Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1853-07-14

| Oul W puullC lLdl lOulh, OOi'
Washington. whom l cannot but hope
Providence has hitherto preserved in so
signal manner for some important SER
vice 10 his country He was then made
commander-in chief of the army of Vir-
ginia. Thus on the very threshold of
manhood. George Washington had IN ore
! soldrly fame, and had done more to de-
serve it, than any general of modern times
at that age. Wolfe and Napoleon Bona
parte did splendid things in their early
years; but Washington showed himself
beyond both, and bore heavier response
bilities than ei.heS. This should be re-
m mbered by those who affect to think
( that the American llberator is not 10 be
placed nigh on the rolls of soldiership-
Indeed if Washington. was not great
soldier-as Hannibal was great soldier;
full of foresight, strategy. promptness and
patience. he could not have held his mil
itary truncheon for year in the war of
the Revolution. The English armies
were not the only things he had to con-
quer. He had TO overcome the caution
and reluctance Of Congress. who would
not give him an army lest he should make
himself king. For the arduous busi
ness he was TO perform, he had moi so
much an army as loose military force,
oming and going from his camp under
its own state eaders-like the desultory
clansmen of old, marching. temporarily
with their chiefs 10 aid the sovereign in
his campaigns. In wold. having peru
sed the history of our eight years strug-
gle, you lay down the book and say,
Washington himself was the source and
the soul of that ever memorable warfare.
Another general would have lost all pa
tience. head, hope, courage-everything.
But he stood up in the midst of the storm
and discourag cement. lived down all dis
trust. and held right on with fortitude
of which the world has given no similar
example in ancient or modern times. If
Washington was not a great soldier, we
really do not know where to look for one
on all the rolls Of history.
The dea tn illness of Washington was
short and full of suffering. Having spent
three years at Mount Vernon after he
had ceased to be President, he was sum-
moned to depart. On the 18th of Decem-
ber, 100 nc epent some time in examin-
ing and marking the trees of grove near
the house. and on the l4th he was dead
man! On the 18th ne went out on horse
back, as usual, to look over his farms
The weather was very cold with snow.
hail and rain. On his return ne franked
some letters; and when his secretary, Mr..
Lear, expressed fear that he had got
wet, the General said he had not-that
his great Goa: had kept him dry. But his
neck was wet, and the death stroke had
reached his throat. He sat at dinner
without changing his dress. That day he
appeared as we'll as usual out the next
day, 18th. he complained of sore throat.
That evening-the last OF his life, and
not one in all that house could dream of
it-he sat in the parlor reading the papers
with Mrs. Washington and MIR. Lear. his
secretary. He very cheerful and, as
well as his hoarseness would allow, would
read aloud any paragraphs that struck
him. At his request Mr.. Lear read for
him the debates of the Virginia Assembly
on the election of the governor and SEN
ators. When the General had heard
what Mr.. Madison said against Mr.. Mon
roe, he was rather angry and spoke with
asperity. When he was going to bed Mr..
Lear advised him to take something for
his cold; but he refused saying: You
know l never take any thing for cold;
let it 60 as it came" Between two and
three o'clock next morning the General
woke Mrs. Washington. to say that he
was very unwell; and she could perceive
that he spoke with difficulty. But he
would not allow her 70 get up in the cold.
At dsybreak he could hardly speak; but
he desired that Rawlins, the overseer.
should come to bleed him. When the in
cision was made by the latter, the patient
said he did not think the orifice was large
enough. Mrs Washington said she feared
he was losing too much blood; but he ut
tered more! more' A gsrgle for his
throat was tried. but it would not go
down. Sal voltile. rubbed externally to
the throat. was then used; but the patient
could hardly bear the pressure Of the
hand. All this time he was sitting
When Drs. Craik and Dick arrived, they
put cantharides TO his ,hroat-bled him
again, and gave him gargle. which. how
ever nearly choaked him. About three
o'clock DIR. Brown arrived. and could do
nothing but take some more blood. The
physicians consulted, and felt all the des-
peration of the case.
AS the patient could now swallow
little. tartar emetic and calomel were ad
ministered, but without effect. At half
past four. he summoned Mrs. Washing.
ton, and sent for two wills from his desk:
one of them he bid her burn, and keep
the other. and was, of course obeyed.-l
During the day hesmade two attempts to
leav the bed; one at eight o'clock in the
morning. when he sat, dressed. by the
] fire. But he was obliged to lie down.