JOHN ADAMS was a distinguished patriot of the Revolution，a member of Congress at the time of the appointment of Washington as commander-in-chief of the American Army，and was subsequently President of the United States.
1.THE army was assembled at Cambridge，Mass.，under Gen.Ward，and Congress was sitting at Philadelphia.Every day，new applications in behalf of the army arrived.The country was urgent that Congress should legalize the raising of the army，as they were what must be considered，and what was in law considered，only a mob，a band of rebels.The country was placed in circumstances of peculiar difficulty and danger.The struggle had begun，and yet every thing was without order.The great trial now seemed to be this question：Who shall be the commander-in-chief？It was exceedingly important，and was felt to be the hinge on which the contest might turn for or against us.The Southern and the Middle States，warm and rapid in their zeal，for the most part，were jealous of New England，because they felt the real physical force was there；what then was to be done？
2.All New England adored Gen.Ward；he had been in the French war，and went out laden with laurels.He was a scholar and a statesman.Every qualification seemed to cluster in him；and it was confidently believed that the army would not receive any appointment over him.What was then to be done？Difficulties thickened at every step.The struggle was to be long and bloody.Without union all was lost.The country，and the whole country must come in.One pulsation mustbeat through all hearts.The cause was one，and the army must be one.The members had talked，debated，considered，and guessed，and yet the decisive step had not been taken.At length，Mr.Adams came to his conclusion.The means of resolving it were somewhat singular，and nearly as follows.He was walking one morning before Congress Hall，apparently in deep thought，when his cousin Samuel Adams came up to him and said：
George Washington
3.“What is the topic with you this morning？”“O，the army，the army，”he replied.“I’m determined to go into the hall this morning and enter on a full detail of the state of the colonies，in order to show the absolute need of taking some decisive steps.My whole aim will be to induce Congress to appoint the day for adopting the army as the legal army of these united colonies of North America，and then to hint at an election of commander-in-chief.”“Well，”said Samuel Adams，“I like that，cousin John；but on whom have you fixed as that commander？”“I will tell you；George Washington of Virginia，a member of this house.”“O，”replied Samuel Adams，quickly，“that will never do，never.”
4.“It must do；it shall do；”said John，“and for these reasons：the Southern and Middle States are both to enter heartily in the cause；and their arguments are potent；they say that New England holds the physical power in her hands，and they fear the result.A New England army，a New England commander，with New England perseverance，all united，appall them.For this cause they hang back.Now，the only course is to allay their fears，and give them nothing to complain of；and this can be done in no other way than by appointing a Southern chief over this force，and then all will rush to the standard.This policy will blend us in one mass，and that mass will be resistless.”
5.At this，Samuel Adams seemed greatly moved.They talked over the preliminary circumstances，and John asked his cousin to second the motion.Mr.Adams went in，took the floor，and put all his strength in the delineations he had prepared，all aiming at the adoption of the army.He was ready to own the army，appoint a commander，vote supplies，and proceed to business.After his speech had been finished，some doubted，some feared.His warmth increased with the occasion，and to all those doubts and hesitations he replied：“Gentlemen，if this Congress will not adopt this army，before ten moons have set，New England will adopt it，and she will undertake the struggle alone；yes，with a strong arm，and a clear conscience，she will front the foe single-handed.”