The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-01-11
WAsHlNGToN's FAREWELL TO HIS
ARMY.

4 II
Such as Columbia saw arise, when she,
Sprung forth Pallas, armed and undrf filed
Or must such minds he nouri>hed ia the wine
Deep in ths upturqed forests amidst the roa
Of cataracts, wers nature smiled
On infant Washington iias earth no NOR
Such seed in her breast, or Europe 90 sue
shore.
The revolution was over. Eight years con
hict had ceased, and The warriora were now
be separated forever, turning their weapons int
ploughshares and their camps into workshops
The spectacle, though sublime and tloriou
one, was yet attended W sorrowful feelings
for alas ! in tie remains Of the gallant nrmy q
patriot soldiers, now about to disband withou
support. stalked poyesty and diseaae The conn
Try had not the IN. ans to be graceful.
The details of the condition of many Of tn
officers and soldiers at that period, according I
history and oral tradition were melancholy il
the extreme. Possessing no means Of patri
monial inheritance 10 fall back upon-throwl
ont Of even ths perlous support OF the soldier
at the commencement of Winter and scarcel
fit Tor any other duty than that of the cam
their situation can be as well imagined a
described.
A single instance, as a sample Of the siiua
ton of many OF the officers, is re lated of Baro,
Steuben. and may not be amiss. When th'
main body of the army was disbanded at New
burg, and the veteran soldiers were building
part ing farewell TO each other Lieut.. Cochran
an aged soldier of the New Hampshire line
remarked with tears in his eyes, as he shool
hands with the Baron
}" For myself, ! could stand it ;ibut my wifi
and daughters aye in the garrett of that msera
bic tavern, and have no means Of Femovin,
them
&c Corca .orno !, =, "a H. p,ror n. .l....
away thus will pay my respects 20 MIR
Cochran and her daughters
When the good old soldier left them the
countenances were warm with gratitude-for n
had left them all he had.
In one f,he Rhode Island Regiments wer,
several companies of black troops who had ser
we'd through the whole war, and their bravery
and discipline were unsurpassed. The Barol
observed one of these poor negroes on the whar
at Newburg, apparently in great distress.
What is the matter brother soldier ?"
Why ster Baron, | want c dollar to get
home with,now that Congress has no furthe
use for me"
The Baron was absent for few minutes, an,
then returned with silver dollar which he ha,
borrowed.
sc There, it's all | could get. Take it,
The negro received il with joy, hailed slool
that was passing down the river 10 New York
and as he reached the dock took off his hat an.
said -
Ged bless you master Baron ?"
These are only single illustrations OF the con.
dition Of the army at the close Of the war In.
deed Washington had this view at the close o
his fare we'll address to his army at Rock Hill
in November, l7S3
6 And being now about 10 conclude these hi.
last public orders, to take his ultimate leave in
short time of the military character, and to Biz
a final adeu TO the armies he has SO long hae
the hopor to command, he can only offer, IL
their behalf, his recommendations to their coun
try, and his prayer to the God Of armies"
8 May ample justice be done them here, and
may the choicest Of heavens favor here and
hereafter attend those who, under divine au-
spices, have secured iBnumerdble blessings for
others
g With these wishes, and this benediction, the
Commander in Chiefs about to retire from
service. The curtain Of the separation vii soon
be drawn, and The military scenes will be closed
to him forever
"The closing of the " military sceues'' am
about 10 relate.
New York had been occup ed by Washi ngton
on the 18th of November. A few days alter
wards he notified the President of Congress
which body was then in session at Annapolis, in
hat as the war had now closed, he
should consider it his duty 10 proceed thence
and surrender to that b,dy the commission
which he had received from them seven years
before.
The morning ofthe 9th Of December, 1893,
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 fare
we'll of fWashington-he was TO bid adieu to his
lad been with him in s,emn council, the pri-
pate who had fought aud bled in the hardy
light" under his order were to be ais comrad, s
10 longer. The manly form and dignified coun-
enance Of the 6 gteat captain" was henceorth
o live in their memories.
As the hour of noon approached, the whole
garrison, at the request of Washington himself
was put in motion and marched down Broad
treel To- Francis tavern, has cad quarters =
He wished to take leave of The officers, and bid
hem oil adieu. His favorie light infantry
,assed through Pearl street to the foot of White
lall, where a barge was in readiness to convey
,im to Powle Hook
Within the dining room Of the tavern were
.athered the Generals and field officers to take
heir farewell.
Assembled there were Knox, Green, Clinton,
steuben Gates and others who had served with
lin faithfully and truly in the "tented fields
,ut alas where were others that had entered
he ar with him seven years before' Their
zones crumbled In the soil from Canada to Geor-
ria. Montgomery has YIELDED up his life at
Quebec; Wooster fell at Danbury. Woodball
vas barbarously murdered while prIs rner at
he battle OF Long Island, and Mercer fell NOR
ally wounded at Princeton; the brave and CHI
,alric Laurcns, afer displaying the most heroic
", II, I'D
rifling skirmish in South Carolina: the brave
,ut eccentric Lee was no longer living, and
'utnam, like a helpless child was stretched
.pon bed Of sickness Indeed the battle field
nd time had hinned the ranks that had entered
! ith him in the conflict OF Independence.
Wasbingt N entered the room---the hour Of
epara ton had come. AS he raised his eyes and
.lanced on the faces of those assembled, t,ar
,oursed down his cheek and his voice was ,re-
nuIous as he saluted them. Nor was he alone.
Men, albeit unused to the melting mood, stood
round him, whose uplited hands to cover their
,rows, told that the tear which they in vain at
empted to conceal, bespoke the anguish they
could not hide.
After nomsnts conversation, Washington
.aled for glass Of wine. Ii was brought hlu.
Turning to the officers he thus addressed them
"With heart full Of loya and gratitude |
low take my final leave Of you. most devo-
edly wish your better days may be as prosper
,us and happy as your former ones have been
rlorious and honorable" lie then raised the
rlass to his lips, and added; 81 cannot come I"
ZACH Of you to take my leave, but shall be
obliged to you if each of you will take me by
he hand"
General Knox, who stood nearest, burst into
ears and advanced, incapable Of utterance =
w asI,ington grasped him by the hand, and e'n-
,raced him. The officers came up successfully
nd took an affectionate leave. No words were
spoken, but all was the 'sslent eloquence OF
ears" What were mere words al such scenef
Nothing 1t was the feeling of the heart-thr'i.
ing though nnspoken. s.
When the last officer had embraced him,
Washington left the room followed by his com
ades, and passed through the lines OF light In-
antry. His step was slow and measured, ms
read uncovered, and tears flowing thick and
asst, as he looked from side to side al the veter-
ms to whom he.now bid adieu fareyer. Si rtly
in event occurred more touching than all the
est A gigantic soldier, who had stood by his
tide at Trenton, slept forth from the ranks and
attended his hand.
"Fare,sell, MY beloved genera, farewell
Washington grasped his hand in convui-
,ive emotion, in both Of his All discipline
was at an end The officers could not restrain
he men as they rushed forward to take wash.
noton by the hand, and the violent sobs ana