Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-05-06
MISCELLANY Y.
Washington's Farewell to the

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Can tyrants but by tyrants conquered be,
And Freedom find no champion and no child
Such as Columbia saw arise, when she
Sprang forth Palas, arm'd and undefled ?
Or must such minds be nourish'd d in the wild,
Deep in the unpruned forest. midst the roar
Of cataracts, where nursing Nature smiled
On infant Washington! Has Earth no more
Such seed within her breast, or Europe no such
shore Byron.
conflict had ceased, and the warriors were now
to separate forever, turning their weapons into
ploughshares, and their camps into workshops.
The spectacle, though sublime and glorious
one, was yet attended with sorrowfnl feelings
for, alas in the remains of that gallant army
of patriot soldiers, now about to dsband with
out 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, according
10 history and oral tradition, were melancholy
in the extreme. Possessing no means or pat
rimonial inheritance TO fall back upon-thrown
out of even the perilous support Of the soldier
at the commencement OF winter, and hardly fit
for any other duty than that Of the camp-iheir
situation can be as well imagined as described.
A single instance, as a sample of the situa-
iion Of many of the officers, as related of the
conduct Of Baron Steuben, may not be amiss
When the main body of the army was disband-
ed at Newburgh, and the veteran soldiers were
bidding parting farewell to each, Lieut.. Col.
Cochran, an aged soldier of the New Hamp-
shire 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. ,
Come, come, said the Baron, don't give
way thus. I will pay my respects 10 Mrs.
Cochran and her daughters
When the good old soldier left them their
counenances we're warm with gratitude; for
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, and their
bravery and discipline were unsurpassed
The Baron observed one of these poor wound
ed negroes on the wharf at Newburgh, appa-
rently in great distress.
What's 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 Icould get Take it,
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 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 of his farewell address to the army at
Rocky Hill, in November, 1888:
"And being now to conclude these, his
last public orders, TO take his ultimate leave
in short time of the military character,
and to bid final adieu to the armies he had
so long had the honor TO command, he can only
again offer, in their behalf, his recommended
tions TO their country, and his prayer to the
Gud 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 secured innumerable blessings
for others.
With these wishes, and this benedction, the
commander-in-chiefis is about to retire from SER
vice. The curtain of separation will soon be
drawn, and the military scene to him will be
closed forever
The closing of this military scene' am
about to relate.
New York had been occupied by Washing
ton on the 25th of November. A few days
after, he notified the President of Congress
which body was then in session at Annapolis
in Maryand-that as the war was now closed
he should consider it his duty to proceed thence
and surrender to that body the commission
which he had received from them more thar
seven years before.
The morning of the 4th of December, 1888
was sad and heavy one to the remnant of the
American army in the city Of New York
The noon of that day was 10 witness the fare
well of Washington-he was to bid adieu to
his military comrades forever. The officer.
who had been with him in solemn council, tht
privates who had fought and bled in the 'heady
fight under his orders, were to hear his com
mands no longer. The manly form and digni
fed countenance Of the great captain wa
henceforth to live only in their memories
As the hour of noon approached, the whole
garrison, at the request of Washington himself
was put in motion, and marched down Broa
street, to Francis tavern, his head quarters
He wished to take leave of private soldier
alike with the officers, and bid them all adieu
His favorite light infantry were drawn up i
line, facing inwards, through Pearl street I
the foot of Whitehall, where barge was i
readiness to convey him to Powles Hook.
Within the dining-room of the tavern wer