Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-03-29

ton of so many parts to the whole-such
were certainly the features of the remarka-
bic events preceding the attack of the ALI
ed armies upon the encampment of Corn
wallis at Yorktown.
AT this time Washington and his staff &C.
cupied IL low stone building in the village
of Newburgh, a spot venerated yet as the
headquarters of Washinton. A place so
sacred should be the Mecca of the region,
where young and old should repair to reil-
ume the ashes of patriotism or to enkindle
its fire. Here, before plain walnut table
covered with diagrams and dispatches, sat
the Commander-in-Chief late at night, ma
turing the plans ofthe coming eventlul cam
paign. Absorbed and anxious as he was,
there was a singular repose upon the fine
features as they were bent over his task
An iron lamp, suspended from the ceiling,
cast the light upon the top of the head, re-
veaing its most classical and harmonious
proportions, the hair slightly thinned about
the temples, and llcaked with the touches
of frost. As the light stole downward, leav-
ing halo upon the scarcely contracted and
noble brow, it showed the thoughtful depth
ofthe clear, almost melancholy eye, and left
the strongly compressed lips nearly in shad-
ow.
As he perused paper his hand instructive
ly grasped his chin, not with a phlosophic
touch as we see in the picture of Franklin,
but with firm grasp, the fingers spread up
on the side of the cheek and throat, an at
ttude which indicated, not only iirmness
of general character, but concentration
of purpose for the present contingency
He had just received dispatches from
General Lee, by the way of Morrlstown,
where portion of the northern army was
located, by which he learned that Sir Hen
ny Clinton, anticipating an attack of the al
! lied arms upon the city of New York, had
Withdrawn a part of the forces of Cornwall
/ lis at CONFERENCE.-The, too, at time when
the army of General Greene was making its
way to the north. Washington saw at once
the Importance of a change of operations.
The American troops, suffering and enfee-
bled, were Ill able to compete with supe-
rior and high spirited foe, and it became
doubly measure not only of feeling but
humanity, to spare them the hazards of loss
as well as defeat Every man was needlul
to the country, and every moment import
ant in the cause.
He resolved at once to concentrate all the
force of the allied arms against CORVALLIS,
leaving Sir Henry Clinton unmolested in
the city of New York, conceving that a
bold and successful campaign in Virginia,
would decide the fate of the war, with less
waste of blood, and less hazard to the cause,
than an attack against Sir Henry. In Or
der to do this it was essential to leave the
Impression still upon the mind of the latter,
that the movements of the army were de-
signed against himself He was now busy
in preparing dispatches to the various points
of the American army, demanding their CO.
operation, as also to the Commander of the
French Fleet, directing him to repair to the
Chesapeake.
The inmates of the House were buried
in sumber, except the personal friend and
aid Of Washington, the accomplished Ham
llton, who walked back and forth under the
piazza, waiting till the labors Of the great
man should cease. AS he thus moved, oc-
casionally immergng into the moonlight,
and looking out upon the broad waters of
the Hudson heayng up silver wavelets to
the night he looked less like the counsel
Tor of statesman and soldier, than young
, cavalier whose gallant bearing betrayed the
dreams of AMBITION and whose sllken curls
and intellectual head, told that whether in
| lady's bower, or tented field, or stirring TO
1 rum, the proudest of those dreams might
well be realized
, A slight signal from within called him to
the side of the Commander-in-C
Hamilton, | see nothing wanting to oul
entire success but one further step to ensure
the delusion of Clinton, aud which may in
duce him to withdraw the fleet from the
; Chesapeake"
True" returned the other, can inter
cepted messenger will do this"
e "That is the point. Can we procure ont
e trusty and willing!"
: Hamilton shrugged his shoulders. " W.
: have trusty men in abundance, dear Gener
!, al-but a solitary man to risk the certain
J hazard of a score of bullets requires pecu
: liar mettle"
: Washington's hand had been for some
! moments pressed over his lips so that the
= expression there could not be detected bu
/. the fine, open countenance of Hamilton
: betrayed pang, which might have been
n loretaste of his subsequent doom. lie lean
n ed his head upon the table, and sinking hi
It ioreht ad into the palm Of his hand, botl
d were moment silent.
. SIT must be done, Hamilton" said Wash
g ington in low voice.
e 81 have been thinking of one, nobl
d fellow, crossed in love, too, which will max
IS him Indifferent to the future, at least for
while. 1t isn't necessary to tell him NOR
It than that he is to take papers a certain
y route, to certain destination"
It This time Washington's features contrac
IS ted sharply, and his face assumed that rig
i Id aspect we SO often see III drawings q
d him.
e sit is the necessity of war, Hamilton
n every man must take his life in hands il
l. times like these"
= 81 am thinking Bonch is just the ma
n you may have seen him with me- fine
n handsome youth, who has taken the wron
l. side in the war, according to his tory mi'
l. tress."
" 1t is necessary to use despatch-by tC
"a morrow we must be on the move"
d " | make no doubt Banch is awake nov
e, there is nothing so wakeiul as your discon
ID forted lover l will send for him directl
and it NAV be we shall do double seryic