New-York daily tribune., 1843-02-06
Gepras swashlnaton.
ANECDOTES RELATED 81 JOHN ADAMs, sgsl

The following account of the appointment OF
General Washington 70 the supreme Command OF
the continental army, jane 18th, l775, has been
plaoed in our hands By gentleman in whose We
racity wc hive full confidence. Wecaanot doubt
the authenticity OF the anecdotes be gives. This
subject has of late years been brought before the
pubic under various versions, and has in everyv
shape attracted attention. The private Journal
Rarrating a conversation with John Adams, senior,
before that great and good rnas was called TO his
final rest. The relation il more in detail than
that which has hitherto been made public; but il
substantially corroboratss the former versions of
the Causes which led to the appointment of Wash
ngto0. Lest we should in any way affect the an
ecdete. we give il in the words OF the narrator.
The army was assembled az Cambridge. Mass.
under General Ward, and Congress was sitting at
PhiIa9elphia. Every day new applications in be-
half OF the army arrived. The Country were ur-
gent that Congress should legalize the raising of
the army; they bed, what must be considered
and was a law considered Only a mob, g band OF
armed rebels. The country was placed in cir
cumstanccs of peculiar difficulty and danger. The
struggle had begun, and yet every thing was wits-
out order. The great trial now seemed to be in
this question. Who shall be the COMMANDMENTS
Chief 1t was exceedingly important, and was
!elt 70 be the hinge which the contest might
turn for against US. The Southern and the
Middle States, warm and rapid in thec zeal for
the most paft, were jealous OF New England, be-
cause they felt the real physical force was here;
what then was to be done All New England
adored Gen. Ward; he had been in the French
war, and went out laden with aurels. He was
scholar and statesman. Every qualification
seemed to cluster in him; and it was confidently
believed that the army could not receive any
appointment over him. What then was to be
done Difficulties thckened at every step. The
struggle was to be long and bloody. Without
union all was lost. The country and the whole
country must come in Oae pulsation must beat
through all hearts. he cause was one, and the
army must be one. The members had talked de-
bated, considered and guessed, and get the deci
sive step had not been taken. Al length Mr.. Ad
ans came to his conclusion. he means of re-
solving 1t were somewhat singular and nearly as
follows: he was walking one morning before Com
eress Hall apparently IN deep thought, when his
cousin Samuel Adams up to him and said,
. " hat is the topic with you this morning
Goa the army, the army, he replied. u m
determined to 20 into the hall this morning, and
enter on fnl detail OF the state Of the colonies
decisive steps NJ whole aim will be to induce
Congress to appoint day for adopting the array
The legal army of these united colonies of North
America, and then to hint al my election of Com
nander-in. Chief"
Wcl," said Samuel Adams 81 like that.
cousin John, but on whom have you fixed as that
Commandcrl'
Il will tell you-George Washington, of Vir-
gina, member of this house.
Oh replied Samuel Adams, quickly, :" that
will never do, never
q 1t must do, it shall do, said John, =" aad for
these reasons: the Southern and Middle States
arc both to enter heartily in the cause; and their
arguments are potent. they say that New Eng
land holds the physical power in her hands, and
they fear the result. a New England army, a
New England commander with New England per
severance all united, appa them. For this cause
they hang back. Now the only course is to allay
their fears, and give them nothing to complain of ;
and this be done in no o,hcr way but by op.
pointing Southern Chief over this force, and
then all will rush to the standard. This policy
will blend us in one mass, and that mass will be
resistlcss'
At this, Samuel Adams seemed greatly moved
They talked over the preliminary circumstances,
and John asked his cousin TO second the motion.
Mr.. Adams in took the floor and put forth all
bis strength, in the dclineations he had prepared
all aiming at the adoption of the army. He was
readyto own the army, appoint commander, vote
supplies, and proceed TO business. After his speech
had been finished some doubted, some objected
and some feared. His warmth increased with
the occasion, and TO all these doubts and hcsta,
tions lie replied.
"Gentlemen, if this Congress will not adopt
this army before ten moons have set, New Eng land
will adopt it, and she will undertake the struggle
aloEc-yes, with strong arm, and clean con-
science, sho will front the foe single handed /"
This had the desired effect. They saw New
England was neither playing nor to be played with,
they agreed to appoint day. a day was fixed.
1t came, Mr. Adams went in, took The floor,
urged tie measure, and after some debate, it
passed.
The next thing was to get commander for his
army, with supplies, &c. All looked TO Mr..
Adams on the occasion, and he was ready. He
took the iocr and went into Il mlnute deiineetion
of the character of General Ward, bcstowins on
him the encomiuns which then belonged 10 one
else. Atthc end of the eulosy, he said but this
i, not the man I have chosen" He then went
into the delinealon of the character of Com
mander-in-C Chief such as was required by the pc
cuar situation Of the Colonies at that iuucturc.
And after he had presented the qualifications in
his strongest language, and give the reasons for
the nomination he about to make, he said
''Gentlcmen, | know these qualifications are
high but we all know they are needful, al this
crisis in this chief. Does any say they not
to be obtained in this country! in reply have TO
say they are; they reside la one of cur own body,
and he is the person whom | now nominate,
GEORGE WASHINGTON, OF VIRGINIA.
Washington, who sat on Mr.. Adams right hand
was looking him inlently the face, 10 watch the
| ha, ~, ~
inc it would be his sprsng from his seat the minute
ne heard ii, and rushed into adjoining room.
Mr.. Adams had asked his cousin Samuel to ask
&