Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-11-18
"reminiscences Of The War of 1872.

The Hon Lemuel Sawyer. who was o
member of Congress in 1912, furnishes
the following interesting "reminiscences in
: a letter TO the editor of the New.York
Courier and Enquirer:-
we'll remember The occasion of Mid
Hamilton $ presentation of the flag of the
Macedonian. was present, though un.
Intentionally, at the grand naval ball Civ
en-. about the 18th December, 1912, bv
the citizens OF Washington TO Capt. Stew
art. in return for the one he had given 10
them little previous, on board Of his ship.
The ball was held at Tomlinson's Hotel
on Capitol Hill, where boarded; and lie,
ing somewhat mdisposed. had retired TO
bed just as the ball opened. The music,
and the regu ar vibration of tho floor to
The motion of the dance, kept me awake.
| considered, as was thus condemned 10
suffer the evil of the ball. might as well
compensate myself by its qualification -
| found i well filled with the beauty and
fashion OF the place, and honored with the
presence of Mr.. and Mrs. Madison, and
the heads the departments, among whom
was Paul Hamilton, the Secretary of the
Navy, his lady and two handsome daugh.
| iers,
In the midst OF our enjoyment, n, ubou,
| j O'Clock, Il messenger came to the door
and communicated some news secretly TO
the manager. They were then observed
to whisper something TO Mr.. Ham lion,
who had private conversation with the
, President. Immediately il was buzzed a
bout that messenger had come and was
waiting be uw, with the glad ,idings Of n
signal victory Of one of our ships over one
OF the British with equal force.
In moment. and without The leas, noise
or confusion, an arrangement was made
by the managers. 10 give full eject to the
fortunate coincidence. The Secretary's
| lmpaiience to run down stairs and NEE,
his own son was restrained, and n drlega-
ton of three gentlemen were appointed to
wait on Mid Hamilton and invite him up.
it'll the trophy of victory, OF which he
was the bearer, the flag of the Macedonian.
An opening was left through The crowd
Of spectators, from the door to the back
part OF the room. Secretary Hamilton
and his family were placed at the bottom
Of the passage. and in front of the door
white the President and his lady, with the
members of The cabinet, were arranged
on each side. A GREATNESS silence pre-
vailed. The ladies stood up on the seats,
between the columns that supported the
ceiling, the whole length of the room
gazing with intense in crest al the door.
| 1t NAV BE- mcntiond. tina, Mid Hamilton
had been absent two years, and that he had
escaped by n miracle, from the conflagra-
ton Of the Richmond theatre the winter
before, by breaking thro' the sash Of one
Of the upper windows, and leaping to the
ground, distance OF near 80 feet. At
length, the head Of the procession entered
the room, consisting of Mid Hamilton,
supported on each side by member Of the
committee. followed by train of gentle
men, having the captured fig.
Young Hamilton, seeing his parents
waiting for his approach with outs,retch-
ed arms, with modest demeanor and accel-
Grated steps threw himself into The arms
Of his mothet, who hid her face in his bos-
ON. overcome by her feelings of silent
joy; from thence he tore himself to grasp
his fathers hand in long and cordial
| Stiuhc, uiiu tiIuto ny TeCelNluS dEu TetuF0-
ing the enrap,ured embraces of his sisters.
| AS soon as this dramatic scene was o.
yer, one sudden burs, of huzzas re.ounded
through the room, The flag was paraded
and marched around the room to the tune
Of Hail Columba-after which II was
brought before Mrs. Madison and laid at
her feet, bu, she did not tread on it. as
some Of the opposition papers alleged. -
You may well suppose that this new and
unexpected feature in the ccre mony, gave
an increased zest TO the entertainment,
and tina: it went off with charming anC
enhanced gusto.
Young Hamilton was very handsor G
officer, and invested as he was with the
virgin honors ofths great naval victory.
which dissolved the charm of Brush ~
vncIbiliiy on the ocean, was the VINO.
sure Of all the fair eyes pree,en, bu, bs
bore his triumph and his 'nonors mack, ~
He was promoted 10 l',euten sncv. and in
that capacity was cur in TO by a chain
shot IN me acton of toe President with
The Endym'on' or rather British SQUAD
ron' OH Inc Toast of Rhode IsIard, few
moh'hs ATE r, while he was bravely dis
charging his dr,y under the gailant De.
caiur.