Everyone in the United States knows about George Washington. They know the myths, the legends, and even some of the facts. He was a founding father, he was their general during the Revolutionary War, he was their first President.

But many people feel, like I used to, that he was a second-rate general,mostly hype, the truth obscured by the romanticized mythology surrounding him. A principal who lost most of his battlesand whose best maneuver was retreat. But is this the truth?

The fact is that he was an amazing leader. The best example of hisleadership happened in March of 1783. Cornwallis had been defeated at Yorktown a year and half earlier, but a treaty had not yet been negotiated. Even though the fighting was over, the army could not go home, hostilities could resume any day.

And the Continental Congress had promised money and supplies that had not materialized (imagine that, Congress falling short of promises to the military). His officers had gathered to contemplate mutiny. Some wanted to march on Philadelphia and take over.

The United States had not yet been formed and it was on the verge self-destruction. Washington walked into the room, and before giving a speech he had prepared, lifted a pair of glasses to his eyes.His men, who had been with him for years, had never seen him wear them before. He noted their surprise, and said,I have nearly gone blind in service to my country.

Upon hearing this, his men began to weep. Officers who had survived years of open warfare were weeping at the seams. They remembered all they had been through, and why they had gone through it. There was no mutiny. With one sentence Washington had quelled it.

This was Washington's brilliance. He was a fantastic leader. Whenever something needed to be done, whether it was getting supplies during the harsh winter at Valley Forge, or bringing the army back from the brink of mutiny (which he did several times) and last but most importantly, maintaining discipline word to his incredibly undisciplined troops, he did it.

He may have lost more battles than he won, but he knew that to win the war he just had to keep his army together long enough for the British to lose their resolve. He knew it, he did it, and no one else could have. That is why he is one of the greatest leaders in history. Let that be a lesson to all. Anybody, Brit or otherwise.