The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1839-12-19

,CENIBER 10, 1889.
for the winter-a winter in which III
army suffered probably more than durin,
any winter of the war. at is affecting,
SAID one who lived on the spot, :. to hea
the Old people narrate the suferings Q
the army, when the soldiers were frequent
1 ~ tracked by the blood from their sor
and bare feet, lacerated by the rough ant
frozen roads over which they were oblig
ed TO pass. When retreating from tht
battle OF the Brandywine, Washing, OF
SAID that at leas. one thousand men are
barefoo!ed and have performed thei,
marches in that condition. Chances
had been made in the quarter-master's and
commissary's departments, contrary to
the Judgment of Washington, by which
the army was wretch edly supplied, and
at no time were their sul1er..ngs SO great
as tor a few weeks after they went into
winter quarters. On one OCCASION, when
there, Washington wrote:-ss For some
days there has been little less than IA
mine in camp. A part Of the army have
been week without any kind of flesh,
and the rest three or four days. Naked
and starving as they are, we cannot
emo gil admire the incompatible patience
and fidelity of the soldiery, that they have
not been, ere this, excited by their suffer-
ings TO general mutiny and dispersion. :"
Such was the scarcity Of blanke S, that
many Of the men were obliged to sit up all
night by the fires, without covering to
protect them; and in numerous instances
they we G so scaatily clad that they could
not leave their huts. When the encamp-
ment was begun at Valley Forge, the
whole number of the men was about
eleven thousand, of whom two thousand
eight hundred and ninety eight were UNI
fit for duty "being barefoot and otherwise
naked"
It was during this Writer also, that a
cabal was formed to destroy the reputa-
ton Of Washington, to SOW discussions in
the camp, and to spread discord through
out the nation.
It was at this period, and under these
circumstances, that the commander-in-
chief of the American armies was observ-
ed SO constantly to retire for the purpose
of secret devotion. Few scenes have had
SO much moral grandeur as this. Repeated
disaster aid defeat had dispirited the army
and the nation. Suffering to an extreme
degree was in the camp: and thousands Of
brave men were without the necessaries
Of life. The independence of the nation
was in jeopardy. Attempts were made
to stab the reputation of the commander,
and to degrade him from Office. Pro.
vision for the army was to be made
murmurs and discomfort suppressed; ca
lumny to be met; plans formed for a flu.
ture campaign; the nation to be inspirit-
ed and aroused; an active eoemy was in
the neighborhood, flushed with recen
victory, and preparing to achieve new
triumphs; and in these circumstances the
Father of his country went alone, ant
sought strength and guidance from the
God of armies and of light. The ear O
Heaven was propitiuus to his prayer; an(
who can tell how much of the subsequen
brilliant success of the American armle!
was in answer to the prayers Of the
American general at the Valley Forge
Who can help pricing American liberty
more, when he feels that it was purchased
not only by yalor and by blood, but tina
it was conferred in answer to ferven
PRAYER! Who can ever tread the ground
where the American army was then en-.
camped, and not recall the period when
the eyes of that great man were directed
to heaven, and when his knee bowed, and
when he breathed forth his fervent suppl.
cations for the salvation of his country?
To latest times it will, and should be, q
subject of the deepest interest, that the
independence of our country was laid, no
only in valor and patriotism, and wisdom
but in prayer. The example Of Wash
ington will rebuke the warrior or the
statesman who never supplicatcs the ble<.
sing of God on his country. 1t will be
the encouragement for him who plays fol
its welfare and its deliverance from dan
ger. The sceptlc never can plead his
name. The philosophic infdel can never
refer 10 him for authority. The atheist
can never enrol him among those who be-
lieve that the universe is without a Father
and a God. And in all future times it will
serve to enhance the value Of our liberty.
and be a bright spot in our history, thai
the Father Of his country approached the
Throne Of Mercy in the name of the Re
deemer, and that all weva!ue iii indepen.
dence and peace is closely connected, moi
only with the valor and wisdom, but will
the SECRET PRAYERS OF WASHINGTON.
Philadelphia.
s.DEATH OF THE STRIPED Pra-or an
illustration Of the present attitude Of thai
noted animal as Il appears IN New Eng:
land.'
This picture, Is by 10 inches, repre-,
SCENTS death mounted uDOn the back of the