If George Washington had been hit by a sniper in 1777...

Just before the brandywine conflict... A British officer named Ferguson had an American officer in his gunsight. However, at the time there was a code of honor against shooting officers and/or shooting them from a sniper position. Later, it was found that officer was George Washington.

If Ferguson had taken the shot and killed Washington,

who becomes the new Commander of the American Forces?
 
Either Horatio Gates (ugh) or Charles Lee (blech); they were the senior generals at the time. If the fates are kind to the rebels neither will screw things up too badly; if not the result will be disastrous. The British are very likely to prevail in this event.

Assuming those two are shunted aside somehow, the next in line would be Nathaniel Greene, then Benedict Arnold. Both are decent field commanders, but neither is the diplomat that Washington is. (If Arnold becomes overall commander he would not defect to the British, since he is getting what he desires already.) The rebels would probably win their independence, but without Washington's statesmanship the early years of the United States would be a lot more difficult.​
 
Either Horatio Gates (ugh) or Charles Lee (blech); they were the senior generals at the time. If the fates are kind to the rebels neither will screw things up too badly; if not the result will be disastrous. The British are very likely to prevail in this event.

Assuming those two are shunted aside somehow, the next in line would be Nathaniel Greene, then Benedict Arnold. Both are decent field commanders, but neither is the diplomat that Washington is. (If Arnold becomes overall commander he would not defect to the British, since he is getting what he desires already.) The rebels would probably win their independence, but without Washington's statesmanship the early years of the United States would be a lot more difficult.​
There was also the OTL 2IC. I highly doubt Charles Lee would be passed over for command though.

Benedict Arnold is more likely as a replacement for Lee if he is relieved from his duties. Which might be a very real possibility.
 
There was also the OTL 2IC. I highly doubt Charles Lee would be passed over for command though.

Benedict Arnold is more likely as a replacement for Lee if he is relieved from his duties. Which might be a very real possibility.

By the time Washington is killed (September 1777 at the Brandywine, by the OP) Ward has already resigned (March 1777) due to poor health and will be passed over for army command. He is still influential, though, so might well be considered for President when the time comes.
 
There was a short story by H. Beam Piper about an ATL where this happened. An unfortunate from OTL is isoted into the ATL. He ends up in a conversation about a TV show based on historical PoDs. The narrator finds out that he is from an ATL when a dollar bill of the isot ends up in his possession and the narrator recognizes an older Washington (he is an American historian). The story ends with him wondering how the Father of His Country (ATL) fared in OTL...the most beloved American in history:
Benedict Arnold.
 
Top