Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-03-09
General Washingt0n's Farewell
to his Army.
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH

The Revolution was over. Eight years
conflict had ceased, end the warriors were
now TO separate forever, turning their weap,
ons into ploughshares, and their camps in
to work.shops. The spectacle, though q
sublime and glorious one vss yet attended
With sorrowful feelings; for alas in the re-
mains Of that gallant army of patriotic sol
diers now abou. TO disband withuut pay
without support stalked poverty and dis
ease. The country had not the means tc
be grateful. zs -E a
The details Of the condition of many oil
the officers and soldiers at that period, &C.
cording TO history and oral tradition, were
melancholy in the extreme. Possessing nc
means Of patrimonial inheritance to fall
back upou--thrown out of even the peril
Gus support of the soldier, at the com.
mencement of winter. and hardly 6t for
that of any other duty than the camp
their situation can better be imagined than
described.
A single instance. as a sample Of the
situation of many of the officers, as related
of the conduct of Baron Stuben, may not
be amiss. When the main body Of the
army was dis5anded at Newburg, and the
veteran soldiers were bidding q parting
farewell TO each other, Lieut. Colonel Coc6.
ran, an aged soldier of the New Hampshire
line. remarked. with tears in his eyes, as he
shook hands with the Baron
"For myself, l could stand II; but nv
wife and daughters are in the garret Of
that wretched tavern; and have no means
of removing them" .a
Come, come" said the Baron, "don't
give way thus. l viii pay my respects TO
Mrs Cochran and her daughters"
When the good old soldier left them,
their countenances were warm with graft
tude-for be had left all he had. In one Of
the Rhode Island Regiments were several
companies of black troops who had served
through the whole war, and their bravery
and discipline we're unsurpassed. The Ba-
ron observed one of these poor negroes on
the wharf at Newburg, apparently in great
distress.
"Whst is the matter, brother soldier ?"
"Why, Master Baron. want dollar 10
get hone with. now the Congress has no
further use for me-" -t
The Baron was absent for few mo-
ments. and then returned with silver dol
lar which he had borrowed.
There. it's all ] could get Take it."
The negro received it with JOY, hailed
sloOp which was passing down the river to
New York. and as he reached the deck
took off his hat and said
"God bless you. Master Baronl"
These are single illustrations of the con-
di.ions of the army at the close of the war.
Indeed, Washington had this in view at the
close of his farewell address 10 the army
at Rocky Hill, in November 1888:
''And being now about TO conclude these
bis last public orders, to take his ultimate
leave in short time of his military char
acter, aud to bid final aGieu TO the armies
he had so long had the honor to command.
he could only again offer in their behalf
his recommendations to their country, and
bis prayer to the God Of armies.
INLAY ample justice be done them here.
and may the choicest of Heavens favors.
both here and hereafter, attend those who,
under Divine auspices. have secured innu
nerable blessings for others.
With these wishes, and this benediction. |
he Commander-in-C Chief is about TO retire !
rom service. The curtain of separation
will soon be drawn. end the military scenes |
% him will be closed forever"
"The closing of the military scenes"
sEn about TO relate.
New York had been occupied by Wash |
ngton on the 25th of November A few
lays afterwards he notified the President of
Jongress-Wh hich body was then in session
It Annapolis, in Maryland-that, as the
var had now closed he should consider It
lis duty to proceed thence and surrender
o that body the comm ission which he had |
eceived from them seven years before.
The morning Of the 5th of December,
L7s3, was sad and heavy one to the rem
liant of the American army in the city Of |
New York. The noon of that day was to
witness the farewell of Washington-he
vas TO bid adieu to his military comrades
orvever. The officers who had been with |
lim in solefan council, the privates who had /
ought and bled in the "heavy fight" un-
Ter his orders, we're to hear his commands
10 longer. The manly form and digni6ed |
Of the "great captain was
lenceforth to live in their memories.
As the hour of noon approached. the |
whole garrison. at the request Of Washing
on himself was put in motion and march
ID down Broad street to Francis tavern,
lis headquarters. He wished to take
cave of private soldiers alike with the off.
'ers, and bid them all adieu. His favorite
light infantry were drawn up in the line
acing inwards. through Pesrl street, at the
cot Of White Hall. where a barge was in
eadiness to convey him to Powell's Hook.
Assembled there were Knox, Greene,
Linton, Steuhen. Gates. and others. who
lad served with him faithfully and truly
n the "tented field" but alas! where we're
be others that had entered the war with
i'm seven years before? Their bones
rumbled in the soil from Canada to Geor-
ia. Montgomery had yielded up bis life
t Quebec; Wooster fell at Danbury
Voodhull was barbarously murdered while
prisoner at the battle of Long Island, and
iercer fell mortally wounded at Princeton;
he brave and chivalric Laurence, after dis
laying the most heroic courage 10 the
-enches of Yo'k Town, died in a trihing
sirmish in South Carolina; the brave but (
ccentric Lee was no longer living, and =,