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Followingitjln'i7!1'1,theConearNewb.itpea~.~.Then'wartoun'.th'ebegandefaultingoncoena~
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nationanment.Corruptwarsupplierscreatedajilraon~,.e.treasury..i.1;heContin~w.~ng,:ess'couldnotraisethefundsto:providepay;.orpensionsto.,thesoldierswhohad~onthe\Var,someofwhomhadnotbeel\paidfor,severalyears.MllnyofficersfearedthatCongresswoulddisbandtheArmyandrenegeon.itspromises."Bythewinterof1782-83,tensionwithintheArmy'sformationshadreachedadangerouslevel.ThefutureoftheRepublicwasindoubt.AgronpofofficersintheteemingcampdeterminedtocompelCongresstosettleitsdebtswiththethreatofmilitaryaction.Theyattemptedtoenlisttheirvictoriouscommander,GeneralGeorgeWashington,toleadtheirplot.ManyothercitizensthroughoutthecountryhopedWashingtonwouldsetupamonarchyinplaceoftheailinggovernment.Herefusedeveryappeal,andtherebelliousofficersmadereadytotakeactionwithouthim.OnMarch15,1783,Washingtonenteredtheofficers'assemblyandwarnedthemofthegravedangerinherentintheirscheme.Hewashavinglittleeffectuntilheretrievedapairofspectaclesfromhispockettoread.Theofficerswereastonished.Noneofthemhadseentheirheroinhiseyeglasses,andheseemedtoagebeforethem.Buthisoff-handcomment,intendedtoputthematease,demonstratedonceagainthedepthofthecharacterthathadsustainedarevolution."Gentlemen,youwillpermitmetoputonmyspectacles,forIhavenotonlygrowngray,butalmostblindintheserviceofmycountry."Theact,thestatement,andthepowerofaleader'sexamplequelledanincipientrebellion.AsJeffersonlatercommented,"Themoderationaudvirtueofasinglecbaracterprobablypreventedthisrevolutionfrombeingclosed,asmostothershavebeen,byasubversionofthatLibertyitwasintendedtoestablish."Washiugton'sselflessleadershipinstitutedthetraditionofciviliancontrolofthemilitaryinAmerica.Hiswillingsubordination,ofhimselfandtheArmyhecommanded,tocivilianauthorityestablishedthefundamentaltenetofourprofessionalethos.Forthefirsttimeinhistory,aprofessionalmilitaryforcebegantoflourishinademocraticsociety.TheUnitedStatesArmyisheirtothaUegacy.
 
FM114June2001
ByorderoftheSecretaryoftheArmy:
ERICK.SHINSEKI
General,UnitedStatesArmyChiefofStaff
Official:
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t1
~_J
/JOEL
B.HUDSON
AdministrativeAssistanttotheSecretaryoftheArmy
0115805
DISTRIBUTION:
ActiveArmy,ArmyNationalGuard,andUSArmyReserve:
TobedistributedinaccordancewithDAForm12-11E,Block0510.
RequisitionadditionalcopiesfromtheCommander,U.S.ArmyPublicationsDistributionCenter,1655WoodsonRoad,St.Louis,MO63114-6181
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