The Freedom of Discipline

* This statue is in Valley Forge Park. My favorite place in the world.

The Freedom of Discipline sounds like crazy mumbo-jumbo like "War is Peace", "Up is Down" or "Black is White." But it is not. Want to see an unfree person? Let that person live an undisciplined life. Ungodly rebellion is romanticized as a pathway to freedom but Jesus calls that individual a slave to sin.  Dylan sang long ago and perhaps believes it no longer that "You have to serve somebody."

What has brought this to my mind recently was the reading of two books about Valley Forge and the Continental Army's camping out there in the Winter of 1777. The war was going poorly for the Colonials. The leadership and military smarts of George Washington was being questioned by some in the Continental Congress who had fled to York, Pennsylvania, when the British occupied Philadelphia.  Washington's personal character seemed unassailable yet his military acumen was lacking. I think that is a fact substantiated by history.

Outside of the Crossing of the Delaware and capturing the Hessians on Christmas Night, victories were few, stalemates were some, and outright routs were common.

Other branches of the Army had scored victories in other arenas such as Saratoga, NY. Washington at best was not losing the big battle that would break the American forces. He was playing a waiting game with the French to win their support for the war against the British Crown. As long as Washington's troops didn't get crushed, they could live on to fight another day. That "playing not to lose" strategy frustrated the members of the Continental Congress yet Washington didn't have strong supply lines for armaments, food, clothing, and men. Most of the soldiers were militia-type fighters. Not a well-trained Army. A feisty but untrained lot.

Also, many of the Colonials were not in favor of the war. It was a real mixed bag. 

Coming into this dreary Winter at Valley Forge was the Prussian military tactician Baron von Steuben. He departed hastily from Europe under some allegations of impropriety and immorality. Benjamin Franklin in Paris padded von Steuben's credentials to win Washington's support. Washington was tired of the French attempting to dictate the terms of the engagement through sending military personnel of high rank to advise how he could up the quality of the campaign.

Well, to make a long story short, von Steuben instilled discipline and skills into the bedraggled bunch. Taught them how to march (the mobility of the army was key to keep the British on their toes), how to use a bayonet, and how to wheel in the battle in formation, etc. When the British encountered American troops after the Winter of 1777, they recognized that something drastic had changed. The American Army was disciplined. And that was von Steuben's doing. Washington to his credit, allowed the Baron to do the work. By all accounts, Washington was a winsome leader of men. His ego didn't keep von Steuben on the bench. He recognized the need, one that he has been unable to address, and let von Steuben do his thing.

In my many years of life on this Earth, I have seen the terrible destruction that the lack of discipline spawns. Wasted lives because of stupid decisions and unwise choices. Now by discipline, I don't mean being so structured as to be unable to adjust to changing circumstances in light of new conditions. In fact the more things change, the more important it is to have a plan to address it and to know how the new plan differs from the old plan. Be willing to reshuffle but don't throw the cards to the wind and hope somehow that things will right themselves.

Play the cards wisely. Be bold, but know what you are holding. Also, know when to fight, when to stay, and when to run away.