New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-02-11
sword of Washington.

lHtddietouB, ~ D., January, 1913.
Sword of Wnshiuston.
Our w aslington letters yesterday contained ao
account of the presentation to Congress of tn.
Sword of WASHINGTON and the Staff, Of FRANK
lin on behalf of Mr.. Samuel T. Washington Of
Virginia. We copy the following report of the
interesting ceremony from the ln,elgencer OF
Wednesday:
Mr. SUMMERS, Of Virginia, rose and addressed
the House as follows
Mr. Speaker: rise for the purpose OF dscharg.
inc an Office not connected with the ordinary busi-
ness Of legislative assembly. Yet in asking per
mission to Interrupt, for moment, the regular or
der of parliamentary proceedings, | cannot doubt
that tbs proposition which | have to submit will
be as gratifying it may be unusual.
MIR. SAMUEL r. WAsHlSGToN, citizen of Kan
awha county. in the commonwealth OF Virginia,
and one of my constituents, has honoied ms with
the commission of presenting in his name and or
his behalf to the Congress of the United States,
and through that body to the People of the United
States, two most interesting and valuable relics
connected with the past history of our country,
and with men whose achievements, both in the
field and in the cabinet, best illustrate and sdorp
our annals.
One is the Sword worn by George Washing
ton FIRST as a Colonel ia the Colonial Service Of
Virginia. in Forbes sgcampaign!agains the French
and Indians, aud afterwards during the whole pc.
riod of the War of Independence as Commander
in-Chief of the American Army.
IT. is plain conteau or hanger, with green Hill
and silver guard. On the upper ward of the scab-
bard is epgrayen, i. Bailey, Fish Kill. 1t is
companied by buckskin belt, which is secured
by silver buckle and clasp, whereon are ensraven
the letters e. W. and the figures 1857 These
are all Of the plainest workmanship, but sutstaR
,al, and in keeping with the man and the times to
which they belonged
The history Of this sword is perfectly authentic,
and leaves no shadow of doubt as to its identity.
The last viii and testament of Gen. Washington,
bearing date on the 9th day of February, 1899,
contains among great variety of requests, the
following clause:
ITO each of my nephews William Augustine Washing
ton, George Lewis George S,ep,os Washington Bu>lron
Washington, and Samuel Washington, give one OF tn.
they are to choose ia the order they are named The
swords accompanied with injunction not to unsheau
.ed.ence or IN defence o. Their cous,ry and It's rights
in The latter keep them unsheahed and prefer
falling with them in their hands 10 the reinquishmen.
thereof"
In the distribution Of the swords hereby devised
among the FIVE nephews therein enumerated, the
one now presented fell to the share of Samuel
Washington, the devisee last named in ,he clause
OF the will which have just read,
This gentleman, who died few years since in
the county Of kanawha, and who the father OF
Samuel T. Washington, the donor, l knew well.
have often seen this sword in his possession, and
received from, himself the following of the
manner in which it became his property in the d.
vision made among the devisees
He said that he knew 1t to have been the side.
arm of Gen. Washington during the Revolutionary
war; not that used on occasions of parade and re.
view, but the constant serrsce Sword OF the great
chief; that he had himself seen General Washing
ton wear this Identical sword, he presumed, for
the last time, when, in 1894 he reviewed the Viz
giaia and Maryland forces, then concentrated at
Cumberland under command of General Lee, and
destined to cooperate with tho Pennsylvania and
New.Jersey troops. then assembled at Bedford in
ssppressing what has been called the /" Whiskey
Insurrection"
General Washington was then President Of the
United States, and as such was oon,yander.in-chel
OF the army. Il known that it was his intention
tolead the army in person upon that occasion had
he found it necessary. and he went to Bedford and
Cumberland prepared for that event. The condi-
,ion of things did not require it, and he returned to
his civil duties at Philadelphia.
Mr.. Samuel Washington held the commission Of
captain at tina, time himself, aad served in that
campaign, many of the incidents Of which he has
reiated TO me.
Hewas anxious to obtain this particular sword,
aud preferred it 70 all others, among which was
me ornamented and costly present from the srea,
Frederick.
at the time of the division among the nsphews,
without ins'masins what his preference was, he
locoseiy remarked, that inasmuch "a he was the
only one Of theia who had participated in military
service. they ought to pesm;, him 10 take choice
This suggestion was met in the same ,piri. in
which it was made, and the selection BEING awa I'd
ed him, he chose this, the plaines,, and, in,rin.
cally, tho leas. valuable Of any, simply because il
was the &c Battle Sword"
am also in possession of the most satisfactory
evidence, furnished by Colonel George Washing.
ton, of Georgetown, the nearest male rclstise now
living OF Gen. Washington, as to tho identity of
this sword. His Information, as to its history, was
derived from his father, William Augustine Wash
ington, the devisee FIRST named the clause of the
will which have read; from his uncle, the late
Judge Bushrod Washington, Of the Supreme Court;
and Major Lawrence Lewis, the acting executor
of Gen. Washingsoa's Will; all of whom concurrcd
in the statement that the true service seord was
that selected By Capt. Samuel Washington.