The Continental Line had surprised the British military leadership. Anticipating an army of backwoodsmen who knew little of the military strategies of battles like Thermopylae, Agincourt, or Naseby, the British encountered an army that, though not educated in the halls of Eton or clothed in the splendor of ancient victories, understood fighting and possessed the ability to improvise.

For military historians, a study of George Washington and his leaders is critical to digesting strategies that then became second nature during the heat of battle. In the 1770s and early 1780s, Washington’s favorite generals were demonstrating on the battlefield that a passion for liberty and defense of home, coupled with an innate understanding of military tactics, could indeed defeat an exemplary force.

Before we continue the fighting by moving southward following Saratoga, it might be interesting to meet the team of “Avengers” assembled by Washington.

Washington considered Nathanael Greene his most trusted commander. Greene, a Quaker from Rhode Island who struggled to reconcile his faith with a willingness to fight for independence, served with Washington from New York through Trenton, Brandywine, Monmouth, and Springfield — while also serving as the quartermaster general for the army. Washington quietly informed the Second Continental Congress that, in the event of his own death, Greene should be appointed his successor. The successful southern campaign strengthened Greene’s position in Washington’s close circle.

General Henry Knox would serve as the new nation’s first Secretary of War at Washington’s request. Knox had gained Washington’s admiration during the early days of the war, and his devotion to duty — and the artillery — made him a trusted favorite. It was Henry Knox who, against all odds, captured the guns from Ticonderoga and brought them back to support the fight. He trained the artillery, and most historians agree that artillery won the battles at Trenton and Yorktown. Many forget that Knox, a former bookstore owner, had just celebrated his 25th birthday when the Revolutionary War commenced. It was Knox who, in 1783, established the Society of the Cincinnati as a hereditary society of veteran officers and their descendants that still exists. He was determined that the republican ideals of the revolution must be maintained.

Daniel Morgan, the “Old Wagoner,” had become renowned during the French and Indian War for both his skill in handling the transport of necessary supplies and his fiery, stubborn nature. During that war, a British officer struck Morgan with the flat side of his sword, only to have Morgan respond by knocking him to the ground. For striking an officer, Morgan was punished with 500 lashes, considered a death penalty. Morgan survived and, during the revolution, was known to boast that the British had miscounted — it had only been 499 blows of the whip. From Boston to Quebec, from Saratoga to Cowpens, Daniel Morgan’s “Rifles” struck fear in the hearts of the British. Not only were his troops highly skilled marksmen, dressed in hunting shirts and breeches creating fear in the opposition forces, but Morgan was able to think beyond the standard military tactics. He became the master of “thinking in the moment,” and by running military operations designed to disrupt and defeat the British forces, Morgan became a force for independence.

And then there’s Horatio Gates, an outstanding leader but envious general…

Gates deserves recognition for his organizational skills, serving as president of the Board of War, and his victory at Saratoga was critical to securing France as an ally. But his self-promotion lessens his contributions in this historian’s opinion. Instead of shining where he was leading, Gates spent much of the war criticizing Washington’s decisions to almost anyone who would listen or read his letters. Obviously, his ambitions did not work out as he had planned.

The list would not be complete without two additions — the Marquis de Lafayette and the Baron von Steuben.

While the Marquis de Lafayette was an inexperienced youth filled with freedom’s stirrings upon his arrival in the colonies, by 1781 and the Virginia campaign he had grown into an adept, nimble strategist. Washington considered the young Marquis one of his most trusted aides, and their personal relationship — almost parental in nature — remained strong throughout Washington’s life. Aside from the frontlines service, perhaps Lafayette’s greatest service to the colonial army was helping to secure France’s support, both diplomatic and military.

The Prussian left his mark on the soldiers of the Continental Line. The Baron von Steuben, at first glance, appeared to represent everything the colonists were fighting against — a nation founded on ideals of aristocracy and entitlement. But as Washington’s Inspector General, the Baron prodded the army into professionalism; he was relentless in his drills and leadership training. Fatigue was not an excuse, and officers and volunteers alike were put through the training, day after day. His emphasis on discipline certainly contributed to the final victory.

Victory is never the product of the individual; success rests on the shoulders of the many, united by purpose and willingness to lead and sacrifice.

Washington’s favored “sons” fought well and with distinction. Their names are worthy of memory.

Until next week, when we meet on southern fields and in southern swamps…