Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-09-19

unuer MS ordcrS, were to hear his com.
mands no longer. The manly form and
dlgnified countenance of the ..great can
tain" was henceforth to live in their
memories.
As the hour of noon approached. the
whole garrison, at the request of Wash
ington himself was put in motion, and
marched down Broad street to Francis s
tavern. his head quarters. He wished to
take leave of the private soldiers alike
with the officers, and bid them all adieu.
HIS favorite light infantry were drawn
up IN the line facing inwards, through
Pearl street to the foot of Whitehall.
where barge was in readiness to convey
him to Powle'S Hook.
Within the dining groom of the tavern
were gathered the Generals and field
officers to take their farewell.
Assembled there were Knox, Green.
Clinton, Steubcn, Gates. and others, who
had served with him faithfully and truly
III the ''tented field" but alas, where
were others that had entered the war
with him seven years before! Their bones
crumbled in the soil from Canada to
Georgia. Montgomery had yielded up
his life at Quebec, Wooster fell at Dan
bury, Woodruff was barbarously muir
dered while prisoner at the battle of
Long Island, and Mercer fell mortallv
wounded at Princeton; the brave and
chivalric Laurens, after displaying the
most heroic courage in the trenches at
Yorktown, died in trifing skirmish in
South Carolina; the brave but eccentric
Lee was no longer living, and Putnam,
like helpless child, was stretched upon
the bed of sickness. Indeed, the battle
field and time had thinned The ranks
which entered with him in the ranks of
Independence.
Washington entered the room-tbe
hour of separation had come. Asr he
raised his eye and glanced on the faces
of those assembled, tear coursed down
his check, and his voice was tremulous
as he saluted them. Nor was he alone.
Men, ''albeit unused to the melting mood"
stood around him, whose uplifted hands
to cover their brows, told that the tear,
which they in vain attempted to conceal,
bespoke the anguish they could not hide.
After moment 'I conversation, Wash.
ington called for glass of wine. TWAS
brought him. Turning to the officers, he
thus addressed them:
"With heart full of love and graft
tude, now take my final leave of YOU.
L most devotedly wish your latter DAYS
may be as prosperous and happy as your
former ones have been glorious and hon
orable. He then raised the glass to his
lips, and added! 81 cannot come to
each of you to take my leave, but shall
be obliged to you if each of you will take
me by the hand" -
General Knox, who stood nearest, burst
into tears, and advanced, incapable of
utterance. Washington grasped him bv
the hand, and embraced him. The Off
GERS came up successfully and took an
afiectionate leave. No words were spo-
ken, but all was the " silent eloquence Ge
tears" What were mere words at such
scene? Nothing. 1t was the feeling
of the heart-thrilling though unspoken.
When the last officer had embraced
him, Washington left the room, followed
10y his comrades, and passed through the
lines of light infantry. His step was
slow and measured, his head uncovered,
and tears flowing thick and fast, as he
looked from side to side at the veterans
to whom he now bid adieu for ever
Shortly an event occurred more touching
than all the rest. A gigantic soldier who
had stood by his side at Trenton, stepped
forth from the ranks and extended his
hand.
g Farewell, my beloved General, fare
we'll"
Washington grasped his hand, in con-
vulSlve emotion, in both of his. All dis
cipline was now at an end. The officers
could not restrain the men as they rushed
forward to take Washington by the hand,
and the violent sobs and tears of the
soldiers told how deeply engraven upon
their affections was the love Of their COM
mander.
At length Washington reached the
barge at Whitehall, and entered it. At
the first stroke of the oars he rose, and
turning to the companions of his glory,
by waving his hat, babe them a silent
ad,eu. Their answer was only in tears:
and the officers and men, with glistenine
eyes, watched the receding boat till the
form Of their noble commander was lost
sight of in the distance. -....
Contrast the farewell of Washington to
his army at Whitehall, in 1888, and the
farewell of Napoleon at Fontainbleu, in
1915. The one had accomplished every
wish of his heart. His noble exertion
had achieved the independence of his
country, and he longed to retire to the
bosom of his home. His ambition was
satisfied. He fought for no crown, no
sceptre, but for equality and the mutual
happiness of his fellow beings. No taint
of tyranny. no breath of SANDER, no
whisper of duplicity. marred the fair pro-
portions of his private or public life;
but,
= He was man, take him for all in all,