The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-12-17
ANECDOTES,

From the Gusts Recolections and Private
Memoirs of the Life and Character of Wash
ington.
General Washington, though usually
grave and reserved, sometimes INDUCED in
pleasantres. During the memorable re-
treat though, the Jerseys in 1776, the
American army, hard pressed by the enc
my, was engaged IN passing one of the
small rivers, which crossed its line of march,
Captain L. of the cavalry, (now the venera-
BILE Colonel Tallmadge, revolutionary pa
triot and soldier of ConnecticuN when
about TO plunge into the water, was accost-
ed in piteous accents by chaplain, who
begged the assistance of the captains
horse in passing the stream. Oh, never
mind, my good sir, observed the cavalier.
they will not hurt you, as you wear black
coat. The reverend gentleman was, how
ever, unwilling to trust to the respect which
the troops of Sir William Howe might have
for the clerical cloth, and springing up be-
hind the mounted soldier, away they foun-
dered through the river, both becoming
completely wetted before they reached the
wished for shore. The poor chaplain, his
teeth chattering from the effects of his win
try immersion, yet rejoiced to have so far
escaped the foe, had just begun to shake
the water from his dripping garments, when
he found himself accosted by the Command
or in Chief, who had been standing on the
bank, anXiously observing the passage of
the troops, and now good humoredly re-
marked to his surprised and shiyering hear
er-Really, sir, you appear to exhibit the
almost coolness on this trying occasion.
In 1871, when the combined armies reach
ed Williamsburg, preparatory to the siege
of Yorktown, the General in Chief, accom-
panied by the Marquis de La Fayette. Gen.
Rochambeau, Knox, and others, repaired
on board the Vile de Paris, the flag ship
of the Count de Grasse, to consult on those
combined operations which were speedily
to take place. The Admiral, in his great
enthusiasm for the American Hero. no soon
err behcld the object Of his admiration upon
the quarter deck of the Vile de Paris, than
he hugged him in his arms, rapturously ex-
clamng-my dear 6We General, my dear
title General. The person of De Grasse
was gigantic, but the term petit, little
when applied to the noble and commanding
form of Washington, produced an effect
upon the the risblc muscles of all present.
which took some time to subsidc. The for
eign officers made great efforts to compose
their visages within the hounds of true po-
likeness, while our own jolly Knox shook his
fat sides in boundless glee.
The fate of De Grasse and the Vile de
Paris is well known to history. That mag
nifcent ship was a present from the city of
Paris to the French king, She rated 10
guns and 1900 men. On her arrival in the
Chesapeake, it is said that on her quarter
deck, flowers and tropical plants were in
terspersed amid the engines of war; while
her sides, covered with bright varnish, gave
to this superb vessel a most brilliant and
imposing appearance. On the memorable
10Th of April, de Grasse, deserted by some
Of his captains, his own ship totally dismast-
cd, large proportion of his officers and
crew killed or wounded, nobly maintained
the unequal contest. and refused to yield to
any ship carrying less than an Admiral's
flag. AT length the Barhuer, 90, Sir Sam
uel Hood, ranging along side, the colors OIL
! Frence were lowered on the poop Of as
bravely defended vessel as hath adorned
the annals of the French marine, either be-
fore or since the 10Th of April, 1852. Lee
thcsc who would put their trust in Princes
mark the fate of gallant De Grasee. Wher
he struck, but three men remained alive OF
the quarter deck of the Vile de Paris, one
of whom was the admiral; yet, on his re
turn to his native country, the King, whose