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

floated before him. Had not price been
set upon the head of Washington himself?
Did not all the leaders of the Revolution act
with this terrible alternative before them
Capture or defeat, the failure of the cause,
and the stout men who made up the Con-
gress of the people--W ashington himself,
the great, the revered-would each and all
hang from the gallows tree, as the bones of
ColgDy, Cromwell, aud others Of the truly
great have done before them, making that
halowed which was designed for type of
shame.
As thus he stood, he was reused by the
exclamation of Hamilton, who approached
unperceived; My God, this must not be-"
escaped from his lips, as he marked the
deadly paleness of his friend.
Blanch was instantly aroused. 81 have
decided" he said, laying his hand in that of
Hamilton, and they entered the presence of
Washington. Here each seated himself
silently before the table, At length Blanch
broke the silence by saying, 81 am ready
for whatever you require"
Tomorrow" replied Washington, and
his voice, though even in its firm tones, had
touch of huskiness unwonted to him,
shall have series of papers in readiness,
which desire to transmit to General Lee,
by the way of Morristown." Blanch look
ed up with smile Of surprise, as if the tor
turing ordeal which he had just passed in
his own mind, had been weak and child
ish waste of power, and he simply asked,
Am to know the nature Of these des-
patches 2"
Washngton's eyes were fixed upon the
papers before him, as he replied,
"They contain details respecting the an
tcipated attack of the allied armies upon
the City of New York"
Banch threw himself back in his chair
with the air of one overwhelmed with in
tense selEdisgust, which for the moment
bore down all other considerations.
"This is mere boys task, your excel
lency, had foolishly nerved myself for a
great sacrifice"
You will secure the papers carefully a
bout your person, descend the Hudson in
the rear the mountains; leaving them up
on your left, you will follow the gorge of
the Highlands, through the Cleave of the
Remapo, ordering your time SO that you
will do this before daybreak"
While Washington spoke this slowly and
distinctly, Banch arose to his feet amazed
at what he heard
"The Pass is in the hands of the enemyr'
he at length calculated.
Washington had resumed his pen, an d
seemed unconscious of the presence of the
speaker, while Blanch stood as If plunged in
reyerie, with his eyes fixed upon the I'M
changing aspect of Washington, but no
vague and dreamy reverie wasted the facul-
ties OF Wendell Blanch, as he thus stood ;
they were all kcenly alive in disentangling
the maze Of thought spread out before him.
Strange and bewildering surmises crowded
upon him, as to the motives of the Com
mander-in-Chief What could they be >
Was hc-the noble-the true--tle devoted,
after all. No--no-the ingenious blush
of yQz&h mautled his cheek, as the startling
and unworthy thought darted across his
mind yet why expose his measures to the
sure hazard Of being known to the foe p
The route prescribed was unusual, circuit
Gus, and the Pass of the Remapo in the
hands of the enemy. Why not take the
back road further to the North, which had
been constructed expressly for the use OF
the troops, in order to keep the commune
cation open between West Point and the
Jerseys Unable to solve the enigma, he
was still resolved to act At length bright
flush cast itself over his face, and sad
smile played with it as he broke the painful
silence.
" must double the ramparts Of the en-
envy, take any quantities of winged lead,
and be deprived of my papers"
Washington raised his head impatiently,
and answered in deep, stern voice,
Young man, your duty is to act in obe-
dience to orders, not to talk"
Blanch bowed, but turning to Hamilton
: he said,
81 shall be accounted a miserable dupe
, a braggart fool be it so one might choose
a more chiyalric and better understood as
} pect of adventure, but it is trlle to be RI
: diculous for the public good"
The bitterness of this trihing struck &c
the heart of Hamilton, and he yentured q
: few low words to the Commander-n-Chief
I but whatever might have been his sugges
ton, Washington shook his head, and con
tinued bent over his papers in manner thai
, showed, however much he might rely upon
: the readiness and breadth of apprehension
of his young friend in ordinary cases, where
t an emergency demanded simply hrmness Of
3 purpose, involving few conflicting elements
4 he relied solely upon his own Judgment
t Waving his hand in manner that showed
e the conference was, for the present, at al
: end, he'sat absorbed in his great plans, Ions
; after those who had obeyed his counsel had
= retired