George was always loyal to his friends.

I meant what I said,
And I said what I meant.
I’m sticking by you
One hundred percent!
–Dr. Suess

That’s just the way General George Washington was with his men. Alexander Hamilton served with Washington in the attack on Trenton and again Princeton. And then Hamilton continued to serve as Washington’s secretary during the war. Then he served as President Washington’s Secretary of the Treasury.

Continental General Henry Knox had been a bookseller before the Revolutionary War. General Washington sent him on an impossible mission to return over treacherous terrain with the cannon captured or used at the Battle of Fort Ticonderoga. It was the dead of winter and an impossible task. Knox returned with the cannon just in time for the victory at Dorchester Heights. Just as Washington had expected him to do!

Washington supported Benedict Arnold in his request to Congress to advance him to the office of General after his heroic exploits at Lake Champlain. He was badly wounded in that battle and showed heroism in his actions to win the battle. Congress didn’t approve that appointment much to Arnolds dismay. As you know, Arnold then became a traitor. When that was discovered, Washington didn’t want to believe it. Arnold was his friend and fellow countryman—now a traitor. Though Washington was disbelieving but was soon convinced. It broke his heart that his friendship had been so abused and mistreated.

Washington’s loyalty caused him to want to believe the best of his fellow Americans. It was mostly returned properly, but in the case of Benedict Arnold it was ill-placed!