The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1845-01-04

AS the hour OF noon nrproac he'd. The
whole garrl on. u; HE request OF v ush~
ington himself, was put IN molten aud
narched down Broad stiee! to Ftar.cis
tavern, his headquarters. lie wIsh7
cd 10 lake leave ri private soldiers alike
with The officers, and bud lLe.n all aule,i,
His iav"Itle !ight infantry were drawn uu
III line facing IN" ards, through Peal
street, 10 the ioot Of " hlie Hall, wheie
u barge VAS III readiness IL convey lrnl
10 Powlc,'s Hook. Nlihln the dining
room of the tavern we're assembled the
general and hed officers 10 take their tare-
! we'll.
Assembled there were Knox, Greene,
Sleuben. Gales, Clinton, and Others. who
had served with him faithfully and truly
in the scented field" bu, alas! where were
others who had entered the war With him
sevtral years before. Their bones cru,u,
bled III The soil from Canada to Georgia.
Montgomery had yielded up his life at
Qnebec, Wooster at Danbury, Woodruff
/ Mas barbaronsly murdered willis, a pris-
oner al the battle Of Long Island, Mercer
tell morally wounded a, Princeton, The
brave and chlvalrir l.aurens, afle, di,nls,.
ing the most heroic courage IN the trench
rs AT Yorktown, died in a rif,ng skirmish
IN South Carolna, the brave but eccentric
Lee was no longer living, and Putnam.
| like bel pless child, was stretched unon
the bed OF sickness. Indeed, the ba,tIe.
field and time had thinned the ranks
| which had entered with him in the con-
dict.
Washington entered the room-,h,
hour G! separation had come. As he
raised his eye. and glanced on the faces of
those assembled, a tear coursed down his
cheek, and his voice was tremuluus as he
saluted them. n or was he alone-AIpu.
albeit unused to the melting mood"
stood around him, whose uplifled hands
to cover their hrows, told that the tear,
which they III vain attempted to conceal,
! bespoke The anguish they could not hide.
Alter moments conversation, Wash
lngton called for glass of wine. twas
brought him-Turnng to his officers, he
thus addressed them:
"Wth heart full! OF love and qra.i-
| tude, now take my final leave of YOU.
most devouly wish your latter DAYS
may be as prosperous and happy as your
former ones have been glorious and hon
orable." He then raised the glass to his
lips, drank, and added. 81 cannon come
TO each Of you to take nv leave. hut shall
be obliged to you, if each of you vii!
take me by the hand'
General Knox, who stood nearest,
burst Into tears, and advanced incarable
of Observation-Disclosures grasped him
by Tie hand, and embraced him. The
officers came nd successfully and took an
alicclonale leave. No words were spo-
ken, bat all was the "sient eioQuence Of
tears" W hat were mere words at such
scene2 Nothing. 1t was the feeling of
The heart-lhrillmg, though unspoken.
When the last of the officers had ems
hraced him, Washington left the room
followed by his comrades. and passed
through the lines of light infantry. His
step was slow and measured, his head I'M
covered, and the tears flowing thick and
last as he looked from side to side a, the
veterans to whom he now babe at.ieu for
ever. Shortly an event occurred more
touching than all the rest A gigantic
soldier, who had stood by his side n,
Trenton, stepped forth from the ranks,
and extended his hand
farewell, my beloved General, fare
wel!"
Washington grasped his hand in con-
vnlsve emotion, in both OF his. All dis
clplne was now at all end, the officers
could not restrain the men, as they rush.
ed forward to take Washington by tho
hand, and the sobs and tears of The sol.
dlers told how Geeny engraven upon
their affections was The love Of their COM
manher.
At length Washington reached the barge
at White Hall and entered it, AT the first
stroke the oar, he rose, and turning to
the comp anions of his glory. by waving
his hal bade them silent adieu; their an.
swer was only in tears, officers and men
with glistenng eyes, watched the reced.
ing boa! ill the form Of lheir noble com.
mander vas lost IN the distance
Contrast the farewell of Washington te
his army at White Hall, in 1888, and the
adieu Of Napoleon to his army at Fon.
tanb!eau, in 1914, Tie one had accom-
pished every wish Of his heart; his noble
exernons had achieved The independence
of his country, AID he logged to retire to
the bosom Of his home--his ambition
was so! SIZED. lie fought for no crown
or sceptre, but Tor equality and the mn-
,uaI happiness of his fellow beings. n"
faint of tyranny, no breath of Islander. no
whisper of duplicily, marred The fair pro-
portion of public or priva;e iile-bul
ale was man, take him !or al in all.
We ne'er shall look upon his like again"