the 15th of June John Adams of Massachusetts rose and moved that
the Congress should adopt as its own the army before Boston and
that it should name Washington as Commander-in-Chief. Adams had
deeply pondered the problem. He was certain that New England
would remain united and decided in the struggle, but he was not
so sure of the other colonies. To have a leader from beyond New
England would make for continental unity. Virginia, next to
Massachusetts, had stood in the forefront of the movement, and
Virginia was fortunate in having in the Congress one whose fame
as a soldier ran through all the colonies. There was something to
be said for choosing a commander from the colony which began the
struggle and Adams knew that his colleague from Massachusetts,
John Hancock, a man of wealth and importance, desired the post.
He was conspicuous enough to be President of the Congress. Adams
says that when he made his motion, naming a Virginian, he saw in
Hancock's face "mortification and resentment." He saw, too, that
Washington hurriedly left the room when his name was mentioned.

There could be no doubt as to what the Congress would do.
Unquestionably Washington was the fittest man for the post.
Twenty years earlier he had seen important service in the war
with France. His position and character commanded universal
aspect. The Congress adopted unanimously the motion of Adams and
it only remained to be seen Whether Washington would accept. On
the next day he came to the sitting with his mind made up. The
members, he said, would bear witness to his declaration that he
thought himself unfit for the task. Since, however, they called
him, he would try to do his duty. He would take the command but
he would accept no pay beyond his expenses. Thus it was that
Washington became a great national figure. The man who had long