The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-11-27
Washington's Farewell to his ARMY


OF cstaracts, where nursing Nature smiled
Oniniant Washington Has earth no more
Such seed within her breast, OF Europe no such
shore & BYRON.
The Revolution was over The eight years
conflict had ceased, and the warriors were now to
separate forever, turning their weapons into
ploughshares, and their camps into work shops
The spectacle though sublime one, was vet at.
tended with sorrowfu feelings for alas in the
remains Of the gallant army Of patriot soldiers,
now about to dsband, without pay, witqout sup.
port stalked poverty. want and disease--the
country had not the means to be grateful
The details Of the condition Of many Of the Of
hcers and soldiers at that period, according to
history and oral tradition, were melancholy il, the
extreme. Possessing no means or patrmonial in
herltance to fall back upoh--thrown out Of even
the commencement Of winter and hardly fit for
any other duty than that of the camp--their si,u.
alton can be as well imagined as described.
single instance, as a sample Of the situation
Of many Of the officers, as related Of the conduct
OF Baron S,euben, may not be amiss. When the
main body Of the army was dl,tanded Mt New.
burgh, and the veteran soldiers were bidding n
parting farewell to each other. Lieut.. Col Coch.
ran, an aged soldier Of the New Hampshire line
remarked with tears in his eyes as he shook
For myself could stand it but my wife aud
daugh,eas are in the garrct Of that wreched tav.
en- aud have no means of removing them"
Come come" said the Baron, don't give way
thus, will pay my respects 10 Mrs q, aud her
When the good old soldier left them. their
oountenances were warm with gratitude; for the
Baron lett them all he had
In one Of the Rhode Island regiments were sew.
eral companies Of black troops. who had served
throughout the war, and their bravery and disci-
pllne were unsurpassed. The Baron observed
one of these poor wounded nsgroes on the " haif
at Newburgh, apparently in great distress.
What's the matter, brother soldier !" enquirud
the Baron.
Why, Master Baron. want dollar TO go
home with now the Congress has no further use
for me"
The Baron was absent for few moments. and
then returned with silver dollar, which he had
borrowed.
There it is all could get Take it,"
The negro received it with joy, hailed a
s'oop which was passing down the river to New
loIk, and as he reached the deck took off bic
hat md said
tod bless Master Baron,'
These are only single illustrations Of the
! condition of the army at the close of the war.
Indeed. Washington had this in view at the close
ol his farewell address to the army at Rocky
Hill, IN November, l7S3:-
Ard being now to conclude these his last
public orders to take his ultimate leave in short
time Of the military chaaacter and to bill a-fnal
adieu 10 the armies lac had SO long had the honor
| to command. he can cnly again offer, in their be.
half llis recommendation to their country, and
/ his prayers to the God Of ramics.
! MAY ample justice be done them here, and
may the choicest Of Heavens favors. both here
aud hereafter. attend those who under di.iue
| auspices, have secured innumrrtbe blessing, to
others With these wishes, and thus heuedcton,
| the commander in chief l. about to retire from
service. The curtain of separation will soon be
drawn, and the military scene to him will be
closed forever"
| The closing o! lis military scene am about
| to relate.
! New York had been occupied by Washington
on the .5th Of November. y few days after he
notified the President Of CougTess-wlch body
was then in session at Annapolis in Mary land
that as the war wa, now closed he should con.id
er It his duty to proceed thence and surnndcr to
that body the commission which he had received
| ircm them more than seven year. before.
| The morning of the 4,h Of December lISS was
sal and heavy one to the remnant ofIhc Amer
I lean army in the city Of New York Tie
noun of that dav was To witness the farewell OF
! Wa.hiugtUu--le was to bid adieu to the military
comrades forever. The officers who had been
! with him IN solemn counsel, the prlyatcs who had
fought and blvd in the head fight under his or
der, were To hear his commands no longer. The
manly form and Giguiicd countenauce Of the
great captain was henceiurth to live only II
their memories.
A. The hour of noon approach, the whole gar
r.suu, at the request of Washington himself Wa
put in motion, aud marched down Broad street t,
Francis. rn,cn hi- head qrart,rs. lie wished
To take leave of private soldiers alike with oif
ccrs, aud hld tlcm all adieu. His favonte light
infantry w'Je drawn up IN line facing inwards
through Pcarl street Ia the foot Of Whitehall
where barge was ~ readiness 10 convey hlm 10
Powell Hook
Within the dining room Of the tavern were
gathered the general and field officers 10 take
their farewell.
Assembled th,re, were Knox Green. S,euben
Gates Clinton aud others, who had served with
him faithfully and truly in the tented field /,
alus where were Others that had entered tie
war with him seven wear hrfnrc, Their bones
crumblcd in the soil from Canada to Georgia
Montgomery had Welded up his liz" at Quebec
Wooster frll at Donoury, Woodhull had been
harbaroUsly murdered while prisoner at Long
Island, and Mercer fell mortnlly wounded n,
Princeton; tho brave and chlvh'rc Luurrrs. af
ter displaying the most heroic courage IN the
trenches at Yorktown, died in n trlfling skrmisl
in South Carolina. the brave but eccentric Lee
was no longer living and putnam, like hel ples-
chld. was stretched upon n bed of sickness. In
deed, the battle field and time had Timed the
ranks which had entered with him into the con
h.ct.
Washington entered the roorn-the hour ol
separation had come A. he raised his eyes aud
glanced on the faces NJ those assembled, tear
cuurscd down his check and his voice was trem
ulous as he ssutcd them. Nor was he alone
men albeit unused to the melting mood, stood
around him, whose upliited hands, to cover their
brows, told that the tears, which they in vain Mt
tempted to conceal bespoke the anguish which
they could not hicc Turning to the officers he
/ thus addressed them:
with a.hcAu full Of love and gratitude now
take my leave of you ] most devoely wish
that your latter days may be- as prosperous and
happy rs your former ones have been glourou,
and honorable" lie raised the glass to his lips
brand aud added:
81 cannot csne to each Of you to take my leave
bu, shall be obliged to you II each will take mc
by the hand"
Gen. Knox, who was nearest, burst into tears
and advanced, incapable OF uterance. Washing
ton grasped him by the hand and embraced him
The officers came up succes,vely aud took an
ai'cchonatc leave. No words were spoken, bat
all was the silent eloquence Of tears, What