#gwash

Horseless carriages

man. i really really really don't know. maybe the vibe. maybe the hair LMFAO. as far as i'm aware historians have been trying to figure out why exactly washington and burr didn't get along for centuries. since no one can really know for certain, this is all conjecture on my part.

my gut instinct is telling me it was because burr was overly precocious and probably pretty arrogant (hero of quebec) and washington had no time for egos on his staff. like washington was careful to give burr credit where it was due, that he was a 'brave and able officer and soldier', etc, but i think personally he just got along with hamilton better. i think hamilton was a bit more humble than burr, at least at that point in his life (early 20's), and was more desperate to get the approval of washington and more willing to listen and obey. hamilton, probably from his childhood experiences, knew the value in having powerful men vouch for you and protect you; burr's "powerful connections" had either died or abandoned him. thus, burr had a notoriously bad relationship with authority figures who demanded that he do what he was told without question while hamilton sought those authority figures out, and had great respect for them. obviously for a man like washington burr's insouciance would have been pretty grating.

there were rumors (repeated in davis's memoirs? parton? i can't recall - but it was definitely an old biography with dubious veracity) that burr either snooped through washington's papers or brought women around the camp or SOMETHING to that effect and was just generally a little shit. i don't know how much weight those stories hold but it certainly doesn't SOUND out of character for burr, so.

and i guess it goes without saying but since hamilton played the game and burr didn't, washington just grew closer with hamilton. and hamilton was valuable!!! he really was a little genius!!! and washington could see it!! not to be like "hamilton was more important" because i don't believe that at all, but for the purposes of what washington was trying to accomplish, hamilton was more useful and easier to work with. from there washington and hamilton got closer and hamilton probably fed washington deranged stories about burr, which colored washington's opinion even more as the years progressed. by the time of the quasi-war, washington's opinion was pretty set in stone (to the consternation of men like adams - here's his famous letter about it) according to adams:

"Colonel Burr is another whom I was desirous of making a Brigadier General. I proposed it to Washington, who said 'he had reason to believe that Burr would make a good officer: But the question was whether he would not be too good at Intrigue.' I have reason to believe that Washington proposed it to Hamilton and that he prevented it. My Reason for this belief I will also give you if you wish to know it. ... Col Burr, visited me at Philadelphia as he always did When he came near me, and asked me whether I had Authorized Hamilton to propose to him [Burr] an Appointment in the Army? As I never had mentioned or Suggested the Idea to Hamilton I answered No.—Burr Said that Hamilton had frequently of late asked him what he thought of an Appointment, and whether he could cordially cooperate with Washington. Burr Said he Answered that he despised Washington as a Man of no Talents and one who could not Spell a Sentence of common English. I reproved Burr for this folly and Said his Prejudices made him very unreasonable, for to my certain Knowledge Washington was not So illiterate. Burr Said he was determined the first time he Saw me, to ask me whether Hamilton had been moved by me, or whether [Burr's] questions to him [Hamilton] were insidious. I explained nothing to Burr and he knows not to this day that I ever mentioned him or thought of him for a Appointment. My Conclusion is however, that, Washington had mentioned it to Hamilton, but his Jealousy of Burr would not allow him to consent." (xxx)

✨let me explain✨

Gwash is always kinda. he's just Always. he's Disgruntled™! he's Tired™! he's Done With Your Bullshit™! this man hasn't had a night of sound sleep since he was like seven years old! everyone fucking wants something from him! He Can Never Rest!!!!!

but Jon. Jon is kind. he's paternal not in the subtle, gruff way Gwash is. he's helpful, always offers a smile, and Will absolutely attempt to cheer you up when you look sad!

so when he's pissed it's SCARY.

yes Gwash has a temper. he'll shout and rage for a few minutes and then leave to calm down.

but Jon.

his anger is cold. he's the ice to Gwash's fire. it's as they say, there's nothing quite as frightening as the fury of a gentle man.