Coming in April 2026
George Washington’s One-Man Army ~ The Life, Legend, and Battles of Peter Francisco
Scheduled for release in April 2026
Globe Pequot / Stackpole Publishing
“One-Man Army” was George Washington’s nom de guerre for Peter Francisco.
Abducted from the Azores and deposited in the colony of Virginia at the age of four, little Pedro Francisco was an orphan from a strange land in the New World. Renamed Peter Francisco, the youngster found a home under indenture to Patrick Henry’s uncle as a blacksmith. By the age of fourteen, he would grow to 6 feet-6 inchesas a blacksmith and 260 pounds. He would fashion himself an apex warrior serving both in the patriot infantry and cavalry.
In his capacity as a soldier, Peter Francisco participated in some of the fiercest fighting, witnessed the greatest events, and met an astounding number of luminaries from early America. Peter was present for Patrick Henry’s most famous speech, hearing firsthand the words “Give me Liberty or Give me Death.”
Upon volunteering for military service, the orphan Francisco soon fought alongside, was wounded, and convalesced with the young French General, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette.
Francisco and Lafayette built a friendship that extended for many years after the Revolution. Private Francisco served with and was well known to a host of famous patriot leaders headlined by generals Washington, Nathanael Greene, and Lafayette. After stalwart service in some of the Revolution’s most pivotal battles, young Francisco was present for the surrender of the British at Yorktown. All told, Peter fought in at least ten battles and received six gruesome wounds as he dispatched over 20 British soldiers.
His feats of strength and courage were legendary.
Post war, he became a planter and a businessman. Endeavoring to educate himself, he overcame illiteracy and developed into a voracious reader. His fame as the “Virginia Giant” was pervasive. As a veteran, Francisco was sought out for a meeting by the U.S. Secretary of State. The former soldier of repute was received in the home of the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He was thrice married into Virginia society, a father of six, and a fixture in the Commonwealth serving as Sergeant at Arms for the legislature late in life. Known to all throughout the newly independent thirteen states, Peter Francisco’s exploits were all but lost to history…until now.
From Bluegrass to Blue Water—Lessons in Farm Philosophy and Navy Leadership
Released on October 26, 2022
Fidelis Publishing
Available on Amazon and over 20 online/bookstore outlets - Online Purchase Links HERE
From Bluegrass to Blue Water—Lessons in Farm Philosophy and Navy Leadership. The philosophy found in this work is the product of a childhood on a tobacco and cattle farm in central Kentucky, education at various schools and a three-decade career in the U.S. Navy while simultaneously contributing as a husband, father, and grandfather. The book is separated into phases reflective of the major changes in the author’s life: the farm, schooling to include college at The Citadel, and a Navy career continuum from junior officer through flag officer. The lessons learned in earlier phases are often exported and applied later. The ever-increasing levels of responsibility serve to teach new lessons. There are occasional farm yarns, school tales, and sea stories added to illustrate practical application of the farm philosophy, education, and Navy leadership lessons learned along the way. We hope the book adds value to every reader’s professional and personal life.
From Bluegrass to Blue Water - Lessons in Farm Philosophy and Navy Leadership
Lesson of the Week (continued/expanded text):
Embracing Adversity
Chapter 5
“As a final reflection, The Citadel touts itself as a leadership laboratory, and there are certainly important formative lessons taught in Charleston. For me, it was more of a perseverance laboratory. The Citadel follows the well-worn military school path of a plebe or fourth-class system affording participants an opportunity to accrue valuable “reps” and “sets” in overcoming adversity. The imposition of artificial hardship gets progressively difficult to build greater skills and confidence. The military school experience serves as a figurative “vaccination” against future fear of taking on tough challenges. Fight rather than flight is cemented into the graduates. For me it served as a natural extension from my farm foundation where as a child I often had to problem-solve things like broken equipment or missing livestock on my own.
Such adversarial environments appear to be more and more rare in the twenty-first century. Modern parents seek to shield their children from all adversity—to their detriment in my opinion. Today, too many children are rewarded for simply passing through childhood in unremarkable fashion. A premium is placed upon protection of feelings to the exclusion of gaining experience navigating adversity that makes for stronger adults. I believe parents, teachers, and mentors should encourage courageous endeavors in school, sports, hobbies, and employment—trial and error, trial and success. Most men and women value their hard-earned accomplishments over transient gifts. To strive and achieve makes one appreciate the strife and achievement. Embrace adversity and the thrill of meeting the challenge. Perseverance is still a valuable character trait—even today.”
Source: ”From Bluegrass to Blue Water – Lessons in Farm Philosophy and Navy Leadership” (Fidelis Publishing-Oct 2022/Author-John Palmer) - All rights reserved
