Washington telegraph., 1852-08-11

Such as Columbia saw arise, when she
Sprang forth Palas, arm'd and undefled ?
Or must such minds be nourished in the Wild
Deep In the unpruned forest midst the roar
Of cataracts, where nursing Nature smiled
On infant Washington7 Has Earth no more
Such seed within her breast, or Europe no such
shoreap
The revolution was over Eight years
conflict had ceased, and the warriors were
now to separate forever, turning their
weapons into ploughshares, and their camps
into workshops. The spectacle, though a
sublime and glorious one, was yet attended
with sorrowful feelings; for, alas. in the re-
mains of that gallant army of patriot sol
diers, now about to depart without pay.
without support, stalked poverty, want and
disease. The country had not the means
to be grateful.
The details of the condition of many OF
the officers and soldiers at that period, ac-
cording to history and oral tradition, were
melancholy in the extrene. Possessing no
means or patrimonial inheritance to fail
back upon-thrown ont Of even the peril
Gus support of the soldier at the commence
ment of winter, and hardly fit for any other
duty than that of the cmnp-their situation
can be as well imagined as described.
A single instance. as a sample Of the sit
uation Of many officers as related OF the
conduct of Baron Steuben, may not be
amiss. When the main body Of the army
was disbanded at Newbargh, and the veter-
an soldiers were bidding parting farewell
to each other, Lieutenant Colonel Cochran,
an aged soldier of the New Hampshire line.
remarked, with tears in his eyes, as he shook
hands with the baron
''For myself, | could stand it; but my
wife and daughters are in the garret OF that
wretched tavern, and have no means Of
removing them
"Cone, come, said the Baron, "don't
give way thus. | viii pay my respects to
Mrs Cochran aud her daughters"
When the good old soldier left them, their
countenances were warm with gratitude, fos
he left them all he had.
In one Of the Rhode Island regiments
were several companies of black troops, who
had served throughout the whole war, their
bravery and discipline were unsurpassed
The Baron observed one Of these poor ne
grocs on the wharf, az Newburgh, apparent
ly in great distress.
'What is the matter brother soldier? -
''Why, master Baron, / want dollar to
get 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 il. -
The negro received it with JOY, hailed a
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 Baronn'
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 of his farewell address to the
army at Rock Hill, in November, 1888:
And being now about to conclude these,
his last public orders, to take his ultimate
leave in q short time OF the military char
acter, and to bid d final ad;eu to the armies
he has so long had the honor to command,
he can only again offer, in their behalf, his
recommendations to their country, and his
PRAYER to the God of armies
1Iay ample justice be done them here,
and the choicest Of Heavens favors, both
here and hereafter, attend those who, under
divine auspices, have secured innumerable
blessings for others.
With these wishes, and this benediction,
the commander-in-chief is about to retire
from service The curtain of separation
viii soon be drawn, and the military scene
to him will be closed forever
The closing of this military scene" l
am about to relate.
New York had been occupied by Wash
ington on the 25th Of November A few
days after, he notified the President Of
Congress-which body was then in session
at Annapolis, in Maryland--that as the war
was now closed, he should consider it his
dutyto proceed thence and surrender to that
body the commission which he had received
from them more than seven years before.
The morning of the 4th of December,
1888, was sad and heavy one to the rem
nant of the American army in the city of
New York The noon of that day was to
witness the farewell Of Washington-he
was to bid adieu to his military comrades
forever The officers who had been with
him in solemn council, the privates who
had fought and bled in ''heady fight under
his orders, were to hear his command DO
longer. The manly form and dignifed
countenance of the great captain was
henceforth to live only in their memories.
AS the hour of noon approached, the
whole garrison, at the request of Washing
ton himself, was put in motion, and march
ed down Broad street to Francis tavern,
his headquarters He wished to take leave
of private soldiers alike with the officers,
and bid them all adieu His favorite light
infantry were drawn up in line, facing in
4b,.o,,cr oh Donrl -troot To tho foot Of