George Washington Would Have Been Great in Platoon

The grant-making arm of the National Archives has unveiled a free electronic collection of the Founding Fathers diaries, personal letters, and other written memorabilia of the time. While it might sound (and be) a dull read, there's one diary particularly worth a look: George Washington's.

He was crazy.

On his notes from the "Expedition to the Ohio" in 1754, Lieutenant Colonel George Washington takes a handful of troops into the French-controlled Ohio territory. He allies with a local Indian tribe leader he calls Half-King, and together they slaughter a French Embassy camp of 30 or so people because Washington was sure they were spies.

This unprovoked attack is one of the things--maybe the biggest thing--that kicked off the Seven Years War (also called the French and Indian Wars), which, given the fact that it involved at least three continent's worth of fighters and killed a million or so people would be better referred to as the first World War.

In another battle a year later--after apologizing to the French and quitting the Army (instead of facing a demotion to Captain)--Washington re-up'd and joined British General Braddock only to have two horses shot out from under him and four bullets shot through his jacket. His side lost about 500 or so in the conflict. The French lost 40.

In his diaries there's an itching sense of madness. A lot of talk about scalps. He is certain the easily-overwhelmed French who said they were a political party were spies and supposedly did away with them (after some more scalping). I'm also pretty sure he was drunk in this entry.

Other Notable Notes:

1. The Washington, DC flag is George's family crest.
2. Crazy he may have been, but Washington could write a wicked call to arms.
3. He was concerned about cow mutilation.