Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-04-27
From the N. Y. Com. Advertiser. April s.
DEATH OF GEN. ARMSTRONG.


Another distinguished citizen has taken his f.
nal departure from the republic. General JoHN
ARMSTRONG died at his seat in Red Hook. Ouch.
ess county, on Saturday last, at the advanced age
OF eighty-tour Though for nearly thirty wears
past living in retirement, General Armstrong has
at different times occupied large space in the
public mind, and has filled several exalted statops.
lie was native of Pennsylvania, and al the
close of the war of Independence an officer in the
continental aTmy-a major we believe. The first
act of his life which marked him as an uncom
mon man, and which has invested his name with
greater historical importance than any or all Of
his other acts, was the part he took In the armv
discontents which broke out at Newburgh, at the
close of the Revolution.
Inc readers of history need not be informed
that just as the great drama Of the Revolutionary
conhict was closing, the infant republic was
threatened with an additional act more fearful
IMAM any that had preceded it. Having no farther
use, as they supposed. for an army, iealousies
were rising up against it, both in and out of Con.
sress; Its merits were acknowledged with UNI
Willingness, and there was an evident reluctance
10 hliliment OF the public engagements, in re-
gard to their pay. On the other hand, the off.
GERS, who had wasted their fortunes, and devoted
the prime OF their lives to the public SERVICE were
chafed by the neglect which they already began
to experience. Congress, they had now but too
much reason to fear, if it had the power, had no,
the inclination to do them Justice.
In the Autumn of 1882 the officers deputed
committee, at the head of which was General Nc.
Dougall, TO present memorial i'm their behalf to
congress, respecting arrears of pay, and also for
the purpose of securing the execution of the res.
oiutions OF Congress of 1880, for communication
OF half pay for limited period. Little or no pro.
gress, however. was made in the matter for sever.
al months, and in March 1888, information of the
signature OF the prelmnares of peace was re-
ceived-the first natural consequence of which
would be the disbanding of the army, while yet
10 stlIft
unacknowledged. Thus circumstanced, and in
view OF their past suerings, their existing wants
and and their gloomy prospects.-the officers wera
exasrera'ed to high degree Of Indignation.
At this moment, viz: on the 10th of March.
the first of the celebrated "Newburgh Letters;
aPPeared-being circulated anonymously through
The army. 1t was written with uncommon vipor
and eloquence-bearing strong resemblance in
the iorce and pungency Oe its style to that of The
great masked master Of inveciive, Junius, The
appeal created profound sensation. 1t went home
TO every heart. It's object was to induce the army
not TO suffer itself to be disbanded but to demand
Justice from Congress in arms. The crisis was
Iu'l OF peril. Washington saw in an instant that
'he fruits OF The seven years struggle were liable
10 DC lost In a inoment-ihat the victorious lau-
reis then entwining their brows would wither and
iade ere the ensuing summers sun had shone up.
on them. The incendiary paper had proposed a
pubic meeting of the general and staff officers
ana OF one oihcer also from every company. The
emmander-in-chef, with his wonted sagacity, in.
stead OF attempting to stem the bursting storm in
lis teeth, wisely resolved to direct it. To this
end, In the orders Of the following morning while
the spirit OF the address was rebuked in suitable
terms, meeting was invited by the commander
in-chief 10 confer together upon their grievances,
but the time OF holding which deferred few
days later than had been proposed by the incen.
diary writer.
This order was followed by SECOND letter from
the masked writer, marked by the same pungency,
the same indignant eloqucnce, and the same ener-
gy, as the first. But the commander in-chief had
gained a great point by the delay. 1t enabled
MN to bring all his great personal popularity and
Inc power OF his great name to bear upon the of
hcers, by appeals to their patriotism and their req
SON; and when the day for the meeting arrived.
the subdued temper of the officers enabled the
commander-in-chef TO shape their proceedings as
ne Pieased. lie delivered an address to them,
iuii OF sound sence and noble sentiments No
person was hardy enough, says Marshall to on
pose the advice given by the commander.in-chief,
and resolution, moved by General Knox, and
seconded by General Putnam, was adopted, ssas-
suring him that the officers recprocated his affec-
Tomato expressions with the greatest sincerity of
which the human heart is capable" Resolutions
were adopted of very proper character, renew.
ing their demands upon Congress, but i'm proper
terms, and appointing committee TO urge their
application. General Gates was chairman of this
meeting, and the resolutions were drawn by a
~
Brooks and Captain Howard.
In TINS connexlon we will repeat an incident
once related to us by the late Major Fairlie. of
this city. The ma or was lieutenant in the rev.
oiu'ionary army at the close of the war,-a Young
man, full of spirit and enthusiasm, and ready for
adventure. He had thoughtlessy been induced
TO embark In the project Of Armstrong, and was
accustomed to meet in concaye with the officers
who had been seduced to Join the conspiracy-
not, however, that they thought it exactly a con.
sPlracy, but only combination of patriotic men
10 obtain their rights--to demand that Justice to
which they were entitled at the hands of a coun.
try they had been serving so faithfully and go
long. The last meeting of the conspirators, ac-
cordng to the Majors relation, was broken IN in
most unexpected manner, and under circumstan-
ces which efectualy prevented their ever conve4
ming again. They were assembled in the night
thirty or lorty OF them-ardent, hot-headed Young
men--in place, as they supposed, of perfect Sc.
crecy, and wlthou: the knowledge as they i'm
agfned, oil any who were not in the plot. There
'hey were In long room, as snug as so many
mice In cheese, maturing their plans, and not
douDung OF their success, when suddenly the
door opened, and in stalked the majestic form Of
washington! He walked directly through the
room, with solemn visage and lofty tread, glanc-
ing MS eyes at the conspirators on either hand,
until he reached the head of the room, when he
turned round, and gave them look Of mingled
sorrow and Indignation, which went to their ins
most souls Never, said the major to us, have
seen such look: and never did a set of fellows
ieei cheaper than we did. They skunk off as they
could, ''and l. for my part" he added, "never
knew how got away ~
The storm, so sudden and so threatening be-
Ing thus happily diSsipaIed the comma nd rim.