George Washington and Sir William Howe’s Dog

IT WAS DURING the famous battle of Valley Forge in the winter of 1777, when George Washington who was to become the first American President was holding a council of war with his officers at an old mill in Pennsylvania.

The problem under discussion as always was what to do about the well-equipped British forces and their commander in chief, General Sir William Howe, who was then living comfortably in nearby Philadelphia.

Suddenly, out of the night, a dog appeared. It was obviously lost and hungry and seeking shelter. Washington who loved dogs, realized that the animal was a fine hunting dog and examined its collar for the owner’s name. Ironically, the name of the collar showed that the dog belonged to Sir William Howe.

An ordinary man might have kept the animal as a precious souvenir of war, a prize that would certainly annoy his enemy. But that was not Washington’s style.

Understanding how a man feels about his beloved pet, Washington gave immediate orders to have the animal fed and taken care of and then under a while flag of truce, returned to its owner.

With the dog went a note, dated October 6, which read : “General Washington’s compliments to General Howe : Does himself the pleasure to return him a dog which accidentally fell into his hands and, by the inscription on the collar, appears to belong to General Howe.”

This sympathetic gesture on the part of Washington greatly impressed Howe, and he responded to the return of his dog with a warm note of thanks.