General George Washington’s leadership on March 15, 1783, ended the Newburgh Conspiracy, upholding the revolutionary principle of civilian control of the military. In November, the Continental Army was officially disbanded, and the following month, General Washington traveled to Annapolis and resigned his commission to the Confederation Congress on December 23, 1783. That Washington resisted this chance to be king speaks volumes about his character and commitment to this country.

By early 1783, a few high-ranking officers in the Continental Army, then stationed in Newburgh, were considering refusing to disband until Congress fulfilled their promises of a pension for the men. Their leader was General Horatio Gates, George Washington’s second-in-command. On March 10, Major John Armstrong, aide to General Gates, circulated a letter suggesting the Army refuse to disband until its demands were met and requested all officers meet the following day. On the appointed day, General Gates opened the session but was soon superseded when General Washington unexpectedly entered the room.

In December 1782, the Continental Army had been fighting the British Army for over seven years. With peace negotiations underway, the soldiers were garrisoned near Newburgh, New York. Congress had passed a resolution in 1780 when the outcome of the war was still in doubt that promised Army officers a lifetime pension of half-pay upon discharge from the service. However, as peace talks progressed and the need for the Army decreased, Congress and the states began to waffle on their promise. The nation’s treasury was empty, and the Confederation Congress was helpless to do anything about it.

The Newburgh Conspiracy represents a time when our nation came closest to deviating from our core revolutionary principles of representative government with civilian control of the military. Only George Washington’s steady and unselfish leadership on March 15, 1783, when he calmed the discontent of Continental Army soldiers, prevented this devastating event from happening.

On March 11, 1783, soldiers were supposed to meet after an anonymous letter circulated through the Continental Army’s encampment at Newburgh encouraging them to take action against Congress and their unfulfilled promises of a pension for the men.

On March 10, 1783, an anonymous letter circulated through the Continental Army’s encampment at Newburgh encouraging the soldiers take action against Congress, who had begun to waffle on their promise of a lifetime pension of half-pay upon discharge from the service.