Sunday dispatch. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1845-1854, 1852-03-21
Death Of Henry Gibson.

This veteran breathed his last Monday,
at Monroe, Orange county, at the advanced age
of l0l years and 26 days. He was the last sur
vivor of WashingtOn's Life Guards, and was
present in this city at the celebration of the one
hundred and twentieth anniversary of Washing
TOMS birth day, on which occasion, he was unan-
imously elected an honorary member of the Con-
tinentaIs. These veterans also resolved to pro-
vide for him for the few remaining days Of his
life, and with his consent, to bury him with fu-
neral honors. In accordance with this under
standing, the body has been brought to this city.
The funeral takes place tomorrow, and we trust
that all who can will join in doing honor to one
who was so directly connected with the great
struggle which gave our nation freedom and hap
piness. The city authorities, military, and civic
societies, have signifed their intention to join
in doing honor to the remains of this hero of the
Revolution
1t may not be uninterssting to give a brief
sketch of his connection with tie War for
Independence from Great Britain He enlist
ed into the Continental army in the city of Bos-
ton, 500 after the battle of Bunker Hill, and
was mus tered in the regiment of Colonel Henry
Dearborn. He was in the battles of White
Plains, Monmouth, and the Brandywine at the
latter of which he was wounded, having received
a ball in his left shoulder. lie accompanied
General Sullivan to the lakes in his campaign
against the Indians, and witnessed the surrender
of Cornwalls at Yorktown. As the life and
safety of the Commander-in-C Chief was deemed
by friend and foe at the time, as almost, if not
absolutely indispensable to the cause of liberty,
and as British gold was most lavishly used in en-
dcavoring to corrupt and disaffect its adherents,
the Guard was organized for the purpose of pre-
serving the General from the Vaccinations, in
trigues, and violence of both British and Tories.
1t was composed of the very best men that could
be selected from the army-men of sObriety, in
tegrity-tried courage of elevated and martial
appearance. The Guard consisted of one hun
drsd and seventy four men, one hundred of whom,
| including Gibson, were mounted, and attended
| their Chief in all bis rides marches; the rest
| did duty on foot, and were especially employed
in guarding his quarters. But even at quarters,
it is well known, that a portion of the Guard
was always mounted, and night or day, summer
or winter, storm or rain were ever patrollng in
the vicinity. Gibson saw the army dsbanded
at Newburgh, and take their departure for their
| homes The Guard was then drawn up on the
lawn before the old stone-house-now in care Of
and venerated General He said that he was
unwilling, contrary to their own wishes, to re-
tain them in his service any longer than the rest
/ of their companions in arms, but if any porior
of them would volunteer their services, he ", uld
be happy to have them accompany him to Mount
Vernon, and those on foot, volunteering for that
purpose should be mounted. Orders were ther
given, that at the tap of the drum the volunteers
should advance The drum tapped, and about
one hundred stepped forward, and among then
Henry Gibson. He attended his Chief to Vir
ginia saw him safely lodged in his own dwell
ing, received his final discharge from his owl
hands, and then with swelling emotions separa
ted from him for ever.