Sound familiar?

The following quote is taken from Thomas Paine: Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Birth of Modern Nations by Craig Nelson. Bold emphasis is mine.

Historians have cited [the battle of Germantown] as one more example of General William Howe’s failing to press his advantage, to administer one final coup de grace. The Howe brothers were in fact caught in an untenable situation, being a general and an admiral attempting reconciliation, to regain colonial hearts and minds. That King George III would insist on continuing the fight no matter what he was told by his officers on the ground would directly inspire the drafters of the American constitution to grant the power of war solely to Congress.

What's that saying about those that forget the lessons of the past?