George Washington was born on February 22nd, in 1732, into a Virginia planter family. George Washington learned and acquired the morals, manners, and knowledge required of an 18th century Virginia gentleman. He pursued two related interests: military arts and western expansion. At 16, Washington helped survey the Shenandoah lands for Thomas, Lord Fairfax an English Baron who lived near Washington's half-brother Lawrence and owned vast parts of Virginia farmland. Working for Fairfax, a young Washington learned much about surveying land. These skills helped him later manage his large Mount Vernon estate and acquire additional valuable land. Washington was commissioned a lieutenant colonel in the Virginia militia in 1754. He fought the first battles of what became the French and Indian War. This conflict occurred because Britain and France both strove to occupy the upper Ohio Valley. As an aide to General Edward Braddock, Washington barely escaped injury when four bullets ripped through his coat. He also had two horses shot out from …show more content…
The expiring enlistments were a problem because the continental army existed on a yearly basis so contracts for enlistments were only one year long so after one year there was no army. This was solved when the Continental Congress allowed the continental army to exist on a more permanent basis thus allowing longer enlistment contracts. It was eventually set to three years which pleased Washington very much.
The lack of resources was an issue throughout the war and never really waned although when the French joined the war on the side of the patriots the lack of resources was not so dire. Throughout most of the war Washington never really had enough of anything to give to his army. It got to the point where in battles he had to have people take the weapons of fallen soldiers in order for them to be