Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-07-08
GENERAL WASHINGTON.

ais" in describing the character OF Washington
gives life-like, moving, breathing description
his character and in imagination, the ''Father
his Country" stands before you. lie has been to
frequently represented cold, stately statue, pure
lofty and dignified; tIeadly, on the contrary, tru
describes him as an energetic, passionate, enthusi
astc man, whose heart beat in unison with those
his fellow men. This idea is ably indicated In
the following extracts which we make at random
'But it was the next year. when lieutenant
colonel, he marched back into the wilderness and
attacked the French, that his love of the excite
ment Of the battle most strongly exhibited ITSELF
AT the head Of only three companies, he continued
his difficult march until he came to the Great
Meadows, where he was informed, by the Half
King Tanacharison, his friend, that the French
were encamped within few miles of him. He
Immediately put himself at the head offorty men,
and set Oft to the Indian camp six miles Distant
IL was dark night in the latter part Of May, when
he started IN search of his first battle The sky
was as black as the forest, and the rain came down
IN torrents drenching the little band their skins,
ana they stumbled on over logs and rocks, and
Knocked their muskes against the tees as they
grouped about to find their way. The pattering
OF the ralndrops on the ree-tops above, and their
constant dripping the foliage below were the on
- oiOhc TIC around, save When
the musket barrel of some poor fellow, stumbling
In the gloom, rung against tree or rock or the low
word OF command from the lips of the intrepid lead
or, who strobe on in advance. They were all
night long going the six miles, and at sunrise ar
rived at the Indian camp. There, uniting with the
friendly savages, they marched in Indian file through
the forest, and fell like thunder clap on the aston
ished French After sharp skirmish ola quarter
OF an hour, in which the French commander and
Ten OF his men were killed. the whole of the re-
mainder were taken prisoners. This was Wash
lnston's first engagement, and the kind Of feeling
ne carried into it, and indeed brought out Of it, may
be inferred from his language. In letter home,
said he, "Ihedrd the bullets achiste, and believe me
there is something charming in the sound" There
spoke the bold young warrior to whom the rattle
of nusketry and thunder of artillery are the music
that his stern soul loves.
And again:
washington was not only cool in tile hour 0fdan-
ger and utterly destitute of fear but often impetu-
Gus, and sometimes apparently reckless. He fur
nishes striking exhibition of this in the severe
logging he once gave man who was trespassinp
on his plantation. This fellow was thievinG.
lawless character, and was accustomed to come in
his canoe across the Potomac, and landing in some
sheltered nook, hunt over the grounds Of Mount
vernon Washington was aware Of this, had fire.
quently reproved him for his conduct and warned
him to cease, but TO no purpose. One day, there
fore, hearing gun in the distance, he sprang into
ms saddle, and rode in the direction of the sound
The poicher was on the look out, and seeing Wash
lngton approach, ran for his canoe, and had Just
pushed it from the shore when the latter rode mp
Raising his gun, he took deliberate aim at Wash
ington, expecting to daunt him but, without stop
ping to think, he dashed up to the culprit and sez
ing his canoe, dragged it ashore. He then disarm-
ed him, and gave him thorough skinning,
Whicheecually cured his thleving propensities.-
Mon I.,,l,t
punishment OF a thief; but ii must be remembered
this was in Washington's younger days, and that
Inc daring and resolution which prompted him thus
To seize and punish desperate character, with a
loaded gun In his hands, and raised in the act 10
ire, were the same that him like tiiunderbolt
into the hottest of the fight, carrying destruction in
his path as he cheered the soldiers to the charge
1t was hard TO rouse him, but when his anger was
up,:t was the more terrible, from the very strength
against which it had risen.
Although he restrained his impulses when the
nations good required it, he was mpetuo,is fiery,
and hot-booded as Murat, or Capt. May, when
circumstances permitted it.
Napoleon once said that every one had his MO
7nent de ps"r-hs moment of fear. In this mo-
ment OF fear, a great advantage may be lost and a
whole campaign ruined. But one cannot point TO
the spot in NaShington's career where his irmness
forsook him for instant If to this quality of re-
solute courage, he added high chivalric feeling,
prompting man. in perilous crisis, todeeds Of per
sonal herolsm, it adds tenfofd to his power. I'his
washington possessed to remarkable degree. 1t
is little singular that great and daring act per-
formed by some emperor or marshall OF Europe be-
comes theme Of universal admiration, while, the
same thing done by Washington scarcely excites q
remark. One cannot mention an example of hero
ism that does not find lis parallel in him. Murat,
In paroXysm of passion, could spur all alone into
the fire ola Russian battery Washington did the
same thing at kipp's Bay TO shame his into
courage The world gazes with awe Napoleon
rushing over the bridge of Arcola and planting mis-
standard amid the storm OF fire that swept it -
Washington spurred up to the mumes Of the enc
my's guns at Princeton, and sat beneath his coun-
try s 1lag where the shot fell like hail about him.
--Bonaparte rallylng his broken troops at Maren-
go, and rolling back the battle on the foe, presents
noble spectacle; but Washington doing the same
thing at Monmouth, under the burning sun OF one
OF the hottest days ever witnessed in this country,
is nobler enc.
But with all his iervor and intensity of feeling,
there perhaps never was one more upright, straight
forward, and lust:
A BrUtis in justice; he did not allow personal
friendship to sway his decision, influence him in
the bestowment of avors. Fearing neither the car
mage of battle nor the hatred df men, threats moved
him no more than batteries; and what is stranger
STILL the strong aversion giving pain TO his friends
never swervud him firm the path duty. Sincere
in all his declarations, his ,oord ,uas nerer doubted
and hiS promise neUer broken. Entrusted finally
with almost spreme power, he never abused it.
and laid it dwn at last more cheerully than he had
taken it W. Bonapar,e vaulting to supreme com.
mand, s"zed it with avdity, and welded it with
out rt:Talnt The Directory obstructing his plans
he 'foke 1t up with the bayonet Cromwell did the
SINE with the Rump Parliament, and installed
himself Protector Of England, and even hesitated
long about the title Of king. Washington, fettered
worse than both, submitted TO disgrace and defeat