Major Jonathan Bratton

He can see beyond the immediate loss.

And he can see mostly who can help him get to that next step, that next level.

Well, he also doesn't know when he's beaten.

That's a huge thing.

You don't get a Trenton and Princeton from someone who only takes prudent risks.

I mean, that one is to attack in the winter with diminished forces, just having been driven across two states.

Sorry, three states really is a hell of a lot.

The other thing that makes Washington probably one of the most incredible generals is

is that he does have this strange knowledge of when to take risks.

In 1777, he sends a big chunk of his army away to the north, where he knows he's going to have to fight around Philadelphia against Howe's force in the south.

But he sends a big chunk of his army and some of his best leaders north to Saratoga,

where he sees an opportunity.

And what he sees in that strategic opportunity is the ability to capture an entire British army, which then changes the entire war.

So one of his subordinates is going to get credit for it.

But who shapes that campaign?

It's Washington.

That is an example of Washington's ability to think strategically, think beyond his own immediate needs,

And then also to do the thing that Eisenhower did, which is to fight alongside allies and most importantly, to keep Congress engaged in the war.

I don't think people realize just how disengaged Congress was from the Revolutionary War.

So he's dealing with politicians.