When George Washington Calmed a Mutiny

In this first article of the series “When Character Counted,” we visit a moment when a pair of spectacles helped save the American experiment of democracy.

"’My Beloved Country!’—George Washington,” 2009, by Igor Babailov. Courtesy of Igor Babailov

It was mid-March 1783 in Newburgh, New York, but mutiny, not spring, was in the air.

Dissatisfaction and anger had reached the breaking point in the Continental Army encampment. With the fighting essentially ended and peace with Great Britain impending, the Confederation Congress in Philadelphia was dithering on paying the soldiers and officers, many of whom hadn’t seen a penny in months.