The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-10-07


? The revolution was over. The eigh
!; years conflict had ceased, and the war
riors were to separate now forever
. turning their weapons into ploughshares
and their camps into workshops. Th
spectacle, though sublime and gloriou
one, was yet attended with sorrowfu
feelings for, alas in the remains o
that gallant army of the patriot soldiers
now about 10 disband without pay, with
out support, stalked poverty, want anc
disease. The country had not th'
means to be grateful
The details of the condition of many
of the officers and soldiers at that period
according to history and oral tradition
were melancholy in the extreme. Pos
sessing no means or patrimonial inheri
tance to fall back upon-tbrown out OF
even the perilous support Of the soldiers
at the commencement of winter, and
hardly fit for any other duty than that
Of the camp-their situation can be as
well imagined as described.
A single instance, as the sample OF
the situation of many of the officers, as
related of the conduct of Raron Stuben,
may not be amiss. When the main
body of the army was disbanded at New
burgh, and the veteran soldiers were
bidding parting farewell to each other,
Lieut.. Col. Cochran, an aged soldier OF
the New Hampshire line remarked, with
tears in his eyes, as he shook hands with
the baron
"For myself, 1 could stand it but
my wife and daughters are in the garret
of that wretched tavern, and l have no
means of removing them"
"Come, come," said the Baron,
+" don't give way thus. l will pay my
respects to Mrs. Cochran and her
daughters"
When the good old soldier had left
them, their countenance were warm
with gratitude /; for he left them all he
had.
In one of the Rhode Island regiments
we're several companies of black troops,
who had served throughout the whole
war, and their bravery and discipline
were unsurpassed. The Baron observed
one of these poor wounded negroes on
the wharf, at Newburg, apparently in
great distress.
+" What's the matter, brother soldier 7"
Why Master Baron, l want dol
lar to get home with, now Congress has
no further use for me 20
The Baron was absent for few
moments, and then returned with a
silver dollar, which he had borrowed.
"There-it is all l could get. Take
it." .... s.......a ...
The negro received it with joy, hailed
sloop which was passing down the
river to New York, and, AS he reached
the deck, took off his hat and said
"God bless Master Baron 20
"These are the only single illustra-
tions of the condition of the army at
the close of the war. Indeed, Wash
ington had this in view at the close of
his farewell address to the army at
Rocky Hill, in November, 1888.
"And being now about to conclude
these, his last public orders, to take his
ultimate leave in short time of the
military character, and bid fnal adieu
to the armies he has so long had the
honor to command, he can only again
offer, in their behalf, his recommends
tions to their country, and his prayer to
the God of armies"
"May ample justice be done them
here, and may the choicest of Heavens
favors both here and hereafter attend
those who, under divine auspices, have
have secured innumerable blessings for
others.
"With these wishes, and this benedic-
ton, the commander-in-chief is about to
retire from service. The curtain of
separation will soon be drawn, and the
military scene to him will be closed for
ever" r..la.. .., .U
The close of this " military scene" l
am about to relate.
New York had been occupied by
Washington on the 25th Of November.
A few days xfter he notified the Presi-