Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-01-13

secured innumerabie blessing for others
With these wishes aud this bene-
diction, the Commander-in-Chief is a.
bout to retire from service, The cur
tain Of separation will soon be drawn,
aud the military scenes to him will be
closed forever
The closing Of the military scenes
| am about to relate
New York had been occupied 10y
Washington on the 25th Of November
A few days afterwards he notified the
President of Congress which body was
then in session at Annapolis in Mary
land that as the war had now closed,
he should consider it his duty to proceed
thence and surrender to that body the
commission which he had received from
them seven years before
The morning Of the 9Th of December,
l1s3, was a sad aud heavy one to the
remnant Of the American army 10 the
city Of New York The noon Of that
/ day was towltness the farewell Of Wash
ing-he was 10 bid adieu to his military
comrades forever The officers vino
had been with him IN solemn council.
the pryates who had fought and bled in
he heavy fight under his orders, were
to hear his commands no longer The
manly form and dignfed counlcuance
of the grea; captain was heuceiorth to
live IN their memories.
4 ihe hour of noon approached, the
whole garrison, at the request Of Wash
ng,ou himself was put IA motion and
mlrched down Broad street to Franoiss
tavern. his headquarters, lie wished to
take leave OF private soldiers alike with
tha officers. aud bld them all 4dieu --
lis lasorie light infantry were drawn
up m hue Mcing maard-, through
Pe4d ,uect at lle foo, of Whitehall.
whore barge was 90 readiness to con-
rcy hm go Poue.ls Hook
Assembled There we're Knox. Green.
Clinton, Sieuben. Gates, aud others
0ho had served with han faithfully aud
truly 10 the tented field but, alas
where were others that had entered the
war with hm seven years before -
Their bones crumbled IN the soil from
Canada TO Georgia Montgomery bad
welded up hls life at Quebec; Wooster
fell at Danbufy Woodruff wa. barbar-
ousiy murdered while prisoner at the
batiIe on Long Island and Mercer fell
morally wounded at Princeton the
brave and cmsalrIc Laurens, after dis
PLAYING the most heroic courage IA the
trenches ct Yorktown, died ie air'l'Hg
sA'r"''h !" South Carolina the brave
but eccentric Lee was no longer living,
and Fn'n'm' like helpless cmd, was
stretched upon the bed of sickness. -
Indeed Che ba'''e-he'd aud time had
'nnnea i''r rauks which entered with
h'm"n the conflict Independence
Washington entered the room-thc
hour OF separation bad come As be
raised hi' eye and glanced on the faces
of those assembled, atear cour,ed down
hIs cheek, aud BIS VOICE was uemuIous
as he saIu'ed them. Nor was he alone
Men 'aibeluuus,dtothe melting mood,
stood around han, whose uplIled hands
TO cover their brows, told that the tears,
winch they nran attempted To conceal,
bespoke the anguish they could not
hide.
Ai'era moments conversation, Wash
'ns'on called for glass of vine 1t
"a' brought hum Turning to Vie Off
Gers he inns addressed them
WIN heart iull of love aud gra'i-
'"0e, n'" take any hnaI leave Of YOU ;
and lmoSi de'ou'y wish your latter days
may be as prosperous aud happy as your
lormer ones nave been glorious and hon
ofap'e' lie then raised the glass 10 his
i'ps' aud added, II cannot come TO each
"i YOU TO take my leave but shall be o.
O'sed to you 81 each ct you VIII take
me by the hand
Gen hnoN, who stood nearest, burst
INTO tears, and advanced, incapable Of
u''eTance. Washington grasped HIM by
the hand, and embraced him. The OLE
hcers came up successfully aud took an
ailecuonale leave No words were spn-