The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-06-13


related. showing ti.c hight to which Wash
iny.un's passion would rise and vet be con-
trolIcd. 1t belong. to his domestic life which
| am dealing with. having occurred under his
own roof. whilst it marks public feeling the
most intense. and points to the moral of his
life. give i. in Col Lcar'S wcr,is as nearly
AS can, having made note ot them at the
time.
Towards the ci:,sc - 4 winters day in
1891. III officer IN ,,nitnrm was seen tn dis
mount in front of the Presidents. in Phlla-
dclpi;ia. aa.i. giving the bride to his servant.
..n:kc;i c: the door of his mansion. Learn
in. from the porter that the President was at
dinner. he said he WAS on public business and
had d,>pa;clc> for the President. 4 servant
was sent into the dining room 70 give the in
formation TO Mr. Lear. who left the table and
went into the hall where III" officer repeated!
what lie had sad. Mr.. Lear replied that =
the Presidents secretary. he would take
cI,ar-" of the dispatches and deliver them i,
the proper time The officer made reply thai
he had just arrived from the western army
and his orders were to deliver them with al
promptitu,c. and to the President in person
hut that he would wait his directions Mr.
Lear returned. and in whisper impaired t,
the President what had passed. Gen. Wash
ington rose from the table, and went to tht
officer. lie was hack in short time. mad,
word of apology for his absence. bu, no al
lusion to the cause OF it. He had compan,
that day. Everything went on as usual
Dinner over the gentlemen passed to tn,
lrawing-roo Of Mrs. Washington which
WAS open in the evening. The general spok.
coMteouslv 10 every lady i'll the room. rs wa'
hi. cus:cm. His hours were early. and %,
ten o'r'""'; II the company had gone. Mrs
Washington and Mr.. Lear remained. Soor
Mrs. Washington lcfl the room.
The General row va'nrd backward and
forward slowly tor some minutes without
speaking. Then h sat down on a sofa b,
the fire. telling Mr.. l.sar tn sit down. Tc
this moment there had hcen no change in hi,
manner simcc his interruption at the table
Nr. Lear nnw Hercrivcd emotion. This rising
III him. he broke out suddenly. Its all owe,
st. Glars dc.catcd-routcd; the officer.
nearly all killed. the men by wholesale: til,
rout comp!ctc-too shocking to think of
and 4 surprise i'll the bargain"
Then he paused. go, up from The sofa. an,
walked about the room several times. asitatr,
but saving nothing. Near the door he stop
ped short and stood sill few seconds. whr.
his wrath became terrible
YES" he burst forth. here on this YER,
spot took leave OF him | wi.hc, him sue
cess and honor YOU have your instructions
l SAID. from t:e secretary Of war. had
strict eve to them. and will aud but one wor,
beware of Il surprise repeat it. HEwAK,
OF A SURrRISE-you know how the Inlian
fight us. He went of with that as nv las
solemn warning thrown into his cars. Az,
yet to suffer that army to he cut to pieces
hacked. butchercd and tomahawkcd bv
surprisc-thc very thing | guarded him a
Sain.t Oh God. oh. God. he's worse thai
Il murderer how can he answer it to hi
country; the blood of the slain is upon hin
the curse of widows and orphans-th
curse of Heaven:
This torrent came out i'll tones appalling
His very frame shook. 1t was awful, sal,
Dir. Lear. More than once he threw hi
hands up As he hurled imprccations upon 5
Clair. Mr.. Lear remained specchlcss; awe.
into breathless silence.
The reused chief sat down on the sof
once more. lie seemed conscious of his IA.
sion. ana uncomfortable. He was silent
His warmth beginning to subslc. he at lcnytl
said in an altered voice This must not -
beyond this room" Another pause folowc,
a longer onc-whcn he said in tone quit
low, General st Clair shall have Justice
looked hastily through the dispatches. say
the whole disaster. but not all the particular,
| will receive him without diSplcasurc. vii
hear him without prejudice he shall ha,
full justice.
Tic was now, said Mr. Lear perfectly calm
Half an hour had gone by. The storm wa
over and no sign OF it was afterwards seen il
his conduct or heard in his conversation
The result is kIiawn. The whole case wa
investigated by Congress st Clair was OK
culpatcd and regaincd the confidence Wa<l,
lnSton had in him when appointing him t
that command. l!c had put himself into tn
thickest of the fight and escaped unhur,
though SO ill as to be carried on a litter. AM
unable to mount his horse without help.