John Marshall - The Life of George Washington

Engraved by J.C. Buttre.

First published 1857 by Derby & Jackson

Introduction copyright 2011 by Palladium Press for the Library of American Freedoms

First Skyhorse Publishing edition 2015

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover image: Thinkstock

Print ISBN: 978-1-62914-501-3

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-63220-027-3

Printed in the United States of America

Editors Note: This is a facsimile of the original edition, first published in 1857. Skyhorse is committed to preserving works of cultural importance and, as such, has elected to keep the text as close to the original as possible, despite some imperfections and antiquated cultural expressions. Though the editors have made minor adjustments to fill in missing or severely damaged text, none of the original language has been altered.

by Wayne LaPierre

After the able, accurate, and comprehensive work of Chief Justice Marshall, it would be presumptuous to attempt an historical biography of Washington.

JARED SPARKS

Of all the biographies of George Washingtonand there have been scores published during the 212 years since his deathnone has the authenticity, the intimacy, the depth of understanding of John Marshalls portrayal of the commander in chief of the Continental army and our first president.

After Washingtons death in 1799, Marshalla fellow Virginian, a comrade in arms at the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Stony Point, and Valley Forge, and a fellow Federalistwas granted by Washingtons surviving family full access to all of his records, papers, and personal archives. Using this unique reference source, Marshall wrote a magnum opus: an extensive study of the beginnings of the United States and the life of its greatest leader.

Marshall was himself a major mover and shaker in political life in the early days of the Republic. He is remembered today as the longest-serving chief justice of the United States (from 1801 to 1835). The roll call of landmark cases that bear the marks of his influence on the court outlines the history of American constitutional law: Marbury v. Madison, the Burr conspiracy trial, Fletcher v. Peck, McCulloch v. Maryland, Dartmouth College v. Woodward, Cohens v. Virginia, Gibbons v. Ogden, and Barron v. Baltimore .

In Ogden v. Saunders , Marshall wrote this about constitutional interpretation:

To say that the intention of the instrument must prevail; that this intention must be collected from its words; that its words are to be understood in that sense in which they are generally used by those for whom the instrument was intended; that its provisions are neither to be restricted into insignificance, nor extended to objects not comprehended in them, nor contemplated by its framers;is to repeat what has already been said more at large, and is all that can be necessary.

John Marshalls biography of George Washington was first published in Philadelphia in five volumes between 1804 and 1807 under the title The Life of George Washington, Commander in Chief of the American Forces, During the War Which Established the Independence of His Country, and First President of the United States . Today, copies of this first edition are among the rarest and most expensive of antiquarian books, commanding prices in the range of fifteen thousand dollars. Your Library of American Freedoms edition of the book is an exact facsimile of the one-volume edition of 1857, also a very rare book, which was specially edited and abridged for a general audience by John Marshall himself.

Wayne LaPierre

FAIRFAX , VIRGINIA
NOVEMBER 8, 2011

Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1838, by

LEA & BLANCHARD, AND P. H. NICKLIN ,

in the Clerks Office of the District Court of the United States,

in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Birth of George Washington.His mission to the French General of Ohio.Is appointed Lieutenant of a Colonial regiment.Surprises Monsieur Junonville.Capitulation of fort Necessity.Appointed Aid-de-camp to General Braddock.Defeat and death of that General.Appointed to the command of a Colonial regiment.Distress of the frontiers.Expedition against fort Du Qusne.Defeat of Major Grant.Fort Du Qusne evacuated.Colonel Washington resigns.His marriage

Colonel Washington appointed commander-in-chief of the American forces.Arrives at Cambridge.Strength and disposition of the army.Deficiency in arms and ammunition.Falmouth burnt.Measures to form a continental army.Difficulty of re-enlisting the troops.General Lee detached to New York.Possession taken of the heights of Dorchester.Boston evacuated.Correspondence respecting prisoners

Invasion of Canada.Carlton defeated.St. Johns taken.Montreal capitulates.Expedition of Arnold.He arrives before Quebec.Retires to Point aux Tremble.Montgomery lays siege to Quebec.Unsuccessful assault on that place.Death of Montgomery.Blockade of duebec.General Thomas takes command of the army.The blockade raised.General Sullivan takes the command.Battle of the Three Rivers.Canada evacuated.General Carlton enters Lake Champlain.Defeats the American Flotilla.Takes possession of Crown PointRetires into winter quarters

Transactions in Virginia.Action at the Great Bridge.Norfolk burnt.Transactions in North Carolina.Action at Moores creek Bridge.Invasion of South Carolina.British fleet repulsed at fort MoultrieTransactions in New York.Measures tending to Independence.Independence declared

Lord and Sir William Howe arrive before New York.Circular letter of Lord Howe.State of the American army.The British land on Long Island.Battle of Brooklyn.Fruitless negotiations.New York evacuated.Skirmish on the heights of Haarlem