Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-03-19
Mlislellaneoils.
Of the War Of 1912

The Hon. Lemuel Sawyer, who member of
Congress in 1872 furnishes the following interesting
"reminiscences in letter to the editor OF the New
York Courier and Enquirer -
we'll remember the occasion of the presentation
BIZ Mid. Hamilton, of the flag of the Macedonian.
was present. though Internationally at the grand
naval ball. given about the 18th of December, 1912,
BY the citizens of Washington, to Capt Stewart, In
return for he had given them little previous, on
board his ship.
The ball was held at Tomlinson's Hotel, on Capt.
tol Hill, where | boarded and being somewhat In
disposed, had retired to bed just the ball opened
The music and the regular vibration of the floor to
the motion of the dance, kept me awake. j consld-
cred as l was thus condemned to suffer the evil
of the ball, l might well compensate myself
by Its qualification | found it we'll filled with the
beauty and fashion of the place. and honored with the
presence Of Mr.. and Mrs. Madison, and the heads OF
the departments, among whom Paul Hamilton,
the Secretary of the Navy, his lady and two hand
some daughters.
In the midst of our enjoyment at about eleven
o'clock messenger came to the door and communi-
Gated some news secretly to the manager. They
were then observed to whisper something privately to
Mr. Hamilton who had a private conversation with
the President Immediately il was buzzed about that
a messenger had come and was waiting below, with
the glad tidngs of a signal victory of one of our
ships over Of the British, with equal force
In moment, and without the least noise or confu-
sion, arrangement was made by the managers. to
give full effect to the fortunate concident. The Sc
creary's Impotence to run down stairs and meet his
son. was restrained and delegation of three gentle
men were appointed to wait on Mid. Hamilton and
invite him up, with the trophy Of victory of which he
was the bearer the flag of the Macedonian.
An opening was left through the crowd of specta-
tors from the door to the back part of the room.
Secretary Hamilton and his family placed at
the bottom of the passage and in front of the door,
while the President and his lady, with the members of
the Cabinet were placed on each side. GREATNESS
silence prevailed The ladies stood up the back
seats, between the columns that supported the ceiling,
the whole length of the room, gazing with intense
interest at the door.
II nav be mentioned that Mid. Hamilton had been
absent two years. and that he had escaped, by mir
acle from the confagraon of the Richmond theatre,
the winter before, by breaking through the sash of
one of the upper windows and leaping to the ground
distance of thirty feet. At length the head of the
procession entered the ROOM consisting of Mid. Ham
ilton, supported each side by member of the
committee, followed by train of gentlemen, having
the captured flag
Young Hamilton, seeing his parents waiting his
approach with outstreched arms, with modest demea-
nor and accelerated steps threw himself into the
of his mother, who mid her face In his bosom,
come by her feelings of silent Joy; from thence he
tore himself to grasp his fathers hand in long and
cordial shake, and ended by returning the enrapured
embrace of his sisters.
As soon as tnlS hIgniy dramatic scene was over,
one sudden burst of huzzas resounded through the
room. The flag paraded, and marched through
the room to the tune Of Hail Columbia-after which
it was brought before Mrs Madison, and laid at her
feet but she did not tread it, Of the oppo-
sition papers alleged. You may well expect that this
and unexpected feature in the ceremony, gave
increased zest to the entertainment, and that II
went off with charming and enhanced gusto.
Young Hamilton was very handsome officer, and
invested as he was, with the virgin honors of this
great naval victory which dissolved the charm of
British nvincibility the ocean, the cynosure
of all fair eyes present but he bore his triumph
meekly He was promoted to a heuenancy, and in
that capacity cut in two by chain shot, in the
action Of the President with the Endymion, rather
a British squadron off the coast of Rhode Island
few months after, while he bravely discharging
his duty under the gallant Decatur.