In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

59 5 Washington’s Life Guard The idea of having his own life guard appealed to George Washington . A life guard, doubling as body and honor guard, had been customary in European practice for the purpose of serving sovereigns and commanding generals.The French army had the Gardes Françaises; and the British army had its Horse Guards and Horse Grenadiers. Household regiments provided security for the British royal family; and in Prussia, Frederick William I (1713– 40) and Frederick William II (1786–97) maintained a palace guard consisting of giant-size soldiers.1 During the American Revolution, guards drawn from the British royal household infantry served in America.2 To George Washington, a life guard would be an elite outfit, made up of the most physically fit and best performing soldiers. The guardsmen would exemplify soldiering traits to be envied by their comrades in arms. In a republican army, Washington was smart enough not to seek a life guard so exclusive as to be seen as abetting dictatorial ambition. The commander in chief had a pragmatic view: to establish a life guard not only for the protection of his person, headquarters, documents, and personal property but that he could also employ in various activities, ranging from carrying dispatches to assisting in providing household service to the Washingtons and the extended “family” of aides. On March 11, 1776, a few days before the British evacuation of Boston, Washington issued general orders that read: The General being desirous of selecting a particular number of men, as a Guard for himself, and baggage, the Colonel, or commanding Officer, of each of the established Regiments, (the Artillery and Rifflemen excepted) will furnish him with four, that the number wanted may be chosen out of them. His Excellency depends upon the Colonels for good Men, such as they can recommend for their sobriety, honesty, and good behaviour; he wishes them to be from five feet, WASHINGTON’S LIFE GUARD 60 eight Inches high, to five feet, ten Inches; handsomely and well made, and as there is nothing in his eyes more desireable, than Cleanliness in a Soldier, he desires that particular attention may be made, in the choice of such men, as are neat, and spruce. Furthermore, the soldiers sent to Washington should be “perfectly willing, and desirous, of being of this guard. They should be drill’d men.”3 The following day, the guard was organized, with fifty enlisted men. Captain Caleb Gibbs, adjutant of a Massachusetts regiment, was named commandant of the unit. Gibbs, age twenty-eight, was a native of Rhode Island but was living in Massachusetts at the start of the war. Lieutenant George Lewis, a nephew of George Washington, was named second-incommand .4 Successive commandants of the Life Guard were Second Lieutenant (later First Lieutenant and then Captain) William Colfax, January 1, 1781, to September 5, 1783 (assigned to the Life Guard on March 18, 1778); and First Lieutenant (later Captain) Bezaleel Howe, September 5 to December 20, 1783. Other officers serving in the Life Guard were First Lieutenant John Nicholas, May 1 to June 1, 1777; First Lieutenant Robert Randolph, May 1, 1777, to September 26, 1778; First Lieutenant (Captain, as of December 4, 1778) Henry Phillip Livingston, June 2, 1777, to March 26, 1779; Surgeon Samuel Hanson, son of a future president of Congress, March 19, 1778, to March 26, 1779; First Lieutenant Benjamin Grymes (or Grimes), March 19, 1778, to March 26, 1779; and Second Lieutenant (later First Lieutenant ) Levi Holden, June 23, 1781, to November 3, 1783.5 From March 1779 to the end of the war, the unit was allowed only two officers. Captain (Major, as of July 29, 1778) Gibbs, as commandant of the commander in chief’s guard for four and a half years, bore a host of responsibilities . Besides commanding the guard, he served as a supplemental aide-decamp to Washington from May 16, 1776, to January 1, 1781. Gibbs supervised Washington’s headquarters household. It was he who purchased food and other supplies. He was the cashier, in charge of all the accounts, and made disbursements. He kept an eye on the domestic staff, including an elderly housekeeper. On occasion, members of the guard were employed at headquarters as purveyors, bakers, cooks, and hostlers, for which they received a monthly allowance in addition to their regular pay. Washington cautioned Gibbs not to engage for household duty “a mere greenhorn.”6 Just looking after the dining fare for Washington, his...

Share