Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-03-01
Mis telIanruus ArtitIes
Touching Renaissance of Washington.

The Revolution was over. Eight years
conflict had ceased, and the warriors were
now to separate forever, turning their weap-
ons into ploughshares, and their camps into
workshops. The spectacle, though a sublime
and glorious one, was yet attended with sor-
rowful feelings; for alas! in the remains of
that gallant army of patriotic soldiers, now
about to disband without pay, without sup
port, stalked poverty and disease. The
country had not the means to be grateful.
The details of the condition of many of
the officers and soldiers of that period, ac-
cording to history and oral trandition, were
melancholy in the extreme. Possessing no
means of patrimonial inheritance to fall back
upon-thrown out of even the perilous sup
port of the soldier at the commencement of
winter, and hardly fit for any other duty
than that Of the camp-their situation can
better be imagined than described.
A single instance, as a sample of the stu
alton 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 disbanded at Newburgh, and the veteran
soldiers were bidding parting farewell to
each other, Lieut., Col. Cochran, an aged
soldier of the New Hampshire line, remark
ed, with tears in his eyes, as he shook hands
with the Baron
For myself, I could standit; but my wife
and daughters are in the garret ofthat wretch
ed tavern, and have no means ofremoving
them
Come, come,' said the Baron, don't
give way thus. l will pay my respects to
Mrs. Cochran and her daughters
When the good ole soldier left them, their
countenances were warm with gratitude
for he left there all he had.
In one of the Rhode Island regiments
were several companies of black troops, who
had served throug gh the whole war, and their
bravery and discipline were unsurpassed
The Baron observed one of these poor ne
groes ON the wharf at Newburgh, apparently
in great distress.
What is the matter, brother soldier?
Why Master Baron, 1 want dollar to
get home with, now the Congress has no fur.
, ther use for me-
: The Baron was absent for few moments
and then returned with silver dollar, which
, he had borrowed.
} There, it's all l could get. Take it.
The negro received it with joy, hailed a
sloop was passing down the river to New
| York, and, as he reached the deck, took his
{ hat and said-God bless you, Master Baron !
| These are only single illustrations of the
/ army at the close of the war Indeed, Wash
ington had this in view at the close of bis
farewell address to the army, at Rocky
{ Hill, in November, 1888:
t And being now about to conclude these
his last public orders, to take his ultimate
: leave in short time of the military charac
i ter, and to bid final adie to the armie
0 he has so long had the honor to command
!. he can only again offer, in their behalf, hi
c recommendations to their country, and hi
!, prayer to the God of armies.
/. May ample justice be done them here
and may the choicest of Heavens favorE
y both here and hereafter, attend those who
Il under Divine auspices, have secured innu
~ merable blessings for others.
n With these wishes and this benedictior
e the Commander.in-C Chief is about to retir
9. from service. The curtain of separation wi
1T soon be drawn, and the military scenes
ar him will be closed for ever
10 The closing of the military scenes al
ce about to relate -
" New York had been occupied by Wasl
to ington on the 25th of November. A fe
Il. days afterwards, he notified the President
e. Congress, which body was then in session
he Annapolis, Maryland, that, as the war VI
to now closed, he should consider it his du
he TO proceed thence and surrender to that boo
he the commission which he had received fro
ed them seven years before.
,r. The morning oe the 5th of December, ITS
ds was sad and heavy one to the remnant
the American army in the city of New Yor
rt- The noon Of that day was to witness Il
all farewell Of Washington-he was to b
W. adieu to bis military comrades for ever IT
be- officers who had been with him in solen
al council, the privates who had fought al
.st. bled in the heavy fight under his orde
for we're to hear his commands no longer T
err manly form and 1ignifsd countenance Of t
m great captain was henceforth to live
their memories.
led AS the hour ofnoon approached, the VIII,
ON garrison, at the request of Washington hi
lad self, was put in motion. and marched do
Dire Brood street to Francis tavern, his he
hat quarters. He wished to take leave of p
eve vate soldiers alike with officers, and bid tn
md all adieu. His favorite light infantry W,
r drawn up in line facing inwards, throu
the Pearl street, at the foot of Whitehall, VIII