The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-05-20
sr lfrttG SketrJr5..
THE WRATH OF WASHINGTON
(from Washington in Domestic Life"-a new
MnrL Rr ILL., IL

work by Hon. Richard Rush.)
An anecdote | derived from Colonel
Lear shortly before his death in 1915.
may here be related showing the hcight to
Which Washiugton's passion would rise
yet be controlled. 1t belongs to bis do.
mesuc life which am dealing with. hav
ing occurred under his own roof. whil,,it
marks public feeling the most intense. and
points 10 the moral ot his life. give II
III Colonel Lear's words as nearly as |
can having made note Of them at the
time :.
Towards the close of II winters day in
1871, an officer in uniform was seen to
dlSmount IN front of the Presidents. in
thiIadcIpIa, aud, giving the bride obis
servant, Knocked at the door of the man
slcn. Learning from the porter that the
PRESIDENT was at dinner, he said he was
on public business, and had dispatches for
the President. 4 servant WAS sent into
the dining room to give the information to
MIR Lear, who left the table and went in.
To the hail, where the officer repoatcd
What he had said. Mr. Lear replied that
aS the Presidents Secretary Ec womb
take charge Of the dispatches and deliver
'Icm at the proper time. The officer
mnd" answer that he had Just arr.ycd
tr"m !hc western army, ana his orders
Mrr" 10 deliver ;hcm w,;A all promrlI,u,!r
AID t. tic President in person; b,t that
lie would wat his directions. Mr.. Ir3r
returned, and in whisper impaired 10
'hr President what had passed. General
, Washington rose from he taL,cand wen,
to t"e officer. He WAS back in ,Irr,
I time, made wu> OF apology Tor hi, ab
s"hcc, tut no illusion L. Che cane of it
de had company that day. E,erythinr
went oh ar usual. Dinner over. the cen.
t'c"en passed to the drawing room If
/ Mrs. Washington, which WAS open in (Ie
evening. lhc General spoke courtecuslv
to every lady in the room, ns was his Gu,
tom. Ills hours were early, and hv ten.
/ o'clock aIi the company had gone. Mrs.
, asA'ngtou and Mr. Lear rcmained.-
Soon Mrs Washington .cit the room.
The Get era! row walled backward and
torwAd s.owly s for S"EJ minutes without
I speaking. Then hosSNt I: .wu on "a soc,
, 10y the fire, telling Mr.. Lear tc sit down.
To this moment there bad been no change
IN his manner since his interruption at tie
table. Mr., Lear now perceived emotion.
HIS rising III him he broke out suddenly.
ITS al oNer-St Clair's d"frated-rou.
cd; the officers ucsriy ail Killed, the men
toy who'es do; the route complication
shocking to thirk oF--and u surprise in
; the bargain! ~
( He uttered all this with great vche
memcc. Then he paused, got up from the
sofa and walked about the room several
tunes, ag'.ated, but saying nothing
Near the door lac stopped short and stood
st''' lew seconds, when his wrath be
came terrible.
"Ic>,' he burst forth, "hcrc on this We
ry SPOT, took leave Of him | wished
him success aud honor; YOU have your
/ instructions, lsaid, from the Secretary of
/ War had q strict eye on them, aud will
add hut one word-Jeware Of a surprise.
! r"pca, it, 6rw0re OF u SUrpriSs-yon
know how the Indians fight US. lie wen.
"tf with that rs NV last solemn warning
thrown into his ears. a7d yeti. to sur-
Ter Ii'at army TO he cut to pieces, hack'd,
( hntc!trcd, tomahawked by surprise
, The very ding guarded him against =!
. Oh, God, he's worse than murderer -
/ how can he answer it to his country =
the blood OF tie slain is upon him-the
curse Of widows and orphaus-the curse
/ Of Heaven I"
lhis torrent came ont in tones appal
/ ling. His very frame shook. 1t was aw.
/ tai, sAid Lear. More than once he threw
his hands up as he hurled imprecations
! upon st Clair. Mr.. Lear remained speech.
! ,css; awcd into 5reathess silence.
| The reused Chief sat down on the sofa
I once more. lie seemed conscious Of his
| passior, and uncomfortable. lie was 81.
lent. His warmth beginning to subside,
/ he at length said in an altered voice -
"1h's must not go beyond Mis room" -
Another pause follow cd-a longer one
when he said in tone quite low:-"Gen.
st. Clair shall have justice; looked has.
tily through the dispatches, saw the whole
disaster but not the particulars will re-
ceiye him without dispIeasure | will hear
him without prejudice he shall have full
justice"
He was now, said Mr.. Lear, perfectly
calm. Half an hour had gone by. The
storm was over; and no sign Of it was at
terwards seen in his icond uct or heard in
his conversation. Ghe result is known
The whole ease was investigated 10y Con.
gress. ST. Clair was exculPated, aud re.
gained the conilsnca wasl liugton Lal 49,,
Elm when appointing him TO that com.
mand. lie had put himself into he thick
est OF the fight and escaped uuhurt,
though so i'll as to be carried on litter,
and unable TO mount his horse without
help.