation via a near miraculous escape.