Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-12
Interesting Letter.

The veteran General Swift has, from his re-
treat on the banks of Lake Seneca, written to a
friend letter Astounding with "reminiscences,
which are rendered the more interesting from the
distinguished character of the narrator. The
gentleman to whom the letter addressed in
serted 1t, with the permission of the writer in the
New York Courier, from which paper we copy it:
GENEVA, May l6, 1855
DEAR SIR: have your note of the 18th instant
with MIR. Plumer's remarks about the profanity
of Washington, and especially as used to Lee at
the battle of Monmouth. The subject carries my
mind back to schoolboy days, when, with other
boys, had place in the procession at the obse-
ques of Washington on Taunton Green The
impression then made promoted inquiry i'll after
lie have among my papers the trial of Gen
Chas. Lee, OF which court-martial your grand
father was member. That trial records no I'M
becoming language in any interview between
Washington and Lee | had long ago heard of
Washingtous using harsh language to Lee at
Monmouth; and, having in 1904 letter of intro
duction to General Marshall at Richmond, | in
CURED as to the facts. The General said that
the story Of coarse language between WASHINGTON
and Lee pas moi true. General Marshall was a
captain on the field of Monmouth, and near
Washington. He stated that Lee 5 language ,cas
decorouS, and that Washngton's manner and
language were austere, but not profane. NV
father was introduced to Washington by General
Lincoln III 1884 at Mount Vernon, and saw Cen
eral Washington at General Roberdeau's and at
MIR. Hooe's, in Alexandria. His remark on
Washington S manner and conversation was that
they were far from familiar, though polite, and
that there was grandeur in his aspect In the
presence of my father heard General Cobb, an
aid-de-camp of Washington, remark that it was
not easy to be familiar with Washington, and that
he was choice in his language and very rarely
personal in his observations.
In the year 1902 was in Albany with NV then
chief, Colonel Williams, and there heard General
Alex. Hamilton say to General SCHUYLER and
Colonel Williams that the story of General
Washington s profanity at Fort Lee on visit of
inspection acas not true. Washington was disap-
pointed at not finding the commahdant ut his post,
and expressed his displeasure in strong language.
but not with an oath. While a member Of Gen.
Ihos. Plnckney's military family in South Caro-
lima, in 1872, heard his brother, General C. G.
Pnckncy, frequently mention conversations with
General Washington. He said that he was
habitually grave in discourse, cautious in express
sion, slow and accurate in Judgment but with
intimate friends easy, though rarely iocose Now,
General G. c. Pinckney was remarkable for face
housness and humor, and at the table of his
brother was fond of conversing with young men;
neither Of these brothers believed the story of
Washington swearing atsl.ee. At the meeting
OF Washington and Lee, the language of the
progress than TO expend words on Lee Ii is fair
to conclude that Washington's mind, SO well
known Tor GOODNESS in battle, would be far more
engaged in restoring the order of the day in the
pursuit Of the enemy than in applying epithets-
to Lee.
At the battle of Brandywine, where Washing
ton had many trials of patience and disastrous
day, no words unbecoming his position were then
remembered; and, though assailed by a cabal, in
and out OF Congress, for not winning that day,
no unbecoming word or action was then attributed
to him. When Stuart was portrayng Washing
ton at Mount Vernon the servant had been told
TO maintain fire all night in the studio He
failed in his duty. When the General came in
and observed the failure, Stuart said ''hs counte
nance fell. /" Stuart began TO excuse the servant,
but the General said, aernty, "Mr. Stuart, nv
servants know that ! expect obedience" We
have here an item Of the tone of Washington
mind in everyday life. With General Cobb.
Colonel HUMPHREYS, Major Bayles, and Colonel
Irumbull, all Of the military family of Washing
ton, had the acquaintance which subaltern
may have with aged superors. OF them asked
OF their intercourse with Washington and, though
IT may be presumed that such persons would not
recount small defects which, if existing, they NAV
nave observed, still | learnt from them many
facts of intercourse in camp and cene
rally that, with kind feeling for all dependant
upon him, he was sometimes vehement in lam
guage to delinquents, but ever just. Indeed,
from those great men who have the natural pifi |
of command and who possess strong wills, we are
not to expect uniform flow of equanimity. | |
have no doubt that when the occasion made il |
proper Washington denounced delinquent in the |
held with an awful severity, but not with profan-
lty. The first 1nd third articles of war Of Goth |
September, l776, commended Divine respect and |
forbid profanity, and il is not probable that Wash
ngton would have set an example of disrespect
to law the enactment of which he had himself
am your friend and humble servant,
]. G. SWIFT.
DANIEL HrNTINGInN En- Now York