After the British army lost at the Battle of Yorktown on October 19, 1781, most Americans believed that the Revolutionary War was over. General Washington warned his fellow military leaders and politicians that the British army still occupied Charleston, New York City, and Savannah. Washington also warned that the soldiers were upset because Congress and the states refused to honor promises to pay soldiers their salary and pension. The army built a camp at Newburgh, New York to wait for the results of Benjamin Franklin’s peace talks with Britain.
On May 22, 1782, one of Washington’s officers, Colonel Lewis Nicola, wrote to him that Congress was not an effective form of government and that Washington should become King of the United States. George Washington replied to Nicola immediately that, “You could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable.”
Later that year, there was an unsuccessful attempt to amend the Articles of Confederation in order to allow Congress to levy its own taxes rather than having to ask the states for money. As a result, the Congress was still unable to pay its debts including the money owed to the army. Talk began in Washington’s army of leaving the country to defend itself against the British or of taking up arms against the government. In March 1783, Washington learned that his officers had planned a meeting to discuss their grievances against the Congress. Washington condemned and canceled the meeting, then scheduled his own meeting for Saturday, March 15th.
Washington’s speech to his officers at Newburgh would be one of the most important events in American history. He expressed his own concern for the army and promised to work with the Congress to see justice done. In his dramatic speech, Washington defended the rule of law, and prevented the army from either abandoning or tyrannizing the nation.
Many were surprised when Washington put on glasses to read his speech, for they had never before seen him wear them. It was this act, and the statement, "Gentlemen, you must pardon me. I have grown gray in your service and now find myself growing blind," that caught the officers off guard. Many officers upon seeing this act, wept. All thoughts of internal rebellion and conspiracy, ceased to exist.
