Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-03-15
wAsHINGTON,s
F A r T. w E l. L TO II S A r M Y 4,
DECEMpER dfh l79A
'ECEMBER 4th, 1888.

Sprang forth Pallas, arm'd and undefed ?
Or must such minds be ncurnishd in the wild,
Deep in the unpruned forest midst the roar
or cataracts. where Nursing nature smiled
On infant Washington Has Earth no more
Such seed within her breast or Europe no such
shore ! BYRON.
The Revolution wus over. The eight years
conflict had ceased, and the warriors were now
to separate forever, turning their weapons in.
TO ploughshares, and their camps into work.
shops. The SPECTACLE though sublime and
glorious one, was yet attended with sorrowful
feelings for, alas in the remains Of that lit
tie gallant army of patriot soldiers, now about to
dlsband without pay without support stalked
poverty, want and dscase-the country had not
the means to be grateful.
The details of the condition of many of the
officers and soldiers at that period, according to
history and oral tradition, were melancholy in
the extreme. Possessing no means of patr:-
monlal inheritance TO fall back upon-thrown
out of even the peri!ous support of the soldier
at the commencement of winter, and hardly fit
for any other duty than that Of the caml,-their
situation can be os well imagined as described.
A single instance, as a sample of the situa-
'ion Of many of the officers, as related of the
conduct of Baron Steuhcn, may not be amiss.
When the main body of the army was disband-
ed at Newburgh and the veteran soldiers were
bidding parting farewell to each other, Lieu.
tenant Colonel Cochran, an aged soldier of the
New Hampshire line, remarked, with tears in
his eyes. as he shook hands with the Baron
"For myself could stand it but my wife
and daughters are in the garret OF that wretch
them"
"Comc, come said the Baron, don't give
way TINS, will pay my respects to Mrs Coch.
ran and her daughters"
When the good cd soldier left them, their
counenances were warm with gratitude, for he
lett them all he had.
In one of the Rhode Island regiments were
several companies of black troops, who had
served throughout the whole war, and their
bravery and discipline we're unsurpassed The
Baron observed one of these poor wounded ne.
groes on the wharf, at Newburgh, apparently in
great distress.
"Whats the matter, brother solGier ~
"Why, Master Baron, want dollar to get
home with, now the Congress has 10 further use
for me"
! The Baron was absent for few moments
and returned with a silver dollar, which he had
! borrowed
"Therc. il sal ] could get-,ake it,"
! The negro received it with joy, hailed sloop
which was passing down tine river to New York
and, as he reached the deck took off his hat, and
| said
"God bless Master Baron"
These are only single illustrations the con.
dtion of the army. at the close Of the war. IN
deed, Washington had this in view, at the co,e
OF his farewell address to his army at Rocky
| Hill, in November, 1873
"And being now to conclude these, his last
public 'ers,'o take his ultimate leave in short
time of the military character, and to bid final
adieu 10 the armies he has 80 long had the ho
nor TO command, he can only again offer. in
their BEHALF his concentrations to their coun.
try, and his prayer to the God of armies.
"May ample justice be done them here and
may the choicest of heavens favors, both here
and hereafter, attend those who, under divine
auspices, have secured iunumerable blessings
for others.
"With these wishes, and this benedicion the
commander is about to retire from SER
vice The curtain Of separation y i'll soon be
drawn, and the military scene to him will be
closed forever"
The closing of this "mlit4ry scene," | am
about to relate.
New York had been occupied by Washing.
ton on the 25th OF November. A few days af.
ter, he notified the President of Congress,
which body was then in session, at Annapolis,
in Maryland, tha, as the war was now closed,
he should consider it bis duty to proceed thence,
and surrender to that body the commission
which he had received from them more than
seven years before.
The morning of the 4th of December, 1888,
was sad and heavy one to the remnan. of the
American army in the city of New York. The
noon of that day was to witness the farewell of
WasIington-he was TO bid adieu to his militia
ry comrades for ever The officers who had
been with him in the solemn council, the prl-
Yates who had fought aud charged in the hea-
| Wy fight under his orders were to hear his com.
mand no onger-the manly form and dgnlfed
countenance of the "great captain" was hence
forth to live only in their memories.