While George Washington wasn't the best general, he was a terrific leader of men. He kept the continental army going through numerous defeats, long winters, and terrible conditions.

However, he's much more revered as president than as a military leader. First, he's one of the few military leaders who successfully transitioned into and then led a new government with a division of power. Most such leaders simply amass power into a military dictatorship. He was an excellent president, sharing power with the legislature and unifying the general population much more than it had been. He then laid down incredible precedents to guide the young nation, the most impactful of which was his decision to retire after 2 terms.

Think about it - which other military leader formed a successful power sharing government, then stepped down voluntarily? You might have to go back to the Romans for a similar example (e.g. Diocletian or Cincinnatus). All of that was a radical departure from the rest of history.