THE WASHINGTON ELM 



up in proper order. Under the shadow of 

 that wide-spreading tree, Washington stepped 

 forward a few paces, made some appropriate 

 remarks, drew his sword and formally 

 assumed the command of the army." 



Irving, as well as other writers, differs 

 slightly from this account in certain details. 

 There was a considerable amount of dis- 

 cussion in the Continental Congress at the 

 time of Washington's appointment concern- 

 ing who should be the "next in command." 

 Irving says that because of the rank, char- 

 acter and experience of Generals Lee and 

 Ward their supporters were unwilling that 

 either should serve as a subordinate to any 

 general but Washington, and that, for this 

 reason, Ward was at last elected second, 

 and Lee third in command. Ward was at 

 that time the commander at Boston. 1 This 

 historian also states that Washington 

 "wheeled his horse, and drew his sword 

 as commander-in-chief of the armies." But 

 whether the great man took command of 



1 Irving, "Life of Washington,'* vol. I, p. 291. Frothingham's 

 "Siege," p. 214. 



