, 1843-01-14
Evacuation Of New york,
FIFrY-NINE YEARS AGO.

h'tiiouSu Tue evacuation oil the
city has been considered n local mat.
ter, aplertaininS almost entirely to
the city, yet. in many respects it was
lar otherwise. Ii was the closing I'D
OF the whole drama of the Revoiu.
ton. The British army which had
remained, held the city, and a large
sieet were at anchor in the bay. On
this memorable day. the e5th Nov,
1888, Just fifty nine years ago, the
splendid fleet. with the remains Of a
gallant army. left the shores Of Anne.
RIGA forever. On hat day General
Washington en,ered the city, at the
head of that '.liebcl army" which he
took command of in 1875, eight
years before. They marched down
the Bowerv. the only avenue into the
city, and then known as the Boston
road, followed by the friends of the
cause. and citizens who had been
prosecuted, and who had Tor even
years hecn expelled from the city.
The army was commanded on that
div bv Gen. Knox who, on reaching
Fott George, AT the battery, hoisted
the American c%olors, and fired a sa-
lutte Of thirteen cuns-the last boat
with British soldiers having left the
shore ust as the salute was fired.
The American Commander 10. Chief
took up his head quarters in the tav-
ern known as Black Sans. or Fran
els Tavern, which is now standing.
at the corner Of queen row.. Pearl
and Broad streets. Gen. Washing.
ton continued there till the 4th De-
cember, wien hi. fellow officers as
sembled for the last time, 10 meet their
leader, and when, as is recorded by
Marshall, he bid adiru 10 his comrades
in arms. This affecting interview
took place nj noon, when, with emo.
lions that were too strong TO be con-
cealed. and filing a glass, he turned
10 them and said. with 4 heart full OF
love and gratitude, IL now take leave
of you. must devouily wish that
your latter days may be as prosper.
nus and happy as your former ones
have been glorious and honorable"
Having drunk. he added, 81 cannot
come to each Of you 70 take my leave,
but shall be obliged, if each of you
will cone and take me by the hand"
Gen. Knox being nearest. turned 10
Tim, incapable of u;terance. Wash.
ington grasped his hand and embrac.
ed him. In the same name he took
leave Of each succeeding officer. In
every eve there was the ear Of dig
nified sensibility, and not a word WIS
uttered 1" interrupt the majestic 81
lence and the tenderness of the scene,
Leaving the room, he passed through
the corps at light infintry and walk
ed TO Whitehall, where n blrge wait.
cd to convey him to Powles' Hook
The whole company followed. il
mute and solemn procession. will
d, iected counien1nces, testisyingtcel
ings Of delicious melancholy, which
no language can describe.
Having entered the barge, he turn
ed to the company, and waving In
hat, babe them Il silent adieu. They
paid him the same a~flrc,ionate CON
pIimcnt, and after the barge had lei
Them returned in the same solemn
manner 10 the place where they hac
assembled"
There arc two venerable indivIud
ais living in this city, who participa
led in this solemn and ever memOra
bic occasion, and we're among TIT
number who received the embrace 0
the Father of his Country. These
are Major General Morgan Lewis
then Quartermaster General, ant
Major William Popham. both abou
ninety wears of age, and both in thu
endowment of comparative health
1t is a melancholy fact, that Gen
Lewis is, we believe, the only re
naming officer of the Revolution
that is a President of d cincinnati So
ciety.
; There is n incident, that occur
red at the time, which deserves a pas
, sing notice. The British left the fla
:. of their nation. which had waved TO
seven years, nailed fast to the flag
: staff, floating to the breeze, and hat
sIushed down the spar so as to pre-
vent any person from reaching III
top. An American sarior. with
hammer and a few pieces Of sticks a
%cIae,s or steps, soon reached the top
and tearing the British ensign iron
. its place, replaced it with the the'r
|, teen stars and stripes OF the Union
N. Y. Express.