The Empire County argus., 1854-01-28
tFrom the California Farmer.1
PATRIOTISM AND DEVOTION.


the Father of his country" to deeds of imperisha-
BILE fame, and his devotion to that country In all
her interests together with the love and affection
that his example inspired in all who were around
him-to these we attribute, as one of the great eau
ses that led to and kept alive that willingness of
spirit to become martyrs, in all the officers and SOL
ders in the revolution under his command or inAu-
ence
We would ever hold up these examples to all
to officers and soldiers whether military civil or
judiciary, When such patriotism in defending and
such devotedness in sustaining our institutions per-
wade the minds and hearts of our people, our coun-
try will be safe
"The revolution was over The eight years con-
ict had ceased, and the warriors were now to sep
arate for ever turning their weapons into plough
shares, and their camps into workshops. The
spectacle, though a sublime and gorgeous one, was
yet attended with sorrowful feelings; for, alas in
the remains of that gallant army of patriotic SOL
ders now about to disband without pay, without
suppers, stalked poverty and disease. The country
had not the means to be grateful.
The details of the condition of many of the Off
GERS and soldiers of that period according to history
and oral tradition, were melancholy in the extreme
Possessing no means of patrimonial inheritance to
fall back upon-thrown out of even the perous
support of the soldier, at the commencement of win
ter and hardly fit for any other duty than that of
the camp-their situation can be better ina gined
than described
A single instance, as sample of the situation of
some of the officers related of the conduct of
Baron Steubcn, may not be amiss. When the main
body of the army was dsbanded at Newburg, and
the veteran soldiers were bidding parting farewell
to each other 1t. Col Cochran, an aged soldier of
the New Hampshire line remarked with tears in
his eyes, as he shook hands with the Baron:
For myself, | could bear it but my wife and
daughter are in the garret of that wretched tavern
and have no means of removing them"
"Come, come," said the Baron " don't give way
thus, Twill pay my respects to Mrs. Cochran and
her daughter
When the good old soldier left them their coun-
tenances were warm with gratitude-for he left
there all he had.
In one of the Rhode Island regiments were seve-
raj companies of black troops who had served
through the war, and their bravery and discipline
were unsurpassed The Baron observed one of
these poor negroes on the wharf at Newburg appa-
rently in great distress
''What is the matter brother soldier :"
Why, master Baron, | want dollar to get
home with, now the Congress has no further use for
me-
The Baron was absent for a few moments, and
then returned with q silver dollar, which he had
borrowed.
There, it's all I could get Take it
The negro received it with joy, hailed sloop
which was passing down the river to New York,
said
God bless you, master Baron 2!
These are only single illustrations of the army at
the close of the war. Indeed Washington had this
in view at the close of his farewell address to the
army at Rocky Hill, in November, 1893
And being now about to conclude these his last
public orders to take his ultimate leave in a short
time of the military character, and to bid final
adieu to TIE armies he has so long had the honor
to command, he can only again offer, in their be-
half his recommendations to their country, and his
prayer to the God of armies.
s'May ample Justice be done them here and may
the choicest of heavens favors both here and here
after attend those whO under divine auspices, have
secured innumerabe blessings for others
With these wishes and this benediction the
Commander-inChief is about to retire from service
The curtain of separation will soon be drawn, and
the military scenes to him will be closed forever
The closing of the military scenes" | am about
to relate:
New York had been occupied by Washington on
the 25th of November. few days afterwards he
notified the President of Congress- which body was
then in session at Annapolis, in Maryland-that as
the war was 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 5th of December l7S3 was
sad and heavy one to the remnant of the Ameri-
can army in the city of New York The noon of
that day was to witness the farewell of Washing
ton-he was to bid adeu to his military comrades
forever The officers who had been with him in
solemn council the privates who had fought and
bled in the heavy fight under his orders, We're
to bear his commands no longer. The manly form
and digniied countenance of the great captain
was henceforth to live in their memories
As the hour of noon approached, the whole gar
rison at the request of Washington himself was put
in motion, and marched down Broad street to Fran
els tavern, his headquarters. He wished to take
leave of private soldiers alike with officers and bid
them all adieu. His favorite light infantry was
drawn up in line, facing inwards, through Pearl
street, at the foot of WHITEHALL where barge was
in readiness to convey him to Powells Hook
Within the dining room of the tavern were gath
cred the generels and the field officers to take their
farewell. Assembled there were Knox, Green,
Clinton, Steuben, Gates and others, who had served
with him faithfully and truly in 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 Danbury Woodruff was barbarously
murdered while prisoner at the battle of Long
ton the brave and chivalric Laurens, after display
ing the most heroic courage IN the trenches of
Yorktown, died in trifing skirmish in South Car
olina 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 on the conflict for Independence.
Washington entered the room-the hour of sepa-