Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-01-04
WASHINGTON.

Every thing which relates to the life
and actions of this great and good man,
cannot fail to interest every reader whose
bosom is warmed by American feelings
Of all men, the name of Washington must
be most dear to American hearts; and as
the years roll away, instead of being lost
in distance, the more brilliant do his vir-
tues appear, and the more strongly con-
viicad are we OF the true greatness Of his
character. There is monrnlu plea
sure," says the eloquent DIR. Coilyer, /" in
recalling the actions and reviewing the
feelings Of those who are gone before
Time has effected changes by hisislow de-
vasiations, which speak to The heart; and
we cannot hear the voice Of years depart
ed, without feeling orr attention arrested
and, amid the suspension of our employ
mentss giving reverence TO the testimony
ofthose, whose wisdom, snatched from that
all destroying hand, remains upon record
for our instruction"
The following interesting anecdote Of
the father Of orr Republic, we find in Bis
sets continuation Of Hume aud We do moi
recollect TO have met with it in any other
place. 1t Illustrates, In most forcible
manner, the over-ruiing hand Of Provi-
dence, in directing the operations Of
mans mind, in moments when he is least
Of all aware Of it. This curious incident,
irod, which it appears that the life Of the
hero was in imminent danger, took place
during some skirmishing day or two pre-
vious to the battle Of Brandywine, and is
detailed in letter from Major Ferguson,
who commanded rifle corps in advance
OF the Hessians, under Gen. knyphausen,
TO his friend in England. The letter IN
question gives the following account:
Eve had not lain long, when rebel
officer, remarkable by Hussar dress,
passed towards our army, within bun
bred yards Of my right flank, not percei-
wing US. He was followed by another
dressed in dark green and blue, mounted
on bay horse, with remarkably high
cooked bat. | ordered three good shots
to steal near to them aud fire at then; but
the idea disguised me; recalled the or
der. The hussar, in returning. made a
circuit, but the other passed Within hun
dred yards of us, upon which advanced
from the wood towards him. Upon my
calling, he stopped; but after looking al
me proceeded. | again drew his attention
and made signs TO him TO stop, leselling my
piece at him; but he slowly cantered hi
way. AS / was within that distance Al
which, in the quickest firing, | could have
lodged half dozen balls 10 or about him
before he was out of my reach, ! had only
TO determine; but ii was not pleasant TO fire
at the back Of an unoffending Individual
who was acquiiting himself very coolly Of
his duty so let him alone. The day
after. bad been telling this story TO some
wounded officers who lay in the same room
with me, when one Of the surgeons who had
been dressing the wounded rebel officers
came in and told us, that they had beer
Informing him, that Gen. Washington was
all the morning with the light troops and
only attended by French officer in hus
sar dress, he himself dressed and mounted
in every point as above described. | am
not sorry that did not know at the time
who it was. Conn. Mirror.