The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-08-01
ASHLAND ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO, WEDNESDAY MORT

o military RANK MS early laurels ana ul
: tinguished presence were all calculate
to find favor in female eyes; but his 81
, journ in New-York was so brief +; b
; may have been difident in urging hi
suit with lady accustomed to the he
mage of society and surrounded by ad
mirers. The most probable version O
the story is that he was called away b,
his public duties before he had mad
sufficient approaches in his seige of th'
ladys heart to warrant summons t.
surrender.
Washington was now ordered by Sil
John st. Clair, the quartermaster gen.
eral of the forces under General Forbes,
to repair to Williamsburg, and lay the
state of the case before the council
He set off promptly on horseback, at
tended by Bishop, the well-trained mill
tary servant who had served the late
Gen. Braddoek. It proved an eventful
journey, though not in military point
of view. In crossing a ferry of the
Pamunkey,a branch of Yord river, he
fell in company with Mr.. Champerlaync
who lives in the neighborhood, and who
in the spirit of Virginia hospitality,
claimed him guest. 1t was with diff
Guilty Washington could be prevailed on
to halt for dinner, 50 impatient, was be
to arrive at Williamsburg and accom-
plish hiD mission.
Among the guests at Mr.. Chamber
layne's was young and blooming wild
ow, Mrs. Martha Curtis, daughter of
Mr.. John cambridge, poth patrician
names in the province. Her husband
John Park Curtis, had been dead about
three years. leaving her with two small
children and large fortune. She is re-
as being rather below the
middle size, but extremely we'll shaped,
with an agreeable countenance, dark
hazel eyes and hair, and those frank, en-
gaging manners, SO captivating in south
ern woman. We are not informed wheth-
sr Washington had met with her before
probably not during her widowhood, as
during that time he had been almost
on the frontier. We have
shown that, with all the gravity and
he was quickly susceptible to
female charms; and they may have had
. greater effect upon him when thus cas-
lally encountered in feeting moments
from the cares and pcrplexitics
md rude scenes of frontier warfare
At any rate his heart appears to have
been taken by surprise.
The dinner, which in those days was
'arlier than at present, seemed too
hort. The afternoon passed away like
! dream. Bishop was punctual to the
,rders he received on halting the hor-
les paved at the door, but for once Wash
ngton loitered in the path of duty
The horses were countermanded, and it
Fas not until the next morning that he
Vas again in the saddle, spurring for
Williamsburg. Happily the White
House, the residence of Mrs. Curtis,
Fas in New Kent county, at no great
distance from that city Sd that he had
of visiting her in the in
ervals of business.
His slime for courtship, however, was
'rief. Military duties called him al
nost Immediately to Winchester but
70 feared, should he leave the matter
D suspense, some more enterprising RI
al might supplant him during his abb
ence, as in the case of Miss Philpse at
Jew York. He improved therefore,
is brief opportunity to the utmost
'he blooming widow had many suffers,
ut Washington was graced with that
enown ennobling in the eyes of Woman.
n word, before they had separated,
hey had mutually plighted their faith,
nd the marriage was to take place as
Don as the Campaign against Fort
)equesne was at an end.