Talk:George Washington: Difference between revisions

To update ranks

It seems he also had the rank of Captain General as you can see in here https://web.archive.org/web/20210925065955/https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0373 and here https://web.archive.org/web/20210920141335/https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-20-02-0021. Srvizcacha (talk) 02:29, 7 January 2023 (UTC)4

Requested revised edit

I would have raised this back in May 2022, but was waiting for another editor who had promised to do this for me. Since this has not happened, it must unfortunately rest with me to bring it to your notice. I base this edit request on the uninvolved non-admin closure’s conclusions, which can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Asgill_Affair On the basis of Discuss-Dubious’s recommendations, of May 19, 2022, I am hoping that editors will be amenable to uploading a revised version of what is currently within "The Asgill Affair" section. I have attempted to keep this as short as I possibly can, so have removed some unnecessary and somewhat misleading details. I have simply tried to keep this as accurate as I can within as short a space as possible. It is not possible for me to upload this edit myself, since there would be a COI given I am heavily involved in this (and my referencing abilities are less than ideal). I very much wish to keep this discussion civil, even though I acknowledge that it will not be something you will welcome. But sometimes even recorded history has to adjust when new information comes to light. Although long, my interview in March last year (regarded by Wikipedia as a published document) really does explain everything, so I would recommend listening to it before deciding. May I also mention that my book about all this is expected to be published by Lexington Books in the near future, so it would be good if this article could reflect what will be published, in advance of publication. I am currently involved in various deadlines with Lexington, so I may not be able to participate promptly. Indeed, I have said (and amended the relevant section) as much as I can contribute, so would be happy if agreement was reached amongst interested editors, with the minimum of discussion with me required, so please talk amongst yourselves!

My proposed edit follows.

The Asgill Affair was an event that occurred towards the end of the American Revolution. [1] As a result of ongoing murders taking place between the Patriot and Loyalist factions, Washington wrote to Brigadier General Moses Hazen on May 18, 1782 ordering that lots were to be drawn amongst 13 British Captains, [2] which duly occurred on May 27, 1782. Captain Charles Asgill, was selected to be hanged, in direct contravention of the 14th Article of Capitulation. [3] As America's allies, the French monarchy became involved and let it be known that such measures would reflect badly on both the French and American nations. The French Foreign Minister, Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes, wrote to Washington on July 29, 1782 to express these views.[4] After a six-month ordeal, awaiting death daily, the Continental Congress eventually agreed that Asgill should be released to return to England on Parole.

This was not the end of the matter, since it had expanded beyond a great national concern [5] into an international cause célèbre. Michael Knox Beran writes: The American commander in chief seems to have recognized almost at once that he had made, what was worse than a mistake, a blunder that compromised his honor. [6] To make matters worse, four years later it was brought to Washington’s attention that false rumors were circulating in Europe, concerning ill-treatment of Asgill whilst in confinement in Chatham, New Jersey, awaiting his execution. [7]

To counter these rumors, Washington published his 1782 Asgill correspondence, which was passed to the New Haven Gazette for publication by his former aide-de-camp, David Humphreys. [8] Since this account failed to include vital information, Asgill himself wrote to the New Haven Gazette to contest the published account. [9] His letter of December 20, 1786 was not published (until 2019), thereby adding to the body of unpublished correspondence. In an interview, in March 2022, Anne Ammundsen presented the case that four significant letters had been omitted from Washington's account of the Asgill Affair, thereby distorting the records, which have formed the basis of this account ever since. [10] Anne (talk) 06:54, 20 January 2023 (UTC)