Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-07-12

yOo SSS s"ee -"
These anecdows, though simple in them.
..l,es nossess- no common character. Ihey
are TaFes Of the Days Of Washington, and Iales
Of the Heart. We proceed co. something o. a
graver sort. =
The President was dining, when az oheer
arrived from the Western Army with desPach'
e.. his orders requiring that he should deliver
them only to the Commander in Chief. ne
President retired, but soon reappeared, bearing
in his hand an opened letter. No change was
perceptible in his countenance, as addressing
the company he observed that the army OF 81:
Clair had been surprised by the Indians, ana
was cut to pieces The company soon after
retired. The President repaired to his pri'
vate parlor, attended by Mr.. Lear, his primer.
nal Secretary, and scene ensued OF which our
pen can give but a feeble description.
The Chief paced the room in hurried strides
In his agony, he struck his clenched hands with
fearful force against his forehead, and in pa.
roxism of anguish exclaimed: THAT brave ar
my, so oficered-B Butler, Ferguson, Kirkwood
such officers are not to be replaced in day
that brave army cut to pieces Oh, Cod;
Then turning to the Secretary, who stood a.
mazed at spectacle so unique, as Washing
ton In all his terrors, he continued 1T was here,
sir, in this very room, that | converscd with
St. Clair, on the very eve Of his departure for
the West. remarked shall not interfere,
General, with the orders of General Knox, and
the war department.; they are sufficiently COM
prehensive and judicious: but, as an old soldier,
as one whose early life was particularly engag-
ed in Indian warfare, feel myself competent
to counsel: General St. Clair, in three words,
beware of surprise; trust not the Indian; leave
not your arms for moment; and when you
halt for the night, be sure to fortify your camp;
again and again General, beware Of surprise.
And yet that brave army surprised, and cut to
pieces, with Butler, and an host ofothers slain,
Oh, God!' Here the struggle ended, as with
mighty efforts the hero chained down the re-
bellious giant Of passion, and Washington
became ahimself again" In subdued tone OF
voice he proceeded: But he shall have JUS
tice; yes, long, faithful, and meritorious serVi-
ces have their claims. l repeat-he shall have
Justice
Thus concluded scene as remarkable as rare.
1t served to display this great man as nature
had made him, with passions fierce and impe-
tuous, which, like the tornado of the tropics,
would burst for while in awful grandeur, and
then shew, in higher relief, serene and bril-
liant sky.
The first interview of the president with St.
Clair, after the fatal 4th of November, was no.
bly, impressive. The unfortunate general, worn
down BY age, disease, and the hardships of a
frontier campaign, assaulted by the press, and
with the current of popular opinion setting hard
against him repaired to his Chief, as to a shell
ter from the fury OF SO many clements. WASH
ington extended his hand to one WHO appeared
in no new character: For, during the whole Of a
long life, misfortune seemed ITO have marked
him for her own " Poor old st Clair hobbled
up to his Chief, seized the offered hand in both
OF his, and gave vent to his feelings in an audi
BILE manner. He was subsequently tried by a
commission Of Government, and proved to have
been unfortunate The means by which the
Commander in Chief obtained secret intelli-
gence from the enemy during the War Of the
Revolution, and more especially from New
York, the focus of Royal dominion, was a mat
ter of deep speculation to many. even of the
General Staff. 1t would have probably contin.
ued to be an affair of surmise only but for an &C
cident. Soon after the termination Of hostil.
tiles, Gen. Washington, attended BY two or
three favorite officers repaired to the book
store Of --, in New York, for the avowed
purpose of looking at some books On enter
ing the store, the General asked if the books
which'h had bespoken were ready. Will your
excellency De pleased 70 walk into lnlS room,
replied -, leading the way, every thing is
ready. The door was but imperfectly closed,
and the officers distinctly heard in succession
the chinking of two heavy purses Of gold, as
they were placed on table. The General soon
returned, --- assuring him that he should
be most happy, Gas heretofore) at all times, to
erecute his orders. The officers became convinc-
ed that it was -, the Kings official, who
had been in the secret service Of the Comman-
der in Chief of the American Armies during
nearly the whole Of the war Of the Revolution.
Suieide--Mr. Carrot Duryea, of Delmar
township, put an end to his existence, by ia
king, on Saturday afternoon last, about two
ounces of sulphuric acid, (oil of vitriol.> A
ware of his dreadful and lingering situation
after taking the poisonous stuff, to free HIM
selffrom pain and the agonies of life which he
was then enduring, he precipitated himself in
20 well thirty feet in depth, and eleven feet
water. Failing in accomplishing his design,
and receiving no material injury from the fall,
he sgain assembled from the we'll without any
assistance, procured razor, with which he cut
4 =