The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-05-31
Misfellanfons.
Of General Washing
TON as-COmmandcr-iM.

>S'-''''N ~
American Army on the 18th Of June, ITS, is
from the memoirs of John Adams, the elder,
now in course of publication.
The army was assembled at Cambridge, Mas
sachusetts, under Gen. Ward, and Congress was
sitting in Philadelphia. Every day new appli-
cations in behalf Of the army arrived. The
country was urgent that Congress should legalize
the raising of the army, as they were what must
be considered mob, band of rebels The
country was placed in circumstances OF pecu-
liar difficulty and danger. The struggle had be-
gun, and yet everything was without order
The great trial now seemed to be this question :
| Who shall be COMMANDMENTS chief? 1t was eX-
ceedingy important and was felt to be the hinge
on which the contest might turn for or against
us. The Southern and middle States, warm and
rapid in their zeal for the most part, were jealous
of New England, because they felt that the real
physical force was here-what then was to be
done All New England aiored Gen. Ward,
he had been in the French war and went out la
den with laurels He was scholar and a states
man.
Every qualification seemed to cluster in him ;
and it was confidently believed that the army
would not receive any appointment over him.
What then was to be done9 Difficulties thick
encd at every step. The struggle was to be
long and bloody. Without union all was lost
The country, and the whole country must come
in-One pulsation must beat through all hearts.
The cause was one, and the army must be one.
The members had talked, debated, considered
and guessed, and vet the decisive step had not
been taken At length Mr.. Adams came to his
conclusion. The means of resolving it were
somewhat singular, and nearly as follows
He was walking one morning before Congress
Hall, apparently in deep thought, when his cou-
sin Samuel Adams, came up to him and said:
"What is the topic with you this morningF p
"Oh the army" he replied. "rm determined
TO 80 into the Hall this morning, and crtcr on a
full detail of the colonies, in order to show the
absolute need of taking some decisive step. My
whole aim will be to induce Congress to appoint
the day for adopting the army as the legal ar
my of these united colonies Of North America,
and then to hint at an election Of Commander
in-Chicf"
"Wcn." said Samuel Adams, ~ ike that
cousin John but on whom have YOU fixed as
that commander"
81 will tell you-George Washington, of
/ flTrflla, u lW'!lIucI vi IuIS l1ouoV'
ooh" replied Samuel Adams quickly, that
will never do-ncver."
at must do, it shall do," said John, and for
these reasons the Southern and Middle States
are both to enter heartily in the cause, and their
arguments are potent they say that New Eng
land commander with New England perseverance,,
all united, appal them. For this cause they
hang back. Now the only course is to allay
their fears and give them nothing to complain
Of; and this can be done in no other way but
by appointing Southern chief over this force,
and lnen All viii RUSH to the standard. This
policy will blend us in one mass-will be resist
less"
At this Samuel Adams seemed greatly moved.
They talked over the preliminary circumstances,
and John asked his cousin to second the motion.
Mr.. Adams went in, took the floor, and put all
his strength in the delneations he had prepared,
all aiming at the adoption of the army. lie
was ready to own the army, appoint COM
mander, vote supplies, and proceed to business.
After his speech had been finished, some doubt
ed some feared. His warmth increased with the
occasion, and to all these doubts and hesitations
lie replied:
Gentlemen, if Congress will not adopt the
army, before ten moons have set, New England
will adopt it, and she will undertake the strug-
Gle aone-yes, with strong arm, clear con-
science, she will front the foe single-handed."
This had the desired effect. They saw New
England was neither playing nor to be played
with. They agreed to appoint day. 4 day
was fixed. 1t came Mr.. Adams went i'll, took
the floor, urged the measure, and after some de-
bate it passed.
The next thing was to get commander for
this army, with supplies, &c. All looked to Mr..
Adams on the occasion, and he was ready. lie
took the floor and, went into delineaton of the
character of Gen. Ward, bestowing upon him
the eucomiums which then belonged to 10 one
else. At the end of the eulogy, he said" But
this is not the man | have chosen" He then
went into the character of commander-inchief
such lis was required by the peculiar situation of
the coonists at this jnncture. And after he had
presented the qualifications in his strongest Ian
cuage and given reasons for the nomination he
was about to make, he said:
Gcntlemen,!I know these qualifications are
hirh, but we all know they are needful in this
chief. Does any one say they are not to be
obtained in this country? In reply, have to
say they are: they reside in one Of our own
body and he is the person whom | now nom
nate George Washington of Virginia"
Washington, who sat OIL Mr.. Adams right
hand, was looking him intently in the face to
watch the name he was about to announce, and
not expecting it would be his, sprang from his