I've been on a total Revolutionary War jag recently. Started when I read Founding Brothers, which gave me a real aha moment: all those old, white-haired, powdered-wig farts who were the first string of Presidents -- well, most of them were in their 30's and 40's during the Revolution.
So, I started reading about Washington. I never realized he was so flippin tall! 6'4" 200-plus years ago was a HUGE giant man. Dashing and brave. He had to create an army out of nothing but promises and farmboys. No supplies, no decent weapons, not skilled soldiers... and yet, there were some totally crafty generals working for him.
Then I grabbed a slew of biographies -- Jefferson, Adams, Franklin (his autobiography was a rolicking great read)... what brave men they were.
When you look at those stern, formal, frozen faces on the money... it just doesn't come across, does it?
