A portrait of General George Washington painted by James Peale, based on an earlier painting by his older brother, Charles Willson Peale, during the Valley Forge encampment.
I rejoice most sincerely with you on the glorious change in our prospects. Calmness and serenity seems likely to succeed in some measure those dark and tempestuous clouds which at times appeared ready to overwhelm us. The game, whether well or ill played hitherto, seems now to be verging fast to a favourable issue, and I cannot think be lost, unless we throw it away by too much supineness on the one hand, and impetuosity on the other. God forbid that either of these should happen at a time when we seem to be upon the point of reaping the fruits of our toil and labour.
—GEORGE WASHINGTON TO ROBERT MORRIS, MAY 25, 1778