George Washington was unusually good at conducting retreats and rates above merely mediocre for his own period in this assessment. He did not face commanders of Wellington's or Napoleon's calibre, which limits grand comparisons across eras. Logistics remains a decisive part of generalship, especially when moving and preserving armies across difficult territory. A successful retreat can therefore be a strategic achievement rather than simply evidence of losing a battle.
Notable Point · 2:49:34-2:50:44
Washington, retreat, and the logistics of generalship
Washington is assessed as an above-average commander whose excellence at retreat mattered in a war where preserving the army and its supply system was essential.