The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-09-10
washington.

An aneCuOle QellF6u from COl. Lear
shortly before his death in 1916 may here
be related. showing the height to which
passion would rise and yet
be controlled. It belongs to his domes-
tic 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. I give it
in Col Lear's words as nearly as can,
having name a note Of it at the time:
Toward the close of winters day in
1871, an officer in uniform was seen to
!ismount in trout of the Presidents at
Philadelphia, and giving the bride to his
servant, knocked at the door of his man
sion. Learning from the porter that the
President was at dinner, he said he was
on public business. and had dispatches
for the President. A servant was sent
into the din 'ng room to give the lnforma-
ton to Mr.. Lear, who left the table and
went into the hall, where the officer re-
ipeated what he had said Mr.. Lear repl ed,
that as he was the Presidents Sect'y he
would take charge of the dispatches and
deliver them at the proper time. The Of
fcer made answer that he had just ar
rived from the western army, and his or
ders was to deliver them with all prompt
itude to the President in person; but that
he would wait his directions. Mr.. Lear
Returned, and in whisper impaired to
the President what had passed. Gen.
Washington rose from the table, went to
the officer. He was back in short time,
made WORD Of apology for his absence.
but no alusion to the cause Of it. He
had company that day. Everything
went on as usual. Dinner over, the gen
tlemen passed into the drawing-room Of
Mrs. Washington which was open in the
evening The General spoke courteously
to every lady in the room, as was his GUS
TOM His hours were early, and by ten
0 clock all the company had gone. Mrs.
Washington and Mr. Lear remained
Socn Mrs. Washington left the room.
The General now walked backward and
forward slowly for some minutes withou
st speaking. Then he sat down on a sof;
by the fire, telling Mr.. Lear TO sit down
: TO this moment there had been no chang'
in his manner since bis interruption at th'
table. Mr.. Lear now perceived emotion
This rising in him, he broke out suddenly
: .'Its all over-St. Clair's defeated-rou
r ted; the officers nearly all killed; the mel
4 by wholesale; the route complete--t,
S shocking too think of--and surprise il
the bargain!"
IS He uttered this with great yehemence
: Then be paused, got up from the sofa
a and walked about the room several time
agitated, but saying nothing. Near tn
q door he stopped short and stood still
= few seconds, when his wrath became ter
7! rible.
= .Yes," he burst forth, t.here on thi
very spot took leave of him; / wishe
him success and honor; you have you
&c instructions I said, from the Secretary {
VI war. had a strict eye to them and WI
~ add but word-beware of surprise
u you know not how the Indians fight u
= He went on that as my last solemn war;
II ing thrown into his ears. And yet!
~ suffer that army to be cut TO pieces. hacl
''' ed, butcbered and tomahawked by a su
L prise--the very thing guarded him
s" gainst-Oh god! he's worse than mu
'' derer How can he answer to his cou
- try; the blood of the slain is upon him
the curse of heaven!
40 This torrent came out in appalling ton
- His very frame shook. 1t was awfl
n said Mr.. Lear. More than once he thre
y his hands up as he hurled imprecatio
Y upon Gen St. Clair. Mr., Lear remain
10y :, speechless; awed into breathless silence
nc The reused chief sat down on the Sc
once more. He seemed conscious OF
~ passion, and uncomfortable. He was
10 lent. His warmth beginning to subsi'
y ~ he at lena th said in an altered voice;
=, ' "This must not go beyond this room" "
:. " Another pause followed-a longer one
n when he said in a toGe quite low, "G
''0n eral St. Clair shall have justice;l | lool
hastily through the dispatches, saw
whole disaster; but not all the particula
I will receive him without displeasure
MA will hear him without prejudice; he 81
$, a have full justice" !"
day He was now, said Mr.. Lear, perfe'
IS OF calm. Half an hour had gone by.
hlch storm was over and no sign OF 1t was
after terwards seen in his conduct or hear
ana his conversation. The result is knows
eleo The whole case was investigated by
Gun gress. St. Clair.was excul pated and
Vasi, gained the confidence Washington ha
io'A, him when appointing him to that
anu mand. He lad put himself into
rom thickest of the fight and escaped uni
the thouoh so i'll as to be carried on Ii