Other officers sent away soldiers to work on their farms while at the same time they drew for them public pay.

At a later time Washington wrote to a friend wise counsel about the choice of officers.

"Take none but gentlemen; let no local attachment influence you; do not suffer your good nature to say Yes when you ought to say No.
Remember that it is a public, not a private cause." What he desired was the gentleman's chivalry of refinement, sense of honor, dignity of character, and freedom from mere self-seeking.

The prime qualities of a good officer, as he often said, were authority and decision.

It is probably true of democracies that they prefer and will follow the man who will take with them a strong tone.