The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-08-08
washington's Character.

Daniel Huntington, Esq, one of our coun-
ftry's most distinguished artists, a letter
Astounding with "reminiscences, which are
rendered the more interesting from The
distinguished character Of tie narrator. -
Mr. Huntington inserted il. 3ifh the per-
mission Of the writer, in ttse New York
Courier. r., N which sptr We copy il;
GENEvA, May Is, 1855
Dear Sri have your noe Of the Ian
ult., with Mr.. Plume's remarks about me
profanity of Wa,li 5tor, and especially
as used to Lee 3. tie battle oil Aionlnoyfh
Iae subject carries my mind back 70
school.ooy days, when, with other bows. /
had place III the procession at The ob>e.
/ qlies Of Washing On on Taunton Green
The impression then made promp'ed in
curry IN after life. have among nv IA
prrs tie trial # General Charles Lee. Of
which court m 4rtal your grandfather was
a member That trial records no unhe.
coming language in any interview between
Washington and LIE. | had long ago
heard o. Washing 90 5 using harsh Ian
euase 10 Lee Il .Moumou b; and HAVING
IN 1904 ht'er OF Introduction 10 General
Marshal al Richmond, inquire d as to the
facts. The Genera said that he story 81
coarse language between Washington and
Ice mas moi irae. Gener II Al 4rshaf yaSa
captain on the field of Monmouth and
near Washington He stated that Lees
i"nguogs D4s decorous, and hat Washing
ton's manner and language were su,tere
but not profane. My father was intro
duced 10 Washington by General Lincoln
IN 1894, al Mount Vernon, and saw Gen
eral Wasl ington al General Roberdeau's
and AT MIR Hopes. IN Alexandra. His
remark on Washir gton's mani er and con
sersallon was that they were { from fa
mililr. although polite, and that there was
a grandeur IL his aspect. In the presence
OF my father heard General Cobb. an
ai9-decamp 10 Washington, remark, that
It was not easy TO be fam liar with Wash
ington, and that he was choice in his Ian
euage. and very rarely personal in his o..
Servation.
In tie year 1902 was in Albany with
my then chief. Col. Williams, and tl,ere
heard Alex. Hamilton say to Gen. Schuy
Ter and Col. Williams that the story of
General WashIngton's profanity at Port
l. Q, on a visit OIL inspection, was not true
Washington was disappointed at not find.
ing the commandant at his post. and ex
pressed his disp,easure IN s'rong larpuare
but rot with an oath. While member of
oeuer abs Eomas Pincknev S military fam
ily IN South Carolina, III 1912, heard his
brother, General c. c. Piacknry frequent
~ mention conversations with General
Washington. IL III chat lie was habit.
ually grave in discourse, cautious in *
preston. slow and sceurate in Judgment
but with intimate friends easy. though
rarely ioco>e. Now, General G. 1.
Plnekncy. was remarkable for facetious.
ness ana humor. and 1t the table OF hs
brother was fond Of talking with Young
men, neither Of these brothers believed
tie story OF Washineto swearing at Lee
At the meeting OF Washington and Lee.
The language OF the former ould be more
10 undo the evil then in progress, than to
cxpend words on Lee. 1t is fair TO con
clude that asbington's mind, so well
known for coolfess ID battle, would be far
''otN ShAdS III Nctbs Ill tie OfUtT Oh the
day n the pursuit of the enemy than in
applying epithets TO Lee
At the battle OF Brandywine, where
Washington had many trials Of patience
and disastrous day, no words unbecon
ing III position were then remembered;
and, though assaulted by cabal, in and
out of Congress, for not winning that dsv.
no unbecomirg word or action was then
attributed TO him. When Stuart was
por'raying Washington al Mount Vernon,
the servant had been told TO maintain a
fire all night in the studio. He failed in
his duty. " hen the General cam in and
observed the failure, Stuart said .his
countenance fell" Mr.. Stuart began 10
excuse the servant, bur the General said
siernly. Mr.. Stuart, my servants know
expect Obedience"
We have here an item CT the tone OF
Washington's mind in every day lie -
With General Cobb, Colonel HUMPHREYS,
Mayor Bayles, ard Colonel Tr,mbull, all
Of the military family Washington,
had the acquaintance which snbaltern
may have with aged superiors. OF them
! asked OF their intercourse with w sh-
lngton. and, though il may be presumed
that such persons would not recount snail
defects which. if exls,ing they may hive
observed. still learnt from them many IN
teresling facts of intercourse in camp. and
G morally thai. with kind feelings for a
dependant upon him, he was som times
vehement in language to delinquents, bu,
ever just. Ideed, from those great men
VINO have the natural gift Of command and
who posse SIS strong wills, We are not to tx