, 1857-03-06

Sentcd himself ny the preceding year
the gallant generous,spiritcd Thaddeus
koSriusko. lie was Pole, Of an ancient
and noble family Of Lithnania, and had
been educated for the profession Of arms at
the military school of Warsaw, and sub
Sequcnty at France. Disappointed in Il
love affair with beautiful lady of rauk,
with whomc he had attempted to clope, lie
had enigrated TO this country, aud came
provided with letter Of introduction from
DR.. Franklin to Washington.
/ "What do you seek hereW inquired the
commlndcr-in-chief.
"To fight for American independence. ="
what can you do?"
"Try me-"
Washington was pleased with the curt
yet comprehensive reply, and with his
chivalrouS air aud spirit, and at once re,
ceivCd him iuto his family as an aid-de-
camp. Congress shortly afterwards up.
pointed him an engineer, with the rank of
Colonel. lie proved valuable officer
throughout the Revolution, and won an
honorable and lasting name in our country.
Here is the FIRST mention OF Hamilton,
with some particulars communicated to the
author by the late Mrs. Hamilton:
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
Gr0ydOn and his companions dined the
next day at head quarters; there was a
large party, in which were several ladies'.
Colonel Alexander Hamilton, who, in the
preceding month of April, had been re-
ceived into Washingtou's family as aid-de-
camp, presided at the head of the table,
and, acquitted himself" writes Graydon,
with an ease, propriety and vvacily which
gave me the most favorable impression of
his talents and accomplishments"
We may here observe that the energy,
skill and intelligence, displayed by Hamil-
ton throughout the last years campaign,
whenever limited command gave him an
of evincing them, had won his
entrance TO head quarters, where his quick
dscernment and precocouS Judgment were
soon fully appreciated Strangers were
surprised to see youth scarce twenty
years Of age received into the implicit con-
ldence, and admitted into the gravest
councils OF u man like Washington. While
his uncommon talents thus commanded re-
spect rarely inspired by one Of his years,
his juvenile appearance and buoyni spirit
made him universal favorite. Harrison,
the "old secretary" much his senior, looked
upon him with an almost paternal eye, and
his diminutive size and towering |
spirit, used to call him the little lion,
while Washington would now and then
speak of him by tho. cheering appellation
Of :" my boy"
a veteran officer of the Revelation used
to speak in bis old days of the occasion on
which he first saw Hamilton. 1t was du-
ring the memorable retreat through the
Jerseys :" / noticed" said lie "a youth,
a mere STRIPPING, small, slender, almost
delicate in frame, marching beside a piece
Of artillery, with cooked hat pulled down
over his eyes, apparently lost in thought,
with his hand resting on the cannon, aud
every now and then patting it as he mused,
as il il were fayorite horse or pct play
thing"
The well known facts in regard to the
entrance Of Lafayette in the American ser
vice, are sufficiently stated by Mr.. Irving
WASHINGTON AND CONGRESS.
The following anecdOte Of the late Gov.
Jay, one Of our purest and most illustrious
statesmen, is furnished to US by his sou,
John jay:
Shortly before the death of John
Adams, was Sitting alone with my father,
conversing about the American Revolu-
tiou. Suddenly he remarked, All, Viii
liam the history of that Revolution will
never be known. Nobody now alive knows
it but John Adams and myself Surprised
at such declaration, asked him to what
he referred. He briefly replied, The pro-
ceedings Of the Old Congress- Again l
inquired, What proceedings ? lie an
swered, Those against Washington from
against him." As the old Congress
always sat with closed doors, the public
knew no more of what passed within than
what it was deemed expedient to disclose.
LAFAYETTE AND WASHINGTON.
Lafayette, in his memoirs, describes a
review Of Washington's army which he
witnessed about this time. " Eleven thor
sand men but tolerably armed, and still
worse clad, presented" he said, "a singu-
lar spectacle in this parti-colored and
often naked state, the best dresses were
hunting shirts of brown linen, The tactics
were equally irregular They were arrang-
cd without regard TO size, excepting that
the smallest men were the front rank
with all this they were good looking sol
diers, conducted by jealous officers"
We ought to feel embarrassed" said
Washington TO him, in presenting our
selves before an officer just from he French
army"
A FIGHTING PREACHER
In the meantime, the more alert and
active Americans had been mastering from
all quarters to Stark's assistance, with such
weapons as they had at hand. During the
night of the 18th, Col Symonds arrived
q