This Week in History: Washington's pleas from Valley Forge

During this week in 1778, George Washington writes several letters from his winter camp at Valley Forge. These letters reflected the many problems that the army was having that winter, but they also showed Washington’s efforts to keep up morale.
“Friends, Countrymen and Fellow Citizens!” he begins, “After three Campaigns, during which, the brave Subjects of these States have contended, not unsuccessfully, with one of the most powerful Kingdoms upon Earth, we now find ourselves, at least, upon a level with our opponents; and there is the best reason to believe, that efforts, adequate to the abilities of this Country, would enable us speedily to conclude the war, and to secure the invaluable blessings of Peace, Liberty and safety.”
Then, he asks for help. Do the citizens of these states have any cattle that they can give to the cause? “A bountiful price will be given,” Washington promises. And those giving cattle will “render a most essential service to the illustrious cause of their Country.”

Who and where is our General Washington of today. To paraphrase a popular old song, 'Mister, we could use a man good old George again'.