Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-03-31
VOL. IX.-NO. 81.
Correspondence IF The Albany Erening Journal.
WASHINGTON'S OLD SERVANT.
WAsnINGroN. Feb &

WASH1NGTON'S OLD SERVANT.
WASHINGTON, Feb. s. ai
The spirit Of patriotism within me has
been refreshed this morning by communion
with a man whose existence constitutes a
unexpectedly the only link-which con-
meets the present with the long, long past. -
Having noticed that the bill passed the
House of Representatives granting a PEN
sion TO John Carey, who was the servant of
Col. Washington at Braddock's defeat. and
who also was his army servant during a part
OF the Revolutionary war, | enquired him
out, and to day the Hon. Mr.. Briggs Of
Massachusetts and the Hon. Mr.. Morgan of
our own state accompanied me to the old
veterans cabin, which is upon a branch of
the Potomac, about a mile from the navy
yard. We found him in good health and
with a strong feeling of gratitude to God
and his country at the prospect of a pen
sion. lie says that the people of Virginia,
thirty years agO, told him that if he came
to Washington he would be sure to get a
pension and though he had suffered many
years of disappointment, instead of COM
planning, he had been thankful for the mer-
cies and blessings he has enjoyed. W
WHeH we COuHilenCeu conversation Win
him his voice was tremulous and his utter
ancc difficult. But this, as his feelings
rose, was overcome, and he talked for an
hour and a half with much animation, e..
vincing remarkable intelligence, a strict re-
gard for the truth and a jus; sense of pro-
priety. He did not know how old he was.
but from information derived from persons
who knew him best, fixes his birth in 1929.
He says that he was several years older than
the Colonel" at Braddock's defeat
WAsnINGTON took him as a servant when
he entered the army in 1853, telling him he
must give away his fiddle, aud stop PLAYING
with dice, and he would take care of him,
and that he found him a kind, good master.
He gave us a brief but intelligent account
OF the disastrous battle in which the English
General fell. This living chronicle Of a
battle which occurred almost one hundred
years ago, from the lips Of one of the actors
in the same, was deeply interesting.
Mr.. Briggs showed the old negro a sword
belonging to General Washington, which
by many was supposed 10 be the one worn
at Braddock's defeat. After examining IT,,
the old man said that it was not so; that
the Colonel had two swords with him in
that campaign, both of which he had the
care of, and which he described. Mr.. b..
informed him that the sword came from
Washington's granddaughter but he persis-
ted IN saying that it was not used in that
campaign, as is the fact, for upon the belt
buckle &c. w. 1851" is engraven, showing
that II was made two years after that battle.
He then gave some accounts of scenes
on the Brandywine, in the Revolutionary
war, and of the surrender of CORVALLIS.
when he was again Westinghouse servant,
but with less distinctness, showing the ear
hest scenes were best remembered. When
he heard Of Washington's illness, he came
from his residence to Mount Vernon, ar
irving the day after the General died. AT
first he found nobody that knew him, or
who would allow him to see the remains,
but his opportunities finally brought some
of the family out, by whom he was recog-
nized.
AT the close of the war General Wash
ington gave him one of his military coats
which he has carefully preserved, and
values II as a relic above any price the
world can offer. This was shown 10 u.s.
1t is blue, with yellow ~facings, and large
metal buttons, six of which have been felo-
niously cut off by visitors. In looking at
and talking of this precious garment, the
old man frightened up and became enthusi-
astic. MIR. Briggs asked him what he would
take for the coat 2 He saw the question
was not in earnest, and barely replied,
Don't ask such a question, massa." Mr..
Morgan, with apparent earnestness, replied
"How much money shall | give you for it,
John = At this he drew up and replied
with spirit, that if he had nothing but rags
to wear, and nothing to eat, all The money
in the world could not buy that coat-But
he added, you may put it on as a heap of
ladies and gentlemen have done beCore.''
Having been with him more than an hour.
! spoke of going, but he urged us so earnest
ly TO stay, that we remained much longer,
listening with constantly increasing interest
TO one who has lived to more than fire
score and ten years. n
His mental faculties are vet unimpaired.
His vision and speech are affected, but his
hearing is good. His wife is more than
seventy years in junior, and his only CON-
panion and nurse. They live in a cabin
which he built before the late war.
The bill which has passed the House. un-
der the auspices Of Col. Talialerro and Mr..
Briggs, gives a pension of $50 per annum,
commencing in lS42. Its passage was oh
%stinaiely opposed by a Mr.. Merriwether, of
Georgia, who objected to the policy of PEN
sioning negroes. But | rejoice to say it
was the only vote against the bill