Not all conspiracies are theory.

General George Washington was not only the commander of the Continental troops—he was the embodiment of the hope and dream of independence and the liberty that came with it. Along with that role, however, came mortal danger. Washington became the target of a sinister assassination plot. How serious was this plot? Serious enough that it was rumored members of his own personal guard were involved. The whispers lingered for years, but was it truly a conspiracy, or just another theory?

Orders came directly from Washington, requiring the presence of all troops in the state of New York, except those stationed on Long Island. At the location designated by the general, a crowd of 20,000 gathered. Washington’s presence was certainly noted that day, but he was not the focus. All eyes were fixed on the wooden gallows and the noose gently swaying in the summer breeze.

At 11 a.m. on June 28, 1776, Thomas Hickey—a member of Washington’s personal guard—was executed for treason. His crime: involvement in the plot to murder the commander-in-chief. On that often-overlooked day in American history, Washington sent a message loud and clear: Treason against the cause of liberty would be dealt with swiftly—and fatally.

The crowd dispersed. The troops marched the same roads back that they had come down earlier that morning, with one impression likely etched into their minds: Conspiracies don’t hang. Traitors do.

Our heritage, along with history, reminds us that a bold stand may be all the statement that is needed.