Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1854-06-24

will be closed forever
The closing of the military scenes
am about to relate.
New Yurk had been occupied by Wash
ington on the 24lh of Novembet. A few
days afterwards he n)tined The President
of Congress, which Lody was then in
session at Annapolis, in Maryland, that
as the war was now closed. ne should
consider it his duty 10 proceed thence,
and surrender to that body, the commits
sion which he had received from them
seven years before.
The morning Of the 9Th Of December.
1855, was sad and heavy one to the
remnant of the American army in the
city of New York. The noon of that
day was to witness the lare well of WASH
ington-he was TO bid adieu to his mill
tary comrades forever. The officers who
had been with him in solemn counsel, the
privales who had fought and bled in the
"heavy fight" under his orders, were to
hear his commands no longer. The man.
ly form and dignified ooun,enance of the
"great captain" was henceforlh 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-st., to Francis' tav.
ern, his headquarters. He wished TO
take leave of private soldiers, alike with
officers, and bid them all adieu. His fa-
vorite light infantry were drawn up in line
facing inwards, through Pearl-st., at the
foot of Whitehall, where a barque was
in readiness to convey him TO PowelPs
Hook.
Within the dinner room of the tavern
we're gathered the generals and field Off
GERS, TO take their farewell.
r Assembled there, were Knox, Greene,
Clinton, Sleuben, Gates and others, who
) had served with him faithfully and truly
r in the tented field : but alas where
were others, that had ensered the war
with him seven years before ? Their
bones crumbled in The soil from Canada to
: Georgia. Montgomery had yielded up
his life al Quebec, Wooster fell at Dam
, bury, Woodruff was barbarousl y murdered
while a prisoner at the battle on Long
!, Island, and Mercer fell morally wound
<. Laurens, after displaying The most hero.
# ic courage in the trenches Of Yorktown,
r died in lrhing skirmish in South Caro-
|. lima {; the brave but eccentric Lee was nc
e longer living and Putnam like u hel pess
!. child, was stretched upon the bed of sick
T,l, a. E,Il 4;
,e had thinned The ranks which entered witt
.. him on the conflict of independence.
, Washington entered the room--tht
!. hour of separation had come. As he
v. raised his eye and glanced on the faces o
|. those assembled a tear coursed down hi.
= cheek, and his voice was lremulous as NJ
or salutsd them. Nor was he alone. Men
II albeit unused to the melting mood stoo'
ii around him, whose hands uplilted to GOV
" er their brows, told that the tears, whicl
w they in vain attempted to conceal, bespok
n n the anguish they could not hide.
,o After moments conversation, Wash
ngton called for glass Of wine. 1t wa
>, brought TO him. Turning 70 the officers
10 hs thus addressed them
;" with heart full Of love and gratitude
:, I now take my final leave of you, and
~ most devoutly wish your latter days ma,
be as prosperous and happy as your fsrm
,ts er ones have been glorious and honorable
cK w He then raised the glass to his lips, an
No added, Il cannot come to each of you
no no take my leave, but shall be obliged to 70
I ed if each Of you will take me by the hand
,rr Gen. Knox, who stood nearest, burs
60 60 into tears, and advanced, incapable of III
}, - terance, Washington grasped him b
,r the hand, and embraced him. The off
,as GERS came up successfully, and took n
~ affecticn1e leave. No words were spol
~ en-, but all was the silent eloquence ,
Nv Nv tears. What were mere words at such
~ scene Nothing. 1t was the feeling
: the heart-'hrilling though unbroken.
~, When the last officer had embrace
~ him, Washington left the room, folowe
ho by his comrades, and passed through Il
" line of light infantry. His step was slo
and measured, head uncovered, and tea
,ns flowing thick and FAST as he looked fro
,.s w side to side al the veterans TO whom
-, ~ now bade adieu forever. Shortly. afte
'S I an event occurred more touching than {
10. 10 the rest. A gigantic soldier who hi
W stood by his side at Tlenton, stepped for
from the ranks and extended his hand :
e,e .,o Farewell, my beloved general, (arewe
90. a,e Washington grasped his hand, in co
10. vulsive emotion, in both Of his. All di
a. az cipline was now at an end. The office
~; ' could not restrain the men as they rvsh
20" e;. forward to take Washington by the han
WI and the violent sobs and tears of the sc
- diers told how deeply engraved up'
-. their affections was tho love OF the
ors commander
Who At length Washington reached
in, barge at Whitehall, and entered it.
" the first stroke Of the oars he rose, al
,c. turning 10 the companions of his gor
;cs by waving his hat babe them sile
sdieu. Their answer was only in teal