Both Phillis Wheatley's poem "To His Excellency, General Washington" and Philip Freneau's poem "A Political Litany" address the struggle for independence in America during the Revolutionary War, but they do so in different ways. In "To His Excellency, General Washington," Wheatley addresses George Washington directly and praises him as a hero and a leader in the fight for American independence. She describes the "tumultuous war" and "dire events" that have taken place, and she attributes the success of the American cause to Washington's leadership and the "Great Jehovah's aid." She also references the "shrieks of groaning ghosts" and the "dreadful storm" of war, acknowledging the sacrifices and hardships of the American people in the struggle