The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-01-02

- he crossing OF the Della though there
the figure OF the Commander in Chief is some
what diminut've and wanting in maiesty-l re-
cognized instantly the likeness to the chef Of my
mid'lght party. had never seen the wing man,
but there II was, the living embodiment of all we
have so clearly conceived from the thousand paint
ings, prints, and statues over thu land He sat
very much in the picture have mentioned on
his white war horse, his right resting skimbo
on his hip and the who,e presence full OF dignity
and repnse. The face of singnlarly ashy
color. but at times, it d in the moonlight
that fell so full upon il, | saw, OF fanced saw,
something like glitter or brilliant reflection from
Il; the eff ct was unearthly. Two of the Others
were young men and seemed like aids, the fourth
took to he the adju'ant that commanded us to
halt; the trumpeter wore streaming long black
hair, and carried large old fashioned trumpet
sung over his shoulder. The colored man
round hat with monstrous cockade, and bsstrode,
l remember, black cropped horse.
" w here do you ride at this hour 7" said the
General The tones were hollow the grave /;
my friend closed up by my side, aud thought
would fall from her horse.
I'VE were tempted by his charming night to
an uDtlmeiy ride, and are now on our way home to
Boston" ! replied as well | could.
'' Have you met with any of the soldiery2o
"No sir"
"These passages are not safe, and you had bet.
ter iorrgo your midnight rides for a time. Pass on.
Shonld you meet any Of our men, the countersign
to mig ht is " Mount Vernon
Slowly, and in the same quiet order as before,
they wheeled about, and, without word, struck
inIo The gentle tro, they were moving a, wien we
met them. We had not got quarter Of a mile
from the spot when my Trend, stli clinging close
to my side, drew up her horse and cried. 3" liark
We stopped again and heard what a, high moon
and in crowded city, has always strange aSso-
citation to me, the long drawn blast of trumpet
coming back on the strong air. If you haze ever
heard solitary trumpet at midnight in wIld place.
you can perhaps conceive something OF its startling
effect on us, coupled with what we had Just wit
messed.
In these days Of spiritual philosophy, it may be
easy to think slghtingiy Of his incident, but m
imaginative friend and rode home in sore puzzle
and at rapid rate All lad impressed US alike
both bad recognized the likeness If the Commander
IN ChIet and my companion, yersed than in
the 'perS0ARtl" of distinguished men insisted that
one OF the gentlemen, slight elegantly formed
man, was Col. Hamilton. Gpn. Washington had
been dead many years; but If the spirits Of the de-
parted, taxing form, did come back to this earth
what more likely than that he should BIZ found re-
visiting the scenes of his latter soldier life?
We agreed to say nothing. II was the last ride
we ever took by day night. That year II. friend
die' and ior years was perplexed dlone to know
what had seen. dwelt on all the real or sup
posed apPafltions have readof and tried to ex-
plain this sight on some of the theories giyen in
the explanation Of them bnt there were too Of us
1t was bright nnong hive had been talking of
any thing but soldiers, or revolutionary scenes and
the whole thing came rpon US as unlocked for as
snow in summer time. Mask balls were not com
mon here, and if this had been party returning
from one, At pust have been OF description thar
would have been beard of in those quiet davs in
and all around Boston No Inquiry IN that d rec
ton (and | made mnch) ever gave me the least
Clue tn my puzzle. never knew what to make Of
that military party 1T hdnHted me for years and
whenever looked on a picture OF Washington In
military costume expected to hear again " Chal.
lenge them u
My early friend had been long dead. had rid
den through Clyde street many i'm, since though
never atier night fall and my strange incident
amd many changes and new pngagements re-.
turned 70 me ouly at long intervals, and then as
one OF The things should never urtavpi. could
sdsiiy nave made captaI OK the supernatural of IT,
bu TIL now | never mentioned it but TO one lodi.
vldual One day gentlemen, (now living and who
though he has seen nearly seventy winters is still
" model horseman and staiwar; ktiight.') was
showing me some curious matt rs in his house,
not 4 thousand miles ont of town In sort of
ease, IN frame, such as the od-clothes men use
To display their garments upon, hung an entire suit
oi the continental uniform OF the finest material
aud preserved with no little care: even the long
military boots stood there in uost pristine polish,
An OF a sudden the appariuon returned to me. |
looked at my friend, and again the case on the
bottom Gf i'll saw a dressed pow'de red wig, and
silver wirework Got az 'ittus "a am. nasks OF
here were the features of Hundons celebrated bu,t
to the LIE. "Challtnge them, Adjutant!" ex-
claimed |. One moments stare, and then what
a roar from the commanderin-clief, who meyer
sIui'rd.
Whenever | now see anything bordering on the
Superna ural, always look it steadily ia the face,
aud then wait pat eutly for time 10 solve the seem
my puzzle